Movements of Morning Prayer

It’s morning, and time for prayer. I uncurl, adjusting to the light. I lay flat, not really ready. I try to form thoughts, but they are slow and drowsy. My brain can’t focus. And so I pray with my body.

I stretch. Awake.

Awake me to Your presence. Wake me to the shining light of Your smile. Awake me to Your truth, goodness, and beauty. Wake me to Your voice. Wake me to wonder, wake me to you.

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;

I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. 

(Psalm 17:15)

He awakens me morning by morning,

He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple.

(Isaiah 50:4)

The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

I stretch upward. Offer. 

I offer all that I am for all that You are. Weary arms, feeble knees, wandering feet. Day breaks and I pour out this offering once more. As I raise my offering, raise me to life. 

Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, 

which is your spiritual service of worship. 

(Romans 12:1)

And you shall love the LORD Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, 

and with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

(Mark 12:30)

I stretch outward. Align.

Align me with Your plans and purposes for this day, and these people. Align my energies with yours so that I will not grow weary in doing good. Align me with Your heart. 

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven. 

(Matthew 6:10)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 

(Ephesians 2:10)

For it is God who is at work in you, 

both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

(Philippians 2:13)

I stretch. In You I live and move and have my being. In all that I do, let me move toward You. Ready for this day. 

Awake ~ Offer ~ Align

~lg