30 Day Prayer Guide | Day 03
MORNING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. (Selah) God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
(Psalms 57:1–5)
A MEDITATIVE PRAYER
Gracious and holy Father, give me wisdom to perceive You, intelligence to fathom You, patience to wait for You, a heart to meditate upon You, and a life to proclaim to You, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
-Benedicxt of Nursia, 6th Century
MORNING HYMN
All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam, thou silver moon with softer gleam, O praise him,
O praise him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong, ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O praise him, O praise him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou flowing water, pure and clear, make music for thy Lord to hear, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright, that givest man both warmth and light,
O praise him, O praise him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
And all ye men of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part, O see ye, alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on him cast your care,
O praise him, O praise him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless, and worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, three in one.
O praise him, O praise him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
-St. Francis of Assisi, 1225
EVENING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
(Psalms 64:1-6)
CONFESSION & ASSURANCE
Satisfy me with your love, God. Satisfy me and detach my wounded parts from the thrill of wrongdoing, and the delight of lust. I choose your love over lust. I choose your way over the devil’s. I choose your pleasure over my own. I choose you, God, above all else. And in my choosing you, choose me all over again. Give me a word of peace. (Canyon Road: A Book of Prayer)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20)
GOSPEL READING
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
(John 4:31–38)
SPACE FOR REFLECTION
Pause at the end of this day. Enjoy communion with the living God: Father, Son, and Spirit. Listen for the voice of God in the Scriptures. Read. Meditate. Pray. Contemplate. Seek God’s face.
THE BENEDICTION
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
(James 4:10)
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence and stillness, as God has the last word to finish the day. He labors while you sleep.