A Daytime Prayer

Praying is not something that we do just when we go to bed. We can and should pray to God in the evening and during the day. Just as we pray to God and thank Him for the day we had, we also pray to God regarding the day we are about to have. You can pray a daytime prayer to God in the morning, noon, or afternoon. There are no strict rules about it. However, we must start our day with God. Starting our day with God means that you will not face your day alone and deal with whatever comes your way with your strength. Rather, you face the day with God and rely on God for everything.

How do I start my day with God?

You start your day with God by reading His Word and meditating on it throughout the day. There is no rule that you should do this in the morning alone or in the evening as well, but it is good to do it at the start of your day. If you want to read both in the morning and evening, by all means, do so. If we can’t survive without food, then it should also be the same for God’s Word, which is our spiritual food. A Christian can never survive their spiritual walk without reading God’s Word. How will a Christian know what God expects of Him and how they ought to live their lives if they don’t read the Word of God? Meditating on God’s Word sustains us not just for the day but throughout the week, month, and even years. For example, whenever we are tempted to curse at someone annoying us at work, meditating on God’s Word – such as the words of Jesus telling us to love our enemies and forgive others – helps us and reminds us to respond not in anger but with love and grace. 

If you encounter something in your day that makes you sad, such as someone hurting you, meditating on God’s Word reminds you that in Christ you have joy and that you are loved. That is why reading God’s Word is essential when starting one’s day—it is essential for one’s spiritual walk. God’s Word is vital for our sanctification. Jesus said that man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from God. It is impossible to live a Christian life and grow in sanctification if we don’t take time to read and meditate on His Word.

Job 23:12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:18

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Matthew 4:4

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

1 Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Father in heaven, give me the grace to always seek and desire not just physical food but also the spiritual food that I need every day, which is Your Word. I pray that I seek and value Your Word more than physical food. Give me the grace to always be available to read Your Word and help me not just read it but also meditate on it and apply it in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Another essential thing to do to start your day is to pray to God. Jesus exemplified this whenever He withdrew to places where He could be alone with God so that He could pray to the Father and depend on Him as He went about His ministry. We should follow the example of Jesus. Every day before we start our day, we should come to God in prayer and depend on God for the strength and the grace we need to face the day, whether that is working faithfully or being the salt and light wherever we go. It is also a time when we can pray to God about our concerns. That is an act of humility before God—acknowledging that on our own we are incapable without His mercy and grace. 

Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Mark 1:35

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Luke 5:15–16

15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

We are to pray to God not just because it is how we should start our day but also because He is God. God is Holy and Majestic; therefore, we ought to worship Him and pray to Him. Also, it is because we are commanded to pray to Him. As genuine Christians whose hearts have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, we desire to obey God and therefore always pray to Him. But as well, we just want to talk to our heavenly Father. We can talk to God through prayer, and God speaks to us through His Word.

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to always make time when it comes to praying to You and spending solitude with You. I pray, Father, that You will always be my priority over everything else in my life. Help me to always depend on You whenever I start my day. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What should I pray for today?

There are many things that you can pray for the day, starting with your being Christian. Whether you are going to work, school, or somewhere else, you will meet other people. In that aspect, you can pray to God for the grace to help you as you witness Christ to them and be the salt and light to them. That also means that it should be evident in how you live your life. If you are having lunch with a coworker and a person accidentally spills some juice on you, getting angry and cursing the person does not witness Christ at all. Remember that your life is the first Bible that non-Christians will see. That is why praying to God for the grace as you witness Christ and live it out is a good prayer to pray.

Matthew 5:13-16

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Peter 1:14-16

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Father in heaven, give me the grace that I need today, so that I may live my life in a way that others can see how Christ has indeed changed my life and set me free from the bondage of sin. I pray that my life shall be a testament to them—of Who Christ is and what He has done on the cross. Help me renounce ungodliness and worldliness but always live upright and holy. Give me the boldness and courage to preach the Gospel to the person I will be meeting today and work in their hearts, Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The next petition is more like a goal rather than a prayer. Nonetheless, it is something that you can pray to God for as you start your day. You can set a goal to preach the Gospel to at least one person during the day. It doesn’t have to be only a workmate, classmate, or friend—you can preach the Gospel even to a stranger; for example, when you ride a bus or eat lunch and there is a stranger seated beside you. You are praying to God for an opportunity throughout the day to preach the Gospel to at least one person.

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Heavenly Father, I pray for an opportunity today to preach the Gospel to someone. Give me the boldness and courage to preach the Gospel even to a stranger and be unashamed of it, for it is Your power of salvation to anyone who believes. I also pray for the heart of whomever I will be able to preach the Gospel so that their heart shall be prepared and that they will repent and believe the Gospel of Christ. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. 

Of course, praying for something that you do or go to every day is one of the things that you can pray for the day. If you are a working professional, you can pray for matters regarding your work. If you are a student, you can pray for concerns regarding your studies. You can pray to God to give you the grace to be excellent in your work or studies and that you shall always seek to glorify God in what you do. Here is a prayer you can pray as you go to work for the day. You can modify it to fit your life; for example, include your studies if you are a student:

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23-24

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Heavenly Father, I pray for the grace that I need today as I go to work. Help me, Lord, to be excellent in my work and always be faithful. I pray that how I work shall always glorify You and point people toward You. Remind me, Father, that ultimately I am working not for my boss or myself but for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

If you are currently in a difficult financial circumstance and have needs not just for yourself but for your family, praying for God’s sustenance and provision is something that You should pray to God. As mentioned earlier, we pray to God as an act of humility. In your case, you are praying to God and depend on Him daily for the things you need throughout the day and even for the coming month, week, or years. In those moments, remember always to seek God. God is always faithful to provide; that is why you should not be anxious. But you don’t seek God because there is something in it for you. You seek Him because He is all that you want, whether there is a provision or not. Provision just comes along. Here is how you can pray to God for provision:

Matthew 6:25-34

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Father in heaven, I pray for Your provision for the things we need today. Provide not just the food and necessities that we need for the day but also for the weeks, months, and years to come. Thank You, because You are faithful to provide. Even in the season of hardship and lack, we are content in Christ because He is our joy and greatest treasure. Thank You, Father, because even in lack we can still thank You and rejoice in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

If we can make time to eat our breakfast and do other routines in the morning, we can also take the time to pray to God and get into His Word. If our morning is not complete without doing a set of routines, we should also feel the same when we don’t get to pray and read God’s Word. It is a matter of prioritizing God over everything else in our lives.