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Morning Prayers

Discipline is a word many people—especially those in recovery—don’t like to hear. It smacks of authoritarianism, and we fear it will stifle our independence. It also conjures up memories of being punished when we were young. But these are not the term’s only meanings. Spiritually, discipline takes on a far deeper and positive meaning. It is used to mean “training to improve strength or self-control.” And in the case of our spiritual lives, the discipline of prayer may be regarded as a holy habit, training to improve our spiritual strength.

One of the most important parts of our daily spiritual discipline should be prayer at regular times during the day. Morning is one of the traditional times to be still and pray. In Psalm 5, for instance, the poet sings, “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer to You, and will look up.” While we have been asleep, God has been working and making changes in all of nature. As we open our eyes, we see and experience light and life coming out of the passivity and darkness of sleep. Refreshed and renewed—resurrected, if you will—we wake up to action.

The prayers in this chapter are all designed to help us start our day with a clear mind and a light heart. They are far-reaching in the types of spiritual traditions from which they are derived. There are ancient Celtic and Scottish prayers, petitions from Native American and African sources, a prayer by Dr. Samuel Johnson, and several joyful hymns. Also included are entries from William Penn, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a traditional Christian confession to start the day with a clean slate.

A Scottish Morning Prayer

ANONYMOUS

May the blessing of light be on you—

light without and light within.

May the blessed sunlight shine on you

like a great peat fire, so that stranger and

friend may come and warm himself at it.

And may light shine out of the two eyes of you,

like a candle set in the window of a house,

bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.

And may the blessing of the rain be on you,

may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair

and clean, and leave there a shining pool where

the blue of Heaven shines, and sometimes a star.

And may the blessing of the earth be on you,

soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,

soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the

end of day; and may it rest easy over you when,

at last, you lie out under it.

May it rest so lightly over you that your

soul may be out from under it quickly;

up and off and on its way to God.

And now may the Lord bless you,

and bless you kindly. Amen.

Great Spirit Prayer

CHIEF YELLOW LARK OF THE SIOUX

Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds,

whose breath gives life to the world, hear me.

I am small and weak, and I need your strength

and wisdom. May I walk in beauty. Make my eyes

behold the red and purple sunrise;

Make my hands respect the things you have made

and my ears sharp to hear your voice;

Make me wise so that I may know the things you

have taught your children. The lessons you have

written in every leaf and rock;

Make me strong, not to be superior

to my sisters and brothers, but to fight

my greatest enemy within myself;

Make me ready to come to you with straight eyes

so that when my life fades as the fading sunset my

spirit may come to you without shame.

Thanksgiving

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

Morning Confession

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

Most merciful God,

We confess that we have sinned against you

In thought, word, and deed,

By what we have done,

And by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your son Jesus Christ,

Have mercy on us and forgive us;

That we may delight in your will,

And walk in your ways,

To the glory of your name. Amen.

You Are the Peace of All Things Calm

CELTIC PRAYER

You are the peace of all things calm

You are the place to hide from harm

You are the light that shines in dark

You are the heart’s eternal spark

You are the door that’s open wide

You are the guest who waits inside

You are the stranger at the door

You are the calling of the poor

You are my Lord and with me still

You are my love, keep me from ill

You are the light, the truth, the way

You are my Savior this very day.

Morning Resolutions

SAMUEL JOHNSON

My purpose is from this time

To reject or expel sensual images, and idle thoughts.

To provide some useful amusement for leisure time.

To avoid idleness.

To rise early.

To study a proper portion of every day.

To worship God diligently.

To read the Scriptures.

To let no week pass without reading some part.

To write down my observations.

I will renew earlier resolutions.

I will not despair. I will pray to God

for resolution, and will endeavor to

strengthen my faith.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

ROBERT LOWRY

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth’s lamentation

I hear the sweet though far off hymn

That hails a new creation:

Through all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul—

How can I keep from singing?

Be At Peace

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

Do not look forward in fear

to the changes of life;

Rather look to them with full hope

that as they arise,

God, whose very own you are,

will lead you safely through all things;

And when you cannot stand it,

God will carry you in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

The same everlasting Father

who cares for you today

will take care of you today and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering or

will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace and put aside all

anxious thoughts and imaginations.

The Rhythm of Life

TRADITIONAL AFRICAN PRAYER

I am the drum,

You are the drum, and we are the drum.

Rhythm is the soul of life.

The whole universe revolves in rhythm.

Everything and every human action

revolve in rhythm.

The Way of the Bodhisattva

A BUDDHIST MORNING PRAYER

For as long as space endures

And for as long as

living beings remain

Until then may I too abide

To dispel the misery of the world.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

ANCIENT CELTIC HYMN

I arise today through the strength

of the love of Cherubim

In obedience of Angels,

in the service of the Archangels,

In hope of resurrection

to meet with reward,

In prayers of Patriarchs,

in predictions of Prophets,

In preachings of Apostles,

in faiths of Confessors,

In innocence of Holy Virgins,

in deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through the strength of Heaven;

Light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendor of Fire,

Speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,

Stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s host to secure me:

Against snares of devils,

Against temptations of vices,

Against inclinations of nature,

Against everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Be Still

WILLIAM PENN

In the rush and noise of life,

as you have

Intervals, step within yourself

and be still.

Wait upon God and feel

his good presence;

This will carry you through

your day’s business.