Category Archives: Meditation

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Prayer at the Beginning of the Day

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace.

The day begins. When my feet find slippers, my body and mind are busy: turning up the heat, waking children, feeding cats, and making lunches. I move from one activity to another, keeping an eye on the clock to make sure everyone gets out the door on time. My first hour passes without much thought at all about how I have already begun the day. I’m not in turmoil or particularly peaceful, I’m just doing what needs to be done. Reflection and prayer are in my second hour – a sacred and important part of my day, but not its very beginning.

The problem isn’t really about an hour’s delay, it’s with my assumption that I don’t really need to acknowledge the beginning of the day as a gift. Without greeting the day directly, any peace I find will depend upon an external circumstance – or be delayed until I finally do greet the day with intention. I may be very grateful for what the day brings without ever being aware of the day itself – like being thankful for a drink of water without considering the glass it comes in. When I pray these words, I become aware of the day that God has given me.

 I ask God for peace because I cannot create it. While my actions and thoughts can reveal the peace God gives, they cannot produce it. Only God can grant me to greet the coming day in peace. When I ask to begin my day this way, I trust the coming hours to a graciousness far beyond my own limited peace and kindness. I can get through the tasks of the first hour, or I can live in peace in the midst of them. God’s gift, and my choice.

Beginning Prayer

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O Lord, Grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon thy holy will. In every hour of the day reveal thy will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction that thy will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray thou thyself in me. Amen. (Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, d. 1867. From A Manual of Eastern Orthodox Prayers, Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1991, p. 20) 

I came across this prayer twenty years ago; It’s called “Prayer at the beginning of the day,” but I think it could as easily be Prayer at the Beginning of the Blog. It’s my choice for starting A Pen and a Prayer because sacred truths cannot be written or read outside prayer – something that will be an ongoing theme in my writings.

Over the next few days, I will build this prayer sentence by sentence. Starting with the first and ending with Amen, each line will come with reflection. When the Amen arrives, thoughts on the whole prayer will come. Please add your thoughts and questions. Prayer is always said before God and in the company of faithful seekers, and I welcome your company.