How do you start your day?  Studies show that more people make their bed first thing in the morning than don’t.  According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Bedroom Poll, around 70% of Americans make their bed each morning.

Another common habit of Americans is the morning coffee ritual. For millions, the day begins with a fresh cup of coffee.  In fact, according to the National Coffee Association (NCA) close to 51% of Americans drink coffee in the morning.

Making the bed, having a cup of coffee, and prayer makes up my morning routine.   Aside from the Lord’s Prayer (which is my first prayer in the morning before I get out of bed).   Martin Luther also suggested a Morning and an Evening Prayer.  The morning prayer is as follows:

“I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.   Let Your holy angel  be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. (Luther’s Small Catechism, pg. 30)

This prayer is often my “go to” prayer after making the bed and over morning coffee, or when I get to the church office.  The prayer can do so much for us as we start our day.

First, the prayer reminds us this past evening we survived not by our own powers, or sheer luck. We survived the night because of God’s mercy and grace.

Second, in the prayer we ask that God would keep us from “sin and every evil” during the upcoming day’s events.

Third, I love the phrase in this prayer when we confess to God that we are commending to Him “our bodies, our souls, and all things.  

Beginning a habit of morning  prayer does not have to be burdensome. We can start with simple steps like praying the Lord’s Prayer or Luther’s Morning Prayer.   Try it out for a week.  Most all already know the Lord’s Prayer by heart and you can memorize Luther’s morning  prayer in one or two weeks at most. I assure you, there is not greater way to start your day!

-Pastor Treglown