The 7-Day Morning Prayer

Day 1 · 5 minutes

Just start

You don't need the right words. People have prayed the same words for hundreds of years, and you can borrow them. Today is one verse and one morning prayer.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:3 (KJV)

O Lord our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Grace · Book of Common Prayer (1662)

1. Sit down before your phone. Read the verse slowly, twice.
2. Read the prayer aloud or silently, at the pace of a breath per line.
3. Sit quietly for three breaths. Then start your day.

Reflect: what is the one thing you most want to bring to God this morning? One sentence.

Day 2 · 5 minutes

"Lord, teach us to pray"

Not knowing how to pray is the oldest problem there is. The disciples asked the same question, and got a short answer.

Lord, teach us to pray.

Luke 11:1 (KJV)

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer · Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

1. Read the verse once. Then pray the Lord's Prayer slowly, one line at a time.
2. After each line, stop for one breath. Notice which line you rush past.
3. Say it again, this time only the line you noticed.

Reflect: which line was hardest to say today? Don't fix it. Just notice.

Day 3 · 5 minutes

When your mind is racing

Worry shows up first, before coffee. The old answer is not to pretend it isn't there, but to name it, and hand it over.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Peace · Book of Common Prayer (1662)

1. Write the worry down on a card, in one sentence. Name it plainly.
2. Read the verse, then pray the prayer slowly.
3. Put the card face down, in a drawer or under your Bible. You can pick it up again later; for now it's set down.

Reflect: what is one worry you can say out loud right now, in plain words?

Day 4 · 5 minutes

When you're tired

Some mornings begin already worn out. Prayer on those mornings can be very short. The point is not to do more but to put something down.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

Prayer of St Francis (traditional, opening)

1. Read both verses. Then pray the opening of the Prayer of St Francis.
2. Write down what you're carrying today. Three items at most.
3. Circle the one thing that really is yours to do today. Then do one small kind thing for someone before lunch.

Reflect: what are you carrying that isn't yours to carry today?

Day 5 · 5 minutes

One minute of quiet

Most mornings are loud before they begin: phone, news, to-do list. Today you add one minute of silence, in the middle of a prayer.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV, opening)

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Purity · Book of Common Prayer (1662)

1. Read the verse. Then set a timer for one minute and put the phone face down.
2. Sit without asking for anything. Let thoughts come. Come back to the verse each time.
3. When the timer ends, pray the prayer once through.

Reflect: what did you notice in the quiet? A thought, a feeling, nothing at all? All of it counts.

Day 6 · 5 minutes

Begin with thanks

Gratitude is the easiest door into prayer. You don't have to feel it first. You only have to name something.

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

A General Thanksgiving · Book of Common Prayer (1662), opening

1. Read the verse, then the prayer, slowly.
2. Write three small thank-yous from yesterday: a meal, a message, a good five minutes.
3. Thank one person today, in a text or in person.

Reflect: what is one ordinary thing from yesterday that you're glad of?

Day 7 · 5 minutes a day from now on

Your 5-minute morning

Six mornings behind you. Here's the routine, in the order you've been using it. Today's verse is a good one to keep.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

O Lord our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Grace · Book of Common Prayer (1662)

1. Minutes 1 to 2: read one verse, twice. Pick any from this week.
2. Minutes 2 to 4: pray a prayer from this week. Keep the one that fit you best.
3. Minute 5: one question, one small action. Tie it to something you already do, like the first coffee.

Reflect: which of the six mornings did you come back to most? Start there tomorrow.