Morning Prayer: the Beauty God Has Planted within You
This prayer is dedicated to living for the fear of the Lord, and of no one else. Living each day not worrying about what other people think, but instead for what God thinks. This is dedicated to discovering the beauty that God has planted inside each of us and having the courage to live it out.
The Call to Prayer
Alleluia! God is good! Sing praise to that wonderful name!
Psalm 135:3
The Request for Presence
Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8
The Greeting
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your nurturing Spirit guide me on a safe and level path.
Psalm 143:10
The Hymn
O God beyond all praising, we worship you today
and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay,
for we can only wonder at every gift you send,
at blessings without number and mercies without end.
We lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word;
we honor and adore you, our great and mighty Lord.
Then hear, O gracious Saviour; accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favour may serve you as our king,
and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill,
we’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.
Michael Perry
PCC Hymn #448 O God beyond all praising
The Refrain
On being asked when the kingdom of God is coming, [Jesus] answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:20-21 (Q)
A Reading
When you ask me what you should do, when you ask me what is the right thing to do, I will say to you, “Can you tell me the truest, most beautiful story you can imagine? Can you tell me a story of the truest, most beautiful ways to use your gifts down here that you can imagine?”
And suddenly, there is a release. We’re not in this cage of should, shouldn’t. We are returning to this place inside of us where this was already planted.
...There are no maps: each and every single one of us are a pioneer. Each of us is here to create and express an idea of love, an idea of family, an idea of faith that is true to our most inner being, this treasure hunt of this jewel that was placed inside of us. There is something about asking a person to imagine the truest, most beautiful story that makes them breathe and start explaining it.
Because it’s there! It’s there, and it’s different for everyone. When you hear people’s stories, you realize, Oh my gosh, none of this was supposed to be cookie cutter. It’s all so different and so beautiful. But what I have found is that people are afraid to do that.
Glennon Doyle
in Jen Hatmaker's For the Love podcast
The Refrain
On being asked when the kingdom of God is coming, [Jesus] answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:20-21 (Q)
The Psalm
Alleluia! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for God is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
YHWH builds up Jerusalem and gathers the outcasts of Israel.
God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
God determines the number of the stars and gives to them all of their names.
Great is YHWH, and mighty in power; there is no limit to God’s wisdom.
YHWH lifts up the oppressed and casts the corrupt to the ground.
Sing to our God with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre—
who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth,
who makes grass grow upon the mountains and green plants to serve humankind,
who provides food for the flocks and herds and for the young ravens when they cry.
God is not impressed by the might of a horse, nor has pleasure in the strength of a person;
But YHWH has pleasure in those who fear God, in those who hope in God’s steadfast love.
Psalm 147:1-11
The Refrain
On being asked when the kingdom of God is coming, [Jesus] answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:20-21 (Q)
The Gloria
All glory to Almighty God
for love so deep so high so broad;
the Trinity whom we adore,
forever and forevermore.
15th c. Latin, anonymous English translation
PCC Hymn #205 O love, how deep, how broad, how high (vs. 6)
The Lord’s Prayer
The Prayer Appointed for the Day
Grant me, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Phyllis Tickle
The Concluding Prayer of the Church
Almighty and everlasting God, you have brought me in safety to the beginning of this day. Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome with adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purposes; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Phyllis Tickle
- Inspired by Phyllis Tickle’s The Divine Hours, Pocket Edition
- Bible translations from the NRSV or The Inclusive Bible.