An Early Morning Prayer

Dear God –

Before I stand up today!  I bow down and humbly say, “I can’t do today, without you.”

Before I rise up, and do chores, and mother’s work, and strip off the layers of
what I know to serve you….

I will commit all my serving to The Greatest Servant of All.

I will remember your life, your sacrifice, your death.  And all you did in your fully God, fully “man” days.

Before I grow tall to acknowledge I “can” make it through another day, I will acknowledge that it is only by your breathe, only by your grace molding me like clay, that I can be any thing, giving everything, because of what you have done for me.

Before I stand up and go forward, in duty and chores.  I will look back and recall, the places you have taken me from.  I will remember my Egypt.  Dreaded days in deserts of my own selfishness.

Acknowledging that it is your simple love for this broken woman that keeps me here.  Fueling me forward to tomorrow.

Before I stand up to slay the time imploding in on me.  The lack of resources.  The struggles I face to gain energy.  I will remember that it is you who falls walls with simple shouting.  Parts seas, when our hands are lifted high toward heaven.

And that I don’t have to do anything to get strength….Simply be weak. And entrust you to be my everything.

Before I get offended.  At children bickering.  Spouse coming home from a difficult day at work.  Neighbors quarreling.  I will remember, You are the peacemaker.  You are the one who gives good gifts to your enemies.  You are the one who bowed down to wash the feet of those you were keeping company with.

You even broke bread with Judas.  The one who would soon sell to slay you.  Let me not forget that Lord.  Let me not forget your grace for others.  Your grace for me.

Yes. before I take the world upon my shoulders.  Before I try to be Noah, building an ark in the desert of my wanderings.  Let me remember, it is only your voice I must hear.  Your heart I must follow.  Regardless of the criticism I might get from others.

And before I try to be the superhero of my own world.  My day.  My family.  Let me remember your yoke is easy.  And you alone are the hero of all of our broken stories.  I am flesh and blood. You are The One who sweeps down from heaven in love and rescued a sinful one…like me.

Yes, let me not forget.  With you, all things…yes all things, are possible.

When I get uncomfortable, or tired, or plain grumpy.  Let me not forget how you left heaven where there is no tears, no pain, no hurting….


To come be flesh among us.  How you took on the world in spite of us.  How your love covered over our selfishness….

So that we need not go forward.  Stand up.  Be strong without you.

How each day I need not try to live in my world like a Pharisee.  A self resurrected God, standing apart from you…

Let me remember, how when you left, you said you would never leave me.  You wouldn’t just be with me, but that you would be in me.  Sending the Holy Spirit to guide and to comfort me.

Let me remember, how we need not go on, trying to find our own identity, in a world that just depletes us.

We have everything we need.  In you.  Through you.  That we might live alone for your sweet glory.

Yes, before I go out, I bow my head before standing up.  And thank you for your love.  That this day, our bodies are temples, the resting place for God, Yahweh, the Incarnate One.

And that before we stand up.  You are standing in us.  Before we go forward.  Your plan for us is already finished.  Before we move on, You are many steps, there in front of us.  Calling us to your peace….

The peace that is ours.  Through you.

Regardless of what our day may look like.

(Linking with Ann, Emily)