Prayer on Monday — Beginning the Week
Entrust the new week to God and ask for blessing, guidance, protection and spiritual growth.
Historical edition. Historical claims and instructions are preserved as historical context.
O loving and merciful God! By Thy grace I begin this new week, but I do not know what it has in store for me. How much evil and misfortune may befall us in a single day! How much more in a whole week! Therefore at the very beginning of this week I come to Thee, and commend myself wholly to Thy keeping.
O my God! Grant me Thy Holy Spirit to sanctify, lead, and direct me, and to bear witness with my spirit that I am Thy child. Let Thy blessing rest on me throughout this week. Bless my going out and my coming in, bless my daily occupation and business, bless each step I take. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. If Thou leadest me, I shall not go astray. If Thou keepest me, I shall not fall. Therefore let Thy mercy and faithfulness guard me in all my ways. Bless all that is mine, and let it prosper under Thy care.
O my God and faithful Father! Protect and guard me against harm, danger, loss, and misfortune. Let me remain day and night beneath the shelter of Thy grace. Guard my house on every side like the house of Job. Let Thy angels barricade me on every hand; then shall no misfortune overwhelm me, however great it may be. Hear my prayer when I cry unto Thee, and let me not go unheard from the throne of Thy grace. Preserve me from great transgressions. Show me Thy ways, O Lord; lead me in Thy truth. Unite my heart to fear Thy name. Grant that during this week I may become more pious and godly, and may increase in the knowledge and love of Thee. And as I leave week after week behind me, grant that I may grow in the inward man, and may add to my faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity: so that, when the last week of my life arrives, I may be assured of Thy grace. Should this week prove to be one of afflictions, strengthen me by Thy Holy Spirit, that by Thy help I may patiently endure and overcome them. Be Thou my Helper and Saviour in every time of need. And now, together with all pious Christians, I commit myself, body and soul, with all that I possess, to Thy Fatherly care. Amen.