​Household Prayers
Prayer is a spiritual exercise that helps build a personal relationship with God. It is also an opportunity to both speak with and listen to God.  

Sometimes the words come naturally, sometimes they don't. For the times when they don't, you can find prayers here that you can use. They are related to our Sunday Scripture readings.

Not every prayer will resonate with every person every week. But when they do, they can help each of us build a life of meaning and purpose in relationship with God.

Week of January 2, 2021

Household Prayer: Morning[1]
Loving God, each new day you fill the world with light for our work and recreation.  As we go to our daily tasks, teach us to live as your faithful children whose eyes are open to the light of Christ.  Where there is uncertainty or falsehood, help us see your truth.  Where there is division or conflict, keep us in your love.  Enable all that we do or say to bear witness to our inheritance as children of God; through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Amen.

Household Prayer: Evening
Holy God, evening falls upon us, but darkness cannot overcome your light.  In all that we have faithfully accomplished this day, your light has illumined our way.  In all that we have truthfully spoken this day, your wisdom has guided our judgment.  In any way we have strayed, may your light reveal our fault and your wisdom correct our folly.  Let us rest from our labor, trusting in your love for all your children, and let us begin tomorrow with renewed strength to live according to your will.  Through Christ we pray. Amen.

Questions for Reflection
How may I live this day as a child of God who shares in the inheritance of Christ? 
As Christ shines into the darkness of the world around me, what does the Light of Christ allow me to see?

Daily Awareness Reflection[2]
At the end of the day, I’ve been asking myself the following questions.  I jot down the answers and ask them again the next evening.  I’ve found it helps me to remain centered as well as increasing my awareness of God in my life.  It takes about 10 minutes.
  1. Slow down.  Stop.  Prepare yourself to pray by becoming aware of the love with which God looks on you …
  2. Note the gifts God has given you today.  Give thanks to God for them …
  3. Ask God that this be a time of special grace and revelation …
  4. With God, review the day.  Look at the stirrings of your heart, your thoughts, and your choices as the day progressed.  Which have been of God?  Which have not?  What does God want to say to you about both? …
  5. Ask for forgiveness for failures/omissions, for healing from their effects …
  6. Look forward to the following day, and plan concretely with God how to live it according to God’s desire for your life …


[1] The Morning & Evening Prayer and Question for Reflection are reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word® Worship Companion. Copyright 2014.

[2] Elizabeth Liebert, The Soul of Discernment (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 2015), 31.
​

































​

Prayers reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from
Feasting on the Word ® Worship Companion. Copyright 2013.