Prayer of the day - First prayer

MONDAY

Morning:  May I reflect the virtues of Jesus.

O God, my Father, help me throughout this day so to live that I may bring help to others, joy to those who love me and credit to the name of Jesus.

            Help me to be –

• cheerful when things go wrong;
• persevering when things are difficult;
• serene when things are irritating
• kind to those in difficulties;
• sympathetic to those whose hearts are sad

            Grant that-

• nothing may make me bitter towards any person,
• nothing and no one may make me lose my temper;
• nothing may ruffle my peace – the peace from your sure promises
• nothing may take away the joy of knowing your love for me,

Lord, my circle of contacts is now much smaller, but grant that this day all whom I meet may see in me the reflection of my Lord and Master, Jesus, whose I am and whom I seek to serve.  In his name I pray.    Amen

Evening:  A prayer for the needy this night.

 O God, my Father, you encourage us to pray for all people, and I remember at evening time those who especially need my prayers.

      Bless those who-

• are lonely, and who feel their loneliness worst of all in the evening
• are sad, and who in the evening feel most acutely the absence of someone whom they loved, and have lost awhile
• are in prison or in disgrace
• are ill, and who will not sleep this night
• this night will keep awake to care for the ill and ease their pain
• have no home, and no family circle to call their own

O God, you are present everywhere, and certainly here in my home.  Whether I am alone or if there are others with me, make me conscious that Jesus is always my unseen companion.

     May I feel around me the clasp of your loving arms which will never let me go.

     Keep me safe this night through the dark hours, and grant refreshing sleep.        Amen.

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TUESDAY

 Morning:  Thank you for your gifts to me.

 O God my Father, I thank you for your many gifts to me.

     I thank you for-

• the tasks you have given me day by day and for the strength to do them
• the skill of hand and the experience of life so I can be useful
• the love and diligence that can make a house into a comfortable home
• children and grandchildren whose vitality I can share and mound
• the friends and the comrades whom you have given to me.
• Those in whose company joys are doubly dear, and those in whose presence sorrow’s pain is soothed.

Help me today to be-

• so true to you that I may be a strength to others who are tempted
• so positive that I can bring encouragement to those who feel down
• so cheerful, that it may make others happier to meet me

O Lord Jesus, I have begun the day with you, grant that your reflection may be upon me throughout all its hours.  Amen

Evening:  Forgive me for making life difficult.

 O God, my Father, forgive me for everything in this day which has caused you grief.

      Forgive me-

• if I have made the work of others harder instead of easier.
• if I have discouraged others instead of encouraging them.

• if my presence has depressed others instead of making them happy.

• if I grumbled and made things unhappy for myself and those around me.
• if I have been irritable, bad tempered, and difficult to live with.
• if I have been ungracious and ungrateful.
• if I have made it easier for someone to go wrong, and harder for them to do right.
• if I have worried my friends, or hurt my loved ones.
• for all the things of which I am now ashamed, and give me grace tomorrow to walk close to you, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.

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WEDNESDAY

 Morning:  Jesus, be my guide all through the day

 O Lord, as I face the routine and duties of this day, I ask you to direct, to control and guide me through all its hours.

grant that I may take no step or come to no decision without your guidance

• Grant that before every action I may ask “What would Jesus do?”
• Be on my lips that I may speak no hurtful or evil word
• Be in my eyes and in my thoughts that they may not linger on any forbidden thing
• Be on my hands that I may do my daily tasks with care and serve the needs of others with eagerness
• Be in my mind that no foul or bitter thoughts may gain an entry there
• Be in my heart that it may be warm with love for you and for others

Help me to begin, to continue, and to end this day with you, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

Evening:          Thanks for good gifts.

 O God, the giver of every good gift, I thank you for all happy things which came to me this day.

            I thank you-

• for any glimpse of your beautiful creation
• for any kindness which I received
• for any word of thanks, or encouragement which came to me
• for anything which made me feel that I am still valued and appreciated
• for any new friendship that I made today, and for any old friendship which became more precious
• for any temptation which I was able to resist today and
• for any service that I am still able to give
• for any picture or book that brought a memory of someone good who enriched my life

Accept, O God, everything in this day which has gone well and according to your will, and forgive that which has not been so.  Help me to relax in your forgiveness and to lie down to sleep in harmony with others; through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

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THURSDAY

 Morning: Save me from sins that harm myself and others.

 O God, my Father, save me from those thoughts and feelings which only succeed in making life wretched and unhappy for myself and for others.

            Save me from-

• the envy which forgets to count its own blessings, because it thinks so much of those of others
• the jealousy which grudges others every gift and every success
• foolish discontent, and help me at all times to do the best I can with the resources I have.
• vain regrets about things which cannot be altered, and give me grace to accept the situation in which I am and there to serve you with my whole heart
• the bitterness which poisons life for myself and for others

So grant that, cleansed from self and cleansed from sin, my life may bring joy to others and contentment to myself through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.

Evening:       Forgive my omissions.

O God, at the end of this day it is not so much the things that I have done which worry me as the things which I have not done.

                        Forgive me-

• for the tasks that I put off and which will affect other people
• for the things I did not do, and for the help I did not give.
• for the word of praise and the word of thanks I did not speak
• for the phone call that I should have made, but it was easier to watch the TV
• for work that was half-hearted and careless when it should have been fit for the King of Kings
• for the failure in courtesy and in graciousness to those with whom I live and work
• that I did not give you the praise and devotion that you truly deserve.

Help me each day to-do better, so that each night I may have fewer regrets; so that each day I may be more winsome like my wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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FRIDAY

 Morning:       Lord, make me grateful and helpful.

 O God, all through today-

• make me truly grateful for anything that others have done for me and never forgetful to thank them.
• make me quicker to praise than to criticize.
• make me always ready to speak a word of appreciation.
• make me sensitive so that I take no service for granted, and that I let no help go unnoticed.
• make me quick to see when people are upset or depressed, and give me the words which will comfort and the deeds that will help.

All through today help me to think far less of myself and far more of others, and so to find my own happiness in making others happy.

            This I ask for Jesus’ sake.   Amen.

Evening:       Forgiveness for neglect and failure

Eternal God, you gave me this day, and now at evening you are taking it back to yourself.

                        As I review the day I ask to forgive me-

• for neglect of opportunities, for any word of comfort, of praise, or of thanks, which I failed to speak.
• for any help I could have given to someone, but did not give.
• if by word or action I set a bad example to anyone and have made it easier for another to go wrong.
• if today I have been disloyal to any friend, or have hurt the hearts of those close to me, or brought sorrow to you, my God.
• for any thought of my heart that was selfish, unkind or unworthy, for you alone know and can forgive these things, that come between me and you.

Grant that I may feel and know your forgiveness.

Grant that tomorrow I may miss no opportunity to serve others and to witness to your love.

Grant me this night your gift of sleep and renewal, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen

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