A Little Daily Office of Prayer

Introduction

Nothing is more harmful to prayer than haphazardness. This little daily office is a way to defeat hit and miss prayer and help people embrace prayer as a way of life and being. Daily prayer is not a task to check off, but a way of remembering God and holding fellowship with him in time. My desire is that, through this guide, people will find themselves able to pray wherever they are, and thereby melt the chasm between secular and sacred life. Through prayer all of life is rendered sacred.

Pastor John Fanella

Lent, 2004

In the Morning

Meditate on Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Read 1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Spend Time in Silence in God’s Holy Presence.

Read a Hymn of Your Choice

Pray for Yourself and Others

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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 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 forever. Amen.

Pray this Prayer in Closing

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At Noon

Meditate on Psalm 113

Give praise, you servants of the L ORD ; praise the Name of the L ORD . Let the Name of the LORD be blessed, from this time forth for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down let the Name of the L ORD be praised. The L ORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

Spend a few moments in silence in the presence of God.

Read Isaiah 26:3; 30:15

O God, you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on you; for in returning and rest we shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be our strength.

Pray for Yourself and Others

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which 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 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 forever. Amen.

Pray This Prayer in Closing

Blessed Savior, at this hour you hung upon the cross, stretching out your loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may look to you and be saved; for your mercies’ sake. Amen.

or this

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you:” Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen.

In the Early Evening (at sunset)

Meditate on 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

It is not ourselves that we proclaim; we proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus’ sake. For the same God who said, “Out of darkness let light shine,” has caused his light to shine within us, to give the light of revelation — the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Spend a few moments in silence in God's presence.

Pray this Prayer

O gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Pray for Yourself and Others

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which 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 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 forever. Amen.

Pray this Prayer in Closing

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.

At the Close of Day

Spend some time in silence until you posess an inner rest in God's presence.

Meditate on Psalm 134

Behold now, bless the L ORD, all you servants of the LORD, you that stand by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD ; the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

Read Jeremiah 14:9.22

Lord, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your Name: Do not forsake us, O Lord our God.

Pray the Prayer of Simeon

Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.

Pray for Yourself and Others.

Pray Prayers of Thanksgiving for the Blessings of the Day

Confess Yours Sins to God and Look to Jesus Christ for Forgiveness

Pray the Lord’s Prayer

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 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 forever. Amen.

Pray This Prayer in Closing

Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pronounce This Benediction Over Yourself and all in Your Home or Church.

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.