Text by Hope Lyda
All Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTER- NATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS is a series trademark of The Hawkins Children s LLC. Harvest House Publishers, Inc., is the exclusive licensee of the trademark ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS. The text is taken from One-Minute Prayers TM to Start Your Day and One- Minute Prayers TM to End Your Day. Cover photo David Loftus / Riser / Getty Images Cover by Franke Design and Illustration, Minneapolis, Minnesota ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS TO BEGIN AND END YOUR DAY Copyright 2008 by Harvest House Publishers Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-2104-6 ISBN-10: 0-7369-2104-4 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed in China 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 / RDS-SK / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Prayers to Begin Your Day Contents Awake....................... 7 Beginnings.................... 9 Opportunity.................. 15 Productivity................... 21 Others....................... 27 Sacrifice...................... 33 Change...................... 39 Devotion..................... 45 Commitment.................. 51 Hope........................ 57 Provision..................... 63 Perseverance.................. 69 Contentment.................. 75 Now........................ 81 Renewal...................... 87 Trials........................ 93 Promise...................... 99 Awareness.................... 105 Courage...................... 111 Thirst....................... 117 Responsibility................. 123 Inspired...................... 127
Prayers to End Your Day Evensong...................... 131 Transformation................. 133 Awareness..................... 139 Tranquility..................... 145 Darkness...................... 151 Restless....................... 157 Refuge........................ 163 Solitude....................... 169 Covering..................... 175 Reflection..................... 181 Dusk........................ 187 Worry........................ 193 Lessons....................... 199 Peace......................... 205 Love......................... 211 Hope......................... 217 Nourishment.................. 223 Completion.................... 229 Silence....................... 235 Listening..................... 241 Breathing..................... 247 Vespers....................... 253
to Begin Your Day
Awake Awake, My Soul My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. PSALM 57:7-8 S Let the day dawn with music and celebration. I want to be a part of this rejoicing, Lord. You give my spirit cause for joy. Let my thoughts quickly turn to the blessings in my life so that my day begins with gratitude. Keep me from an attitude of defeat or mourning when I have been given this gift of another day. Every minute is Yours. Please hear the music of my life. May it be pleasing to You and worthy of a new dance. Let my rejoicing bring the day from the night so that You will be praised and the world will see my light. ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS TO BEGIN AND END YOUR DAY 7
Beginnings
Beginnings Facing the Day At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. LUKE 4:42-43 S God, as I face a new day, help me be mindful of what You have planned. May my focus stay on Your desires so that I do not give my time, myself, and my day to other paths or work. Grant me discernment so I can recognize when a distraction is truly an indication of Your leading and not something to avoid. It is not easy to turn my life over, even to You. But knowing that there is a purpose for me ahead, just minutes from now and as my day unfolds, I am excited to see what today might bring. ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS TO BEGIN AND END YOUR DAY 11
Beginnings Inviting Wisdom In The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. PROVERBS 9:10 S I like to act as if I know what I am doing most of the time even when I am clueless. But Lord, this can get me into trouble. Help me seek Your wisdom and leading in more circumstances. May I begin with Your wisdom before stepping forth into this day and onto the path of my life. My desire to know and understand my world and the people and situations in it will only be realized when I know You intimately. 12 ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS TO BEGIN AND END YOUR DAY
Beginnings A Day s Birth I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. PSALM 119:147-148 S The hope I have in You is the beginning of my possibilities, my dreams, my future. Today is the beginning of the rest of my calendar of days. May I openly face all that You have for me. I wonder who You will place in my path. Will I find an open door where I least expect it? Will one step forward today be the start of something great and of Your hand? I meditate on Your promises, Lord. They fill my heart and mind throughout the night. Now let me put my faith in those promises as a new day is born. ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS TO BEGIN AND END YOUR DAY 13
Beginnings Giver of Life From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother s womb. I will ever praise you. PSALM 71:6 S When I could not yet form words that made sense to those around me when I was unable to feed myself, walk, or consider consequences of my actions, You were my source of care and protection. You brought me into this world, and now You bring me through this life. I praise You for today. I even thank You for the trials I face. When I am misunderstood at home or at work, or I find I have made a faulty choice, I know You are here for me. You are the One who was with me at my beginning and will be the One to embrace me at the end of my days. Thank You for Your presence and comfort every day in between. 14 ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS TO BEGIN AND END YOUR DAY