Morning Prayer. Kneel down and say: IN the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen. I LAID me down and slept, and rose up again, for the LORD sustained me. THOU, Who didst send down the HOLY GHOST upon Thine Apostles, take not away that same SPIRIT from us, but renew Him daily in our hearts, and save us. OUCHSAFE, O LORD, to keep us : Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee : Shew me Thy ways, O LORD: A Thanksgiving. GOD, our FATHER in Heaven, I thank Thee for all Thy mercies, and especially for Thy care over me during the hours of the night, for the rest and sleep Thou hast given me, and for bringing me safely to the beginning of another day. Preserve me from all dangers which can hurt the body, and from all evils that may assault the soul. Assist and guide me by Thy HOLY SPIRIT in all I do, or say, or think. If I am in difficulty about my work, or uncertainty about my duty, shew me what to do, and give the power to do it. For Strength against Sin. ST TRENGTHEN me to fight against all sin, especially the sin which most easily besets me... [here name it], and to avoid temptation. If temptation comes to me, give me grace to resist it. Help me to be pure in my talk and in my actions, and grant me courage to check, as far as possible, all impurity in others; to be truthful in word and deed, and honest in all my dealings; to be good-tempered, kind, and unselfish. Commendation of Body, Soul, and Work to God. I COMMEND to Thee my soul and my body, my mind and my thoughts, my words and my works, my going out and my coming in, that in all I may worship Thee and serve Thee. Enable me to look on all my common work as Thy service, and to do it thoroughly, honestly, and faithfully, as unto the LORD, and not unto men. Help me to spread Thy Kingdom in the place where I work, and amongst those with whom I live; and whatever I do this day, let me do it in Thy Name, that so I may be able to offer my day's work to Thee in the evening. Hear my prayers, most gracious FATHER, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, Thine only SON our LORD. Amen. O Prayer for Protection during the Bay. LORD, our Heavenly FATHER, Almighty and Everlasting GOD, Who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with Thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by Thy governance, to do always that is righteous in Thy sight, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen. WH HETHER ye eat or drink, or whatsoever Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD; Prosper Thou the work of our hands; Glory be to the FATHER, and to the SON, and to the HOLY GHOST ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. These Morning Prayers are very short, because working people have little time in the morning for prayer; if you have more time, you can add to them the Collect for the Church season, such as Advent, Lent, etc., at p. 83, or one of the Occasional Prayers at p. 32; but, however short your prayers may be, try not to go through them as a mere matter of form. Think of your prayers as the means of getting from God the strength needful to do the day's work which He has appointed you. Every bit of work you have to do to-day is a bit of God's work which He has given you to do for Him; therefore fill your place in God's Kingdom, and make the following resolution before starting for your day's labour: I WILL go forth in the strength of the LORD GOD, To do my daily work, If you have time, read the Psalm which follows, and look at the Hymn to encourage yourself in the battle of the day. |