How you start your day in the morning plays an essential part in how your day progresses, and ultimately, how it ends up. If we choose to roll out of bed and let life blindside us without spending some time with God, often the cares of life and the stress that comes with it can quickly overwhelm us. If our focus at the beginning of the day is on the challenges of life and not on God, it’s easy to lose our peace and stumble through the day on our heels.
On the other hand, if we seek God first through prayer and spend time in His presence, we can leave that place of morning fellowship empowered and energized to take on whatever the day brings. By taking time to focus on the Lord, the things we will deal with throughout the day seem to lose their grip on us because our strength is coming from God.
Every morning when we awaken, we should greet the Lord and slip right into praying to Him. We should seek His heart about the questions we have and the ones that may arise throughout our day. He loves us more than we can know, and the time we spend with Him is precious and more vital than most realize.
What does praying first thing look like?
When we wake up in the morning, we should instantly be reminded that God has given us another day to live for Him. Praying in the morning can start as simply as saying, “good morning” to God and acknowledging His presence. For some of us, we can step right into alone time with Him. For others, as you get your kids ready for school, you can sing and pray under your breath.
Life is different for everyone, but finding time to seek God in the morning is something we can all do. God is omnipresent and omnipotent. He is always with you and knows what you are saying, so don’t worry about praying too softly that He can’t hear you.
One of the most significant takeaways from praying in the morning is the fact that we have a greater awareness that the Lord is not only with us at the start of the day, but all day, and He will never leave us.
The power and importance of morning prayer
Look around you and you’ll quickly see that the world is growing darker every day. If we choose to focus on that at the start of the day it can easily get even the strongest Christian down. That is why what we do first thing upon awakening is so vital. We should expect to have victory over the battles we face each day because we spent time with the greater One before we even got the day started.
Morning prayer doesn’t mean that life won’t throw us curveballs. It doesn’t mean that because you spent time with God that your day will be easy.
What it means is that instead of getting pulled down by the negativity around us right out of the gate, we’ll rise up, empowered by our time in His presence. With our eyes on Jesus, like Peter stepping out of the boat, we’ll feel like we can walk over top of difficult situations. When we seek God for direction He will show us how to maneuver what we face throughout the day.
Morning prayer fills you with Biblical truth and power. If God is for us, who or what can be against us?
A morning prayer for your day:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving me another morning to rise and seek Your face! Lord, You are wonderful and I love spending time with You. You are the reason my life is as good as it is. I realize that today there are many directions I can go with the choices I make but I want to follow Your path for my life.
I seek Your face and desire Your will for my life. Please help me to recognize Your guidance and leadership, even in the smallest detail. I ask You for wisdom today to know how I should respond in every situation I encounter. Thank You for Your protection as I go about the day.
I want to bless others as You have blessed me and I will look for those special moments where I can let Your love in my heart pour out into someone else’s life. By spending this time with You this morning I know that You are helping me stay on course throughout the day and giving You glory all along the way.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Short and Simple Morning Prayers
"Dear Lord, thank You for this new day. Guide my steps and help me to see Your blessings throughout the day. Amen."
"Heavenly Father, as I begin this day, give me the wisdom to make good decisions and the strength to face any challenges. Amen."
"Lord, thank You for the gift of today. Help me to live it with a grateful heart and to be a blessing to others. Amen."
"God, grant me peace and clarity as I go through my day. Help me to trust in Your guidance and care. Amen."
"Father, fill my heart with love and patience today. Help me to be kind and understanding to everyone I encounter. Amen."
Morning Prayers by Need
1. Morning Prayer for Strength
"Dear Lord, as I start this new day, I seek Your strength to face the challenges ahead. Help me to stand firm in my faith and trust in Your power to carry me through difficult times. Guide my actions and thoughts so that I may be a reflection of Your love and grace. Amen."
2. Morning Prayer for Gratitude
"Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of a new day. Fill my heart with gratitude for the many blessings You have bestowed upon me. Help me to appreciate the small joys and to express my thanks in all circumstances. Let my attitude of gratitude bring joy to others and honor to You. Amen."
3. Morning Prayer for Guidance
"Lord, as I embark on this day, I seek Your divine guidance in all my decisions and actions. Illuminate my path and grant me the wisdom to discern what is right and just. Help me to listen to Your voice and follow Your direction, trusting that You are leading me toward the best outcomes. Amen."
4. Morning Prayer for Peace
"God, I come to You this morning seeking peace in my heart and mind. In the midst of life's chaos and stress, grant me Your serene presence. Help me to let go of my worries and to trust in Your perfect plan for my life. May Your peace guard my heart and guide my interactions today. Amen."
5. Morning Prayer for Protection
"Father, as I step into this new day, I ask for Your protection over my loved ones and me. Shield us from harm and danger, and keep us safe in Your loving care. Help us to be aware of Your presence and to trust in Your safeguarding. Guide us away from temptations and lead us on the path of righteousness. Amen."
Lauds Prayer
Lauds is a beautiful part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office—which is a set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at specific times of the day. Imagine starting your morning at sunrise with Lauds, one of the most important prayer times. Lauds is traditionally prayed in the early morning, often around sunrise, and is one of the major hours of prayer. The name "Lauds" comes from the Latin word "laudare," which means "to praise," and that’s exactly what this morning prayer is all about: lifting our hearts in praise to God as we begin a new day.
The practice of praying at specific times of the day has its roots in Jewish tradition, where prayer was observed at set hours. Early Christians adopted and adapted these practices. By the 3rd century, it became common for Christians to pray in the morning and evening, reflecting the structure of the Jewish morning and evening sacrifices.
Structure of Lauds
The structure of Lauds typically includes the following elements:
- Opening Verse: "O Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise."
- Psalmody: Several psalms or canticles, usually three, are recited or chanted.
- Hymn: A hymn appropriate for the morning time.
- Reading: A short scripture reading.
- Responsory: A brief responsive prayer following the reading.
- Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus): A key element of Lauds, this canticle from Luke 1:68-79 is recited or sung every morning.
- Intercessions: Prayers for the needs of the Church, the world, and the faithful.
- The Lord’s Prayer: The Our Father is recited.
- Closing Prayer: A concluding prayer specific to the day or season.
- Blessing: A final blessing.
Lauds - Morning Prayer Sample
Opening Verse
Leader: O Lord, open my lips.
All: And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Psalmody
Leader: Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Psalm 63:2-9 Leader: O God, you are my God, for you I long;
All: for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
Leader: So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
All: to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
Leader: So I will bless you all my life,
All: in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
Leader: On my bed I remember you.
All: On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
Leader: My soul clings to you;
All: your right hand holds me fast.
Psalm 149 Leader: Sing a new song to the Lord,
All: his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their King.
Leader: Let them praise his name with dancing
All: and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Leader: Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
All: shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand.
Leader: To deal out vengeance to the nations
All: and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
Leader: To carry out the sentence pre-ordained:
All: this honor is for all his faithful.
Hymn
Leader: Let us sing a hymn of praise to greet the new day.
Hymn:
Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.
Reading
Leader: A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 60:1-3)
"Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Responsory
Leader: Lord, you will open my lips.
All: And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Leader: You have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.
All: And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Leader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All: Lord, you will open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus)
Leader: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
All: He has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Intercessions
Leader: Let us bring our needs and the needs of the Church before the Lord.
Leader: For the Church, that she may be a light to the nations,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For peace in the world and for the leaders of nations,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For those who are suffering or in need,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For our community, that we may reflect the love of Christ in all we do,
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer
Leader: Let us pray in the words our Savior gave us:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Leader: Lord, as we begin this day, fill us with your love and guide us in your truth. Help us to walk in your light and to bring your peace to all we meet. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Blessing
Leader: May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Ways to pray even if you’re too busy in the mornings:
Praise Him, even while you're getting ready; because God is always with you.
Pray softly if you must because God knows even your thoughts before you think them.
Listen to praise and worship music in the morning and use that “getting ready” time to magnify Him and shrink your known and unknown problems in His presence.
Use your commute as valuable time that you pray and seek the Lord.
Keep your Bible and any other devotional you use open on the kitchen table so as you are eating breakfast you can feed on spiritual food at the same time.
Truthfully, if you’re too busy in the morning for God its time to rearrange your schedule putting God first and scheduling everything else thereafter. If spending time in God’s presence in the morning and seeking Him first is really a priority to you then you will find a way to make it happen.
We should start every day with the Lord so that we get His heart on any and every issue of our life. We should start with thanking and praising Him for His goodness and blessings, even when we’re going through a tough valley because He promises that He is there with us.
Finally, we should come out of fellowship time with God refreshed, restored, and revitalized to take on the day. When we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness in the morning at the start of our day, everything else we need that day will be added to us.
What does the Bible say about prayer in the morning?
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” – Mark 1:35
There is no greater example for morning prayer in the Bible than that of Jesus Christ. In the scripture above, we can see that even He rose early in the morning to pray. This means that we too should take time to seek God before the day begins. We should talk to Him, read His Word, and always give thanks for His blessings in our lives.
Morning prayer is not a one-way conversation. Let the Lord speak to your heart, too, as you fellowship with Him before the day begins.
5 Bible verses about seeking God in the morning:
Psalm 119:47 - For I delight in your commands because I love them.
Genesis 19:27 - Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord.
Isaiah 33:2 - Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
Psalm 5:3 - In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Psalm 57:8 - Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
Read more morning prayers:
- A Prayer for a Good Day
- Prayer for a New Day
- 5 Best Morning Prayers to Begin the Day
- Morning Prayers to Start the Day Strong
- 30 Morning Prayers to Start the Day with God
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Sean Kong
This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer for Peace
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Protection
Prayer for Anxiety
Prayer for Strength
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