An Order For Daily Prayer—Morning & Evening
Opening Words
O God, open our lips; and our mouth shall declare your praise.
O God, make speed to save us. Make haste to help us, O God.
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name. Amen.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Glory be to you, O God, Blessed and Holy Trinity, as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be forevermore. Amen.
For Morning
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger; order us in all our doings; and guide us to do always what is right in your eyes; O God, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
For Evening or Night
Lighten our darkness, O God, we pray, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of your only Blessed and Anointed One. Amen.
Blessed are you and blessed is your Kin-Dom, now and forever. Amen.0 God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night, Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
Loving God, you have supported us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in your mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collects for Grace
0 God, by whom we are guided in judgment, and who raises up for us light in the darkness: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us to do; that your Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, author of peace and lover of diversity in unity, to know you is eternal life, to serve you is perfect freedom. Defend us your servants from all assaults of our enemies; that we may trust in your providence, and not fear the power of any adversaries; Blessed are you, O God; and blessed is your realm, forever. Amen.
The Collects for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen.
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace do come: Pour into the hearts of all people, we pray, the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your work may go forward till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love. Blessed are you and blessed is your Kin-Dom, now and forever. Amen.
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of your One-of-Peace, as children of one Parent; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; O Love Divine, all loves excelling. Amen.
Almighty God, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a passion for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will. Amen.
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments and all just works: Give to us. your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and the fear of our enemies having been removed, we may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the mercies of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Petitions and Intercessions
O God, the creator and preserver of all life, we humbly pray for all sorts and conditions of people and your creation; that you would be pleased to make your ways known to all, your saving health to all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in the unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your benevolent goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or spirit; that it may please You to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and the wholeness of healing out in all their afflictions, through your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen.
Eternal God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all that is life and good and beautiful: you create us by your power and redeem us by your love: so guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves in love and service to one another and to you; One God, now and forever. Amen.
God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the vast multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known your redeeming and sustaining work; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your people, they may be brought to know and worship you, and to serve you in all thoughts, words, and deeds; O Sovereign One. Amen.
Almighty God, you are the source of all life and health: Grant to all who are sick your heavenly healing, especially those whom we lift before you. Look upon all your faithful people who are in need and who love to call upon your Name; take them into your keeping, and deliver them from all sickness and infirmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Bless all those whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as Christ loves us.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in eternal life.
Almighty God, you know our needs before we ask, and Our ignorance in asking: Grant these things we ask, not as we deserve, but as you love us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Church and Its Clergy and Ministry
Hear us, 0 God, as we pray tor your One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church: make us all one, so that the world may believe. We pray that every member of your Church may truly and humbly serve you: grant that all people would glorify your Name. Guide and strengthen all ministers of your gospel: make them faithful in your service. Inspire and lead all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world: establish justice and peace among all people. Give us the courage so as to do your will in all we undertake: reveal the life of Christ within us. Have compassion on all who suffer from any sickness, grief or trouble: deliver them from their distress. We remember those who have died: into your hands, O God, we commend them. We praise you for your saints who have entered your eternal glory: bring us all to share In your heavenly reign.
(A Brief Silence Is Kept)
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common petition to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or more are gathered in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, 0 Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting.
Eternal Father, you have called your people to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world: Guide and empower your Church Militant, and within it the People called United Methodists, in the fulfillment of this mission. Give grace to its leaders; especially to our Bishop (first name), to our Superintendent (first name), and to those others with whom we work most closely; that they may be your instruments. And lead it through its present trials to the glory of your Church Triumphant; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Almighty God, who in a time of great need raised up your servants John and Charles Wesley, and by your Spirit inspired them to kindle a flame of sacred love which leaped and ran, an inextinguishable blaze: Grant, we ask you, that all those whose hearts have been warmed at these altar fires, being continually refreshed by your grace, may be so devoted that, in this our time of great need, your will may fully and effectively be done on earth as it is in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, who raised up your servants John and Charles Wesley to proclaim anew the gift of redemption and the life of holiness: Be with us their children, and revive your work among us; that inspired by the same faith, and upheld by the same grace in Word and Sacrament, we and all your people may be made one in the unity of your Church on earth, even as in heaven we are made one in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A General Thanksgiving
Most Holy God, creator of this world and giver of all good things: We thank you for our home on earth and for the joy of living. We thank you for the tasks which have been accomplished this day, for the people with whom we have worked, and for those who love us. Most of all we thank you for your love in Jesus Christ, who came to set things right, who died rejected on the cross, and rose triumphant from the dead. Because he has shown us the way, we can live in hope. Because Jesus lives, we live to praise you, 0 Most Holy and blessed Trinity, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Francis
O God, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Prayer For Daily Discernment
God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting challenges as a pathway to peace.
Taking, as You do, this world, with all its ups and downs as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that You will make all things right
if we follow in the path of Your realm of just peace.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with God forever in the next. Amen.†
Closing Prayer
God be in my head, and, in my understanding.
God be in my eyes, and in my looking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.
God be in my heart, and in my thinking.
God be at my end, and at my departing. Amen.
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†Adapted from the prayer that is attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971)