BETWEEN TWO CITIES

Sunrise – a painting by Albert Beirstadt (1830-1902)

Here are nine of my morning prayers I use in my daily devotions.

The first prayer is a brief prayer I have said daily when I awake for the past twenty years or so: Psalm 119:133 (NIV) along with a three-part petition for personal expression of the Lord Jesus in my life which I adapted from a sermon by Charles Stanley, the American Baptist pastor of the First Baptist of Atlanta and founder of In Touch ministries, his television teaching and book ministry.

I added to this first prayer on March 29, 2022, a “Daily Affirmation” from Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I wrote a blog post on April 7, 2022 on this affirmation and Dr. Lloyd-Jones.

https://betweentwocities.com/2022/04/07/a-morning-affirmation-martyn-lloyd-jones/

Martyn Lloyd-Jones a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London. His preaching and writing have been a great inspiration to me over the years. I read his daily devotional, Walking with God Day by Day: 365 Daily Devotional Selections each day on my Amazon Kindle. On March 29, I read his devotional about our position in Christ. He wrote this:

When you wake up, the first thing you should do (and I need to do the same) is to say to yourself, “I am a child of God. Christ is in me. That old self is gone: I died with Christ. ‘I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.’ Everything I do today must be in the light of this knowledge.”

Walking with God Day by Day: 365 Daily Devotional Selections, March 29, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Robert Backhouse, published by Crossway.

The second prayer I added recently and posted here April 2, 2017 is a prayer for concentration and purpose during prayer which I adapted from a prayer for lack of concentration included in a collection of Prayers for Focus which I found on the website Knowing Jesus, and its Prayer Room and as modified on February 28, 2021, I added verses adapted from the Puritan prayer, “In Prayer” and a few lines which I composed myself to recognize my purpose in life and in prayer and that my prayers would be in accordance with God’s will.

The third prayer, “To Reflect the Master” is from William Barclay, the British theologian and Bible scholar who wrote insightful and useful commentaries on the New Testament books.

The fourth prayer, “A Morning Resolve,” was is an Episcopal prayer given to me by my friend, Rev. Phil Rountree, a retired Episcopal priest in Novato, California, now a member of the Novato rock band, The Role Models.

The fifth prayer, “Face the Day with Peace,” is a wonderful comprehensive and concise prayer for a day of peace from the Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (19th Century) from “A Pocket Book of Prayers for Busy People”.

The sixth prayer is a special prayer for sensitivity in our daily relationships. It was written by Lucy H.M. Soulsby who was a headmistress of a private girl’s school, Oxford High School, from 1887 to 1897 and which remains in operation today. She was a women’s leader in the suffragette movement, from “A Pocket Book of Prayers for Busy People”.

The seventh prayer is the “St. Francis Prayer,” attributed to 13th century Roman Catholic saint and monk, though it may have been written by a French monk, Father Esther Bouquerel, around 1912. Wikipedia. It is nevertheless in the spirit of St. Francis and is known by his name.

The eighth prayer is a “Prayer for Thanksgiving” from the Book of Common Prayer, I adapted and revised to first account for my gratitude and thankfulness for my salvation.

The ninth prayer, “A Daily Confession” I composed from Scripture and the Book of Common Prayer.  The Daily Confession is discussed here in a blog post from April 7, 2013.

The Tenth prayer, “Prayer to the Trinity,” is a short prayer I composed to each of the persons of our trinitarian God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Last, I added two scriptures for Spiritual Warfare that I adapted to personal prayer.

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PRAYER WHEN I AWAKE

O God, thank you for another day. “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” and make me an extension of the life of Jesus, an expression of His love, and an exhibition of His power, in all that I do. In Jesus name, Amen.

Daily Affirmation: I am a child of God. Christ is in me. That old self is gone: I died with Christ. ‘I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.’ Everything I do today must be in the light of this knowledge

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A PRAYER FOR CONCENTRATION AND PURPOSE IN PRAYER

Dear Lord, I find that my mind too often starts to wander when I am needing to concentrate on my prayer.  Keep me, I pray, from becoming distracted when I am at prayer.  Help me to develop the ability to concentrate during my prayer sessions.  

In my prayers today, let all things here below vanish, and that nothing will seem important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others. I pray that all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties will disappear, and be of as little significance as a puff of wind.

I am one of the people in the world today through whom Christ is to be glorified and praised. I am not here for myself, or for anything I want to do, the main thing for me this day is that Christ should be glorified in me.

I pray that these prayers will be in accordance with Your will, Lord. And if some are not, that you will make your will known to me.

Thank you, Lord, for listening and answering my petition, in Jesus name. Amen.

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TO REFLECT THE MASTER

O God, help me all through today to do
nothing to worry those who love me,
to do nothing to let down those who
trust me, to do nothing to fail those who
employ me, to do nothing to fail those
who are close to me.

Help me all through this day to do
nothing which would be a cause of
temptation to someone else or which
would make it easier for someone else to
go wrong; not to discourage anyone who
is doing his best; not to dampen anyone’s
enthusiasm or to increase anyone’s doubts.

Let me all through this day be a comfort
to the sad, be a friend to the lonely, be
an encouragement to the dispirited,
be a help to those who are up against
it. So grant that others may see in me
something of the reflection of the Master
whose I am and whom I seek to serve.

Amen

William Barclay

Three posts discussing different prayers of William Barclay:

A Prayer for the Church Invisible

Who Are the Hypocrites?

Ash Wednesday Prayer for Christopher Hitchens
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A MORNING RESOLVE

I will try this day to live a simple, sincere, and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.

In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.

And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

– Thanks to Father Phil Rountree, Yale ’75, Rector (Emeritas), St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, Novato, California

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FACE THE DAY WITH PEACE

O Lord,
grant that I may meet 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 the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will. Teach me to pray. Pray Thou Thyself in me.
Amen.

•  Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (19^th Century) from “A Pocket Book of Prayers for Busy People”

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PRAYER FOR SENSITIVITY TO OTHERS

O Lord, grant that each one who has to do with me today may be happier for it. Let it be given me each hour what I shall say, and grant me the wisdom of a loving heart that I may say the right thing rightly.

Help me to enter into the mind of everyone who talks with me, and keep me alive to the feelings of each one present. Give me a quick eye for little kindnesses, that I may be ready in doing them and gracious in receiving them. Give me quick perception of the feelings and needs of others, and make me eager-hearted in helping them.

Lucy H. M. Soulsby, a headmistress of Oxford High School, a private girl’s school in England 1879-1889, and suffragette.

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ST. FRANCIS PRAYER

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace

— that where there is hatred, I may bring love
— that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness
— that where there is discord, I may bring harmony
— that where there is error, I may bring truth
— that where there is doubt, I may bring faith
— that where there is despair, I may bring hope
— that where there are shadows, I may bring light
— that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted

— to understand, than to be understood
— to love, than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.

Amen.

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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Accept, O Lord, my thanks and praise for all that you have done for me. I thank you first of all for your gracious gift of salvation, that you have forgiven my sins and caused me to be born anew by your grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Messiah, my Lord and savior.

I thank you for the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures which You have preserved for us, and through which Your Holy Spirit speaks to me each day, and to the world in need of Salvation.

I thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.

I thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

I thank you for setting me at tasks which demand my best efforts, and for leading me to accomplishments which satisfy and delight me.

I thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead me to acknowledge my dependence on you alone.

Above all, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant me the gift of your Spirit, that I may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things.

Thank you, Lord:

For the power you have given me to grasp things unseen;
For the strong sense I have that this is not my eternal home;
For my restless heart which nothing finite can satisfy.

Thank you, Lord:

For sending your Spirit to fill my heart;
For all human love and goodness that speak to me of you;
For the fullness of your glory poured out in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

(Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer and Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie and Susanna Wright, Day 12 Morning)

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A DAILY CONFESSION

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14, 16

I will confess my sins unto almighty God
Most merciful God,
I confess that I have sinned against thee
in thought, word, and deed,
by what I have done,
and by what I have left undone.
I have not loved thee with my whole heart;
I have not loved my neighbors as myself.
I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.
For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on me and forgive me;
that I may delight in thy will,
and walk in thy ways,
to the glory of thy Name. Amen.

“A Daily Confession” posted April 7, 2013

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PRAYER TO THE TRINITY

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Luke 9:23 (English Standard Version)

Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22 (English Standard Version).

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SPIRITUAL WARFARE:

Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV):

I pray to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might; that I will put on the whole armor of God, that I may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, I pray that I may take up the whole armor of God, that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Let me stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for my feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, that I may take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, may I keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

James 4:7 (ESV)

I submit myself therefore to God. I will resist the devil, and he will flee from me.

(Adapted and personalized from the Scriptures)

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I highly recommend A Diary of Private Prayer, by John Baillie, originally published in 1949, recently updated by Susanna Wright chosen by Baillie’s son to do this. This is a fine daily morning and evening devotional prayer book, with 31 daily morning and evening prayers, and a Sunday morning and evening prayer.

[As a matter of offering ideas and guidance, and not as a matter of pride,] I have a number of other prayers that I include in my daily morning and evening prayers, including a prayer list of specific petitions for God’s blessings on my family, my friends and enemies, e.g., terrorist leaders.  See Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer.  I have a list of friends and acquaintances, Christian and non-Christian, certain public figures, and facebook friends, and especially those of whom are not yet saved and for whom I pray for their salvation, i.e., “For Holy Spirit conviction of sin and for repentance, humility, a childlike faith, and salvation.”

In addition to my daily Bible study, I also include with my morning and evening prayers, readings from various sources from which I read a little each day, and which I change from time to time including Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling; Martin Lloyd-Jones, Walking with God Day by Day: 365 Daily Devotions; Christoper Webber’s Give Us Grace: An Anthology of Anglican Prayers; Day by Day with the English Puritans: Selected Readings for Daily Reflections; Tim Keller and Kathy Keller, God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs and The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms; Mary Batchelor (ed.), The Lion Prayer Collection; George Appleton (Ed.) The Oxford Book of Prayer,Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Updated Version); Andrew Murray’s Humility; John T. McNeill (ed.), John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion; Phillip Schaff’s History of the Christian Church, 

I encourage all who read this to develop their own daily devotional life with regular disciplined daily Bible Study, prayer and devotional Christian readings  I am thankful to God that in my senior years I have been blessed to be able and willing to devote time daily to Bible Study, Prayer and devotional reading for the past 17 years that I failed miserably to do in the in the prior 31 years since I was saved in 1971 reading the Bible throughout for the first time.  See my 2008 Spiritual Memoir or the abridged version, Supernatural Answers to Prayers in my Life.