Gentle starts
7 Short Morning Prayers to Start Your Day with God
4 min read
For many of us, the first thing we reach for in the morning is a phone. Within minutes the day is full of messages, news and to-do lists. A short morning prayer is a small way to give the first moment of the day to God instead.
It doesn’t need to be long. The psalmist wrote: “Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, WEB). A few sentences are enough to set the direction for the day.
7 short morning prayers
1. A simple morning prayer
Good morning, God. Thank you for this new day. I give it to you. Walk with me through every part of it. Amen.
2. For a busy morning
Lord, the day is already full. Help me stay calm, do what matters most, and be kind to the people I meet. Amen.
3. Before work
God, bless the work in front of me today. Give me focus, honesty and patience. Help me do it well and treat others well. Amen.
4. For a hard day ahead
God, I’m not looking forward to today. Go before me. Give me strength for each hour, and remind me that I’m not alone. Amen.
5. For your family
Lord, watch over my family today. Keep them safe, help us be patient with each other, and bring us home together tonight. Amen.
6. For peace
Jesus, you said you give us your peace. Please let it settle in my heart this morning, whatever the day brings. Amen. (Based on John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.”)
7. For guidance
God, show me the way to go today. I trust you with the decisions in front of me. Amen. (Inspired by Psalm 143:8: “Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.”)
A few sentences are enough to set the direction for the day.
Morning verses to pair with your prayer
his compassion doesn’t fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
How to make it a habit
Keep it before the phone. Pray before unlocking your screen. Some people put a small note on top of their phone at night as a reminder.
Link it to something you already do. Pray while the kettle boils, while brushing your teeth or on your commute.
Pick one prayer for a week. Repeating the same short prayer for seven days makes it easier to remember.
Be gentle with yourself. If you forget, pray when you remember, even at noon. God isn’t counting.
Even Jesus began some days this way: “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.” (Mark 1:35, WEB).
Frequently asked questions
What is a good short morning prayer?
“Good morning, God. Thank you for this new day. I give it to you. Walk with me through every part of it. Amen.” is a simple one you can learn by heart.
Why pray in the morning?
Praying first thing helps set the tone for the day and reminds us that we’re not facing it alone. Psalm 5:3 describes bringing requests to God “in the morning”.
How long should a morning prayer be?
It can take less than a minute. A short prayer you actually pray each morning is better than a long one you skip.
Can I pray in the morning if I’m not a morning person?
Yes. Your prayer can be as quiet and simple as you need. You can even pray in bed before getting up.
If you’d like one short reflection to begin your day, Bible for Difficult Days offers 59 brief readings, each with a verse, a few questions and a prayer, especially for the days that start out hard.