Psalm
Read an appropriate psalm, out loud if possible. I suggest one of the following psalms:
Psalm 46 | Psalm 47 | Psalm 51
Reading
Find an appropriate Bible passage, then read it—out loud, if possible—and think about how it relates to you. I suggest the following:
- Isaiah 12:3-6
- Luke 1:47-55
- Luke 1:69-79
Affirmation
Affirm your faith by reciting one of the following historic creeds or a statement of faith of your own choosing or composition.
The Apostles Creed
The Nicene Creed
Prayer
Pray thanksgivings and petitions; asking God for your specific needs as you see them and giving thanks for specific things in your life. You can pray one gargantuan prayer, or a series of small prayers. You can pray the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), or you can use it as an outline for a prayer of your own.
- Address God with praises
- “Our Father, who art…”
- Submit to God’s will
- “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done…”
- Ask for your specific physical needs
- “Give us this day our daily bread…”
- Ask for forgiveness
- “Forgive us our debts…”
- To the degree that you yourself are willing to forgive others…
- “As we forgive our debtors…”
- Ask for help with temptations
- “Lead us not into temptation…”
- And preservation from evil
- “Deliver us from evil…”
Collect
End by praying this or a similar prayer:
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day; Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. AMEN.