Morning Prayer

“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.” ~Psalm 5:3–4

Starting each morning with prayer is an excellent daily habit that can benefit both our heads and hearts. As we rise from our beds and bow down on our knees, we are reminded of our creaturely dependence on God and of how much we owe to Him for yet another night of un-slumbering divine care. It also reminds us of the grace we need to live our lives in a manner worthy of God throughout the upcoming day. To that end, let me encourage you to pray through this gem of a prayer by the Puritan Arthur Dent:

O Lord our God and Heavenly Father! We, your unworthy children, come into your most holy and heavenly presence to give you praise and glory for your great mercies and blessings—especially that you have preserved us this night past and have given us quiet rest to our bodies, and brought us now safely to the beginning of this day.

Lord, open our eyes every day more and more to see and consider your great and marvelous love to us, that our hearts may be drawn yet nearer to you—even more to love you, fear you, and obey you.

Compel us to come into your most glorious presence with new songs of thanksgiving in our mouths.

Nail down all our sins and iniquities to the cross of Christ, bury them in his death, bathe them in his blood, hide them in his wounds, and let them never rise up in judgment against us.

Good Father, touch our heart with true repentance for all sin. Let us not take any pleasure in any sin, but however we fall through frailty, as we fall often, yet never let us fall finally. Let us never lie down in sin, nor continue in sin, but let us get upon our feet again, turn to you with all our heart, and seek you while you may be found, and while you extend grace and mercy to us.

Lord, increase in us that true faith that allows us to lay sure hold on your Son, and rest on his merits.

Give us the faith to believe all the great and precious promises made in the gospel. Strengthen us from above to walk in all the true and sound fruits of faith. Let us not walk in the flesh, but in the Spirit.

Let us feel the power of your Son’s death killing sin in our mortal bodies, and the power of his resurrection raising us up to newness of life.

Let us grow daily in the sanctification of the Spirit, and the death of the flesh. Let us live holy, just, and sober lives, shining as lights in this present evil world. Fill us with your Spirit. Stir us to prayer and watchfulness, reading and meditating on your law.

Have mercy on us, and never leave us to ourselves, nor to our own wills, lusts, or desires. Help us with your good Spirit, that we may continue to the end, be received into glory, and partake of that immortal crown you have laid up for all who love you. Amen. 

(Arthur Dent, Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans, 2019)