Psalm 19:14 — May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
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LIKRAT SHABBAT (preparing for the Sabbath)
By Rabbi Jack Riemer
We cannot merely pray to you, O God, to end war;
For we know that You have made the world in a way
That man must find his own path to peace.
Within himself and with his neighbor.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation;
For You have already given us the resources
With which to feed the entire world,
If we would only use them wisely.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root out prejudice;
For You have already given us eyes
With which to see the good in all men,
If we would only use them rightly.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end despair,
For You have already given us the power
To clear away slums and to give hope,
If we would only use our power justly.
We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease;
For You have already given us great minds
With which to search out cures and healing,
If we would only use them constructively.
Therefore we pray to You instead, O God,
For strength, determination and will power,
To do instead of just pray,
To become, instead of merely to wish.
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Lord, open our eyes to the world around us. Use us to warn people, and to tell them that when we walk hand in hand with you we are safe, even in the midst of a storm, and that there is an eternity to lose or gain. Amen.
–Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983)
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Our Father, each day is a little life, each night is a tiny death; help us to live with faith and hope and love. Lift our duty above drudgery; let not our strength fail, or the vision fade, in the heat and burden of the day. O God, make us patient and merciful with one another, in the fret and jar of life, remembering that each one fights a hard fight and walks a lonely way. Forgive us Lord, if we hurt our fellow souls; teach us a gentler tone, a sweeter charity of words, and a more healing touch. Sustain us when we must face sorrow, give us courage for the day, and hope for tomorrow. Day after day, may we take hold of your hand and look up into your face, whatever befall us, until our work is finished and our last day is done. Amen.
–St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
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MORNING PRAYERS:
O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you: I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with You there is light;
I am lonely, but You do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with You there is help;
I am restless, but with You there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with You there is patience;
I do not understand Your ways,
But You know the way for me.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You were poor and in distress, a captive and forsaken as I am.
You know all man’s troubles;
You abide with me when all men fail me;
You remember and seek me;
It is Your will that I should know You and turn to You.
Lord, I hear Your call and follow. Help me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring, may your name be praised. Amen.
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) Letters and Papers from Prison
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Who can tell what a day may bring forth? Cause me, therefore, gracious God, to live every day as if it were to be my last, for I know not but that it may be such. Cause me to live now as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. Amen.
–Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
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Now another day is breaking;
Sleep was sweet, and so is waking.
Dear Lord, I promised you last night,
Never again to sulk or fight.
Such vows are easier to keep,
When a child is sound asleep.
Today, O Lord, for your dear sake,
I’ll try to keep them when awake.
–Ogden Nash (1902-1971)
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EVENING PRAYERS:
Be present, merciful Lord, and protect us through the silent hours of the night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–Ambrosian Compline Collect
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Our heavenly Father, by your mercy and might, the world turns safely into darkness and returns again to light. We place into your hands our unfinished tasks, our unsolved problems, and our unfulfilled hopes, knowing that only what you bless will prosper. To your great love and protection, we commit each other and all those we love, knowing that you alone are our sure defender. Amen.
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Gracious Lord, we give you thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive; the day is now past and we commit it to you. We entrust to you the night; we rest assured, for you are our help, and you neither slumber nor sleep; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978
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It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done. Let it be. Amen.
–Celtic prayer
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