30 Day Prayer Guide | Day 13
MORNING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.”
(Psalms 95:6-11)
MORNING HYMN
Our God, as merciful as just, kindly remembers man is dust.
His ear is open to our cries; His grace will meet our lifted eyes.
He reads the language of a tear, listens to sighs from hearts sincere;
He marks the dawn of virtuous aim, and fans the smoking flax to flame.
Set us from earthly bondage free, still every wish that strays from thee;
Bid, Lord, our vain disquiets ease, and point our path to endless peace. With joy, my soul, thy lot receive, resigned alike to die or live;
Kissing the scepter or the rod, see God in all, and all in God.
And when the closing hour draws nigh, when earth recedes before our eyes, From cares and gloomy terrors free, and point our path to endless peace.
Anna Barbauld, 1832
PROMPTED PRAYER
- For spiritual rest
- For justice for the fatherless and the widow
- For those who live in nursing homes and those who are for them
THE LORDS 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 You, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benedict of Nursia, 6th century
EVENING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
(Psalms 51:1-10)
THE MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION
Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.
NEW TESTAMENT READING
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:11-16)
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
He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:6)
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence and stillness, as God has the last word to finish the day. He labors while you sleep.