Morning Prayers to Start Your Day with Purpose
- Trace Pirtle
- May 2, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 3, 2025
Not everyone is a "morning person," but everyone can benefit from starting the day with prayer. Why? Because mornings reflect new beginnings. It sets the tone for the day. Years ago, my wife suggested that we start the day with prayer over our morning cup of coffee. Later, we added reading a daily devotional. For 2025, we chose David Jeremiah's "Turning Points with God." Although I was initially reluctant, our morning prayer and devotional reading are the cornerstone of our mornings. It's a simple but powerful practice that aligns our hearts with God, helping us face whatever comes with love, peace, and purpose.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. ~Psalm 5:3 (NKJV)
Why Morning Prayer Matters
"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. ~Mark 1: 35 (NKJV)
Morning prayer matters to us because it matters to Jesus. God's Word tells us that Jesus started His day early in the morning in prayer. Beginning our day in prayer allows us to seek God's wisdom and council before planning our day. It shifts our focus to God and away from ourselves.
Morning prayer reminds us that we don't have to navigate the day's challenges alone. It centers our thoughts, calms our anxieties, and helps us approach the hours ahead with trust and assurance.
"Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You." ~Psalm 143:8 (NKJV)
Over the years, this daily habit has strengthened our faith. It has helped us deal with many of life's stressful moments. As we know, life can be stressful with God, but infinitely more so without Him!
A Simple Morning Prayer Format
Okay, folks, I'll admit it. I'm not the most eloquent prayer warrior on planet earth. My wife, however, is. I'm the recipient of many of her prayers and I am edified and encouraged each morning. But for my brothers and sisters who are "prayer challenged" I'll suggest that you don't need fancy words or long prayers. A simple, heartfelt structure like this one can guide you:
Praise: Thank God for the gift of a new day and His presence in your life.
Surrender: Tell Him your concerns, plans, To-Do list, and wishes, asking for His will to be done.
Request: Ask for Divine Intervention, discernment, wisdom, or strength for specific situations or people. Speaking of people, ask God for Divine Appointments!
Scripture Focus: Reflect on a Bible verse or passage that speaks to your heart.
Listening: Pause in stillness, allowing space for God to speak or impress something on your spirit.
Sample Morning Prayers
Not long ago, I had a former client (now brother in Christ) who asked me how I prayed. I told him that, for me, prayer is just a conversation with the Holy Spirit. We were talking on the phone and I said that the Holy Spirit was present on the call. Our prayers were similar to the following:
Prayer for Gratitude and Joy:
Lord, thank You for the gift of this day. Thank You for the breath in my lungs, the people in my life, and the opportunities ahead. Help me to approach today with joy and gratitude, seeing Your hand in every moment. Amen.
Prayer for Facing Challenges:
Heavenly Father, You know the challenges on my path today. I lay my worries before You and ask for Your strength and wisdom to guide me. Help me face each obstacle with faith, knowing You are with me. Amen.
Prayer for Purpose and Direction:
Lord, as I step into today, guide my thoughts, words, and actions. Show me where I can serve, love, and make a difference. Keep me aligned with Your purpose, and let me reflect Your light to those around me. Amen.
Using Devotionals to Enrich Your Time
As I mentioned earlier, my wife and I love reading aloud from David Jeremiah's "Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotionals" each morning. Jeremiah's devotions are short enough for those with limited time, but offer scripture, encouragement, and practical wisdom that is well worth the five-minute read.
Whether you read alone or with a partner, devotionals can ground you in God's Word and offer fresh insights to carry throughout the day.
If you're new to devotionals, choose one that resonates with you (yes, some are conservative and others progressive) and set aside a few minutes to reflect after reading. Even a short passage can spark meaningful conversation or personal reflection.
Tips for Making Morning Prayer a Habit
Choose a consistent time and space: For us, it's over morning coffee at 0600 hrs. (6:00 AM). For you, it might be during breakfast, a morning walk, or before anyone else is awake (like Jesus).
Keep a prayer journal: Jot down thoughts, prayers, or scriptures that stand out to you. Here's an image of my journal. I have a Daily Bible Reading, a Verse of the Day, and the middle entry is related to the devotion reading that my wife and I shared. Then I have a space for Actions. After all, this website and ministry are all about Faith in Action! :-) Sorry about the sloppy writing!
My Daily Morning Prayer & Action Journal Use resources: Devotional books, apps (I use YouVersion), or even online daily devotionals can keep you engaged and inspired.
Final Encouragement
As I've mentioned, your morning prayer doesn't have to be perfect or lengthy. God understands if you can't put two sentences together because you haven't had enough coffee, yet. It's more about starting your day--like Jesus did-- connected to God, offering your time and heart to Him. Try it for a week. See how it shapes your days, your outlook, and your spirit.
"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalm 118: 24
May each morning become a sacred time where you draw closer to God--alone or with a trusted other-- and find renewed purpose and peace. In Jesus' mighty and holy name. Amen.
Understanding why we're here helps us approach each morning with greater intentionality, knowing God schedules divine appointments throughout our day.
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