My First Prayer of the Day

Hear my cry for help,

     my God and my King,

     for to you I pray.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

     in the morning I lay my requests before you

     and wait expectantly.

(Psalm 5:2-3)

It is good, O God, that my first thought each day

should be of you.

When I open my eyes, 

these should be the first words 

to flow through my mind:

“Good morning, God.”

Good morning, God.

Thank you for bringing me through another night.

Thank you for the promise of today:

   that you will bless me and keep me,

     and make your face to shine upon me,

       and be gracious unto me;

   that you will will look upon me with your favor

     and grant me peace.

I pray to you for help

this and every day, for I need you.

I cannot make it through one moment,

let alone a whole day,

without your help.

Hear me now, Lord, as I lay my requests before you:

   Let me be faithful to you.

   Let me glorify you by

     the words I say,

       the things I do,

         the ways I care for others,

           even the thoughts of my mind and heart.

   Bless those whom I know, and those I don’t know;

     let them experience the blessings of your love

     and your presence.

   When I stray from your ways

     (and it is most likely that I will, though I don’t mean to),

     I ask two things:

       Convict me in my heart, that I may repent;

       and forgive me.

And now I wait expectantly,

for I know that your blessings will be more abundant

   than the sand at the seashore,

   and the stars in the night sky.

I wait, not idly, but actively.

I'm going to get out of bed and live for you.

I dedicate this day to you.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using the prayers found in the Psalms as a model and inspiration for my own prayers.