Several weeks ago, I was on a strategic planning retreat with my executive team. I began the meeting with a prayer that I have used for years in my own morning devotions.
This prayer was originally composed by Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (1782–1867). It seems particularly relevant and timely in these turbulent times:
O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon thy holy will. In every hour of the day reveal thy will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with the firm conviction that thy will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day and all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray thou thyself in me. Amen.”
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What an awesome prayer. Thanks for sharing. I’ve printed a copy for my hubby to read. Be Blessed!
http://gingertate.blogspot.com/
Has a Prayer Warrior my prayers are just like this
Lovely prayer.
Just today I was doing a study on God’s love, and how the God who has everything searches the earth to find someone on whom He can show Himself strong.
He loves us. He chooses to love us. And we are invited into His love. All He asks is that we love in return.
It’s not a new prayer to love like He loves, (Jn 17:26) but a renewed prayer.
How will God measure me? By my success and failures? Not so much. But did I learn to love.
It’s a life long prayer and journey.
Rachel
I love this prayer, it actually gave me a bit of a boost after a long day today. Thank you for that.
I’ve been exploring liturgical hours and the divine office. I tend to gravitate to morning prayer and night prayer.
(a good sample for the curious is universalis.com)
I pray by meditating (zen blank-mind style rather than Ignatian), Morning Pages writing, reflecting on the coming weekend’s Scripture readings (I’m a lector, so the handbook makes it easy), praying for specific people and situations, and praying The Prayer of St. Patrick and whatever other poem or prayer I’m currently memorizing (right now, it’s Windhover).
In an ideal day I’d pray in all of these ways but usually one form predominates for a few weeks, then I gravitate to another one. I haven’t figured out yet if this is being obedient to the Spirit or just being completely undisciplined!
What a fantastic prayer. Thank you so much for sharing.
I have really been enjoying seeing you in print more frequently lately. I look forward to all your posts.
I do pray something very similar as I work with children with special needs, but this prayer says it all perfectly and succinctly. Thank-you!
Loved the prayer.
How am I handling prayer nowadays? I’m praying out loud more. When I drive especially. I stay more focused when I can hear myself. I’m saying more “thank you” prayers. Focusing on what I have to be grateful for. And I’m praising God more for who He is. Focusing on His names and character.
I want God’s presence to be with me throughout my ordinary moments and I want to find Him to be more than enough during these turbulent times.
It’s working. He is good!
My morning prayer has been toddler directed as of late, namely she drags us from steaming cups of coffee to the prayer corner repeating “holy, holy.” Compared to a few weeks or months ago, the substance of my prayers have not changed a word but I think new key phrases are resonating–”president and civil authorities,” “the needy poor.”
Christmas was moving into the stores before Halloween left. On my way to church one Sunday I thought —- we give almost two and a half months of attention to Christmas, but only a three minute prayer (or less) before we cut into the Thanksgiving turkey and that is usually it for our “thanks giving”.
When I was growing up in Arizona, after Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma’s, we would hike into the rocky mountains until it was nearly dark. Then we built a fire and went round and round with our “thankful” items. When someone went dry and couldn’t think of any more they would drop out until the “last one standing (sitting)” was proclaimed the winner. Then we would light torches and hike back home in the dark.
On this particular Sunday, I thought — why not have Thanksgiving all month during November like we have Christmas all December (at least). So I decided to call several family members and friends every day to ask them what they are thankful for and I tell them what I am thankful for. It has opened up some surprising conversations. I plan to do this the whole month of November.
Since our national elections also happen in November serious issues are in the forefront of our thinking. To me it seems, not only a necessary time to pray, but also a good time to pray with others over the phone. Maybe the prayer Mike shared would be a good start. It’s a good prayer and I plan to use it. Thanks, Mike.
A personal goal for morning devotion time is to “tithe” to the Lord no less than 10% (2.4 hours) of the day’s firstfruits. That time is not static, but as dynamic as my life.
If my life has a prevailing prayer—mostly unchanged for at least a decade—it is this:
Lord, please grant to me
humility without defeat,
joy without pride,
peace without complancency,
and zeal that is without distraction,
but that is graced with Your
knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and love.
Oops! Correction to above:
goal is to “tithe” 10% of the day as firstfruits.
There are a lot of great ideas and observations in the comments. I, too, appreciated the prayer.
On a practical supplication note: I’ve been using the facebook app on my iPhone to pray for others. It’s amazing. The “home” screen offers pictures and status updates. It’s amazing what I see there. It’s a great prayer list of sorts.
Totally agree with you.
I agree with Jake, anyone who knows me will tell you how much of a nut I am about celebrating Christmas and how I always get into the complete spirit of the Holiday. That said however, I simply refuse to begin celebrating until Thanksgiving has passed.
Mike, this prayer hits the nail on the head. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you so much for this.
This hit me the most: “Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day and all that it shall bring.”
What a fantastic prayer. I’m glad you shared it.
I discovered I was causing myself much distress in the way I was praying–I was full of fear that I would forget to pray about something or for someone and that is how I started and ended my day! I learned to pray about it once and then praise Him thereafter for handling it all in His own way, and in His own time. This simple change has lifted me to new heights in many aspects of my life. Thank you for letting me share, I hope it can raise someone up today.
Sometimes my most powerful prayers are wordless. In times of stress, I sit quietly before God and feel his peace wash over me.
I hear him in the storm and know all is well.
I loved that prayer Michael and used it in today (with a link back to you) at my Daily Prayer blog.
http://praying.kansasbob.com/
Blessings, Bob
thanks Michael, a fantastic prayer which will aid me in my own prayer life
My prayers have become more real and personal as I’ve journaled them using some tips I learned from Becky Tirabassi. It’s been over a year now and it has been life-changing.
my prayer, my lill one (now 2) singing a song in praise of mother mary…divine.
lemonytree.wordpress.com
I heard of a great prayer option and even though I never had a chance to try it, I know people who did, and they said it was very powerful. They got someone to pray for me at the Western Wall for 40 days. They saw major improvements after.