Morning Prayer for Easter

O Jesus! While I lay asleep in Thy arms during the past night, I was as one dead. But now, opening my eyes and beholding the bright light of day, I begin, so to speak, to live anew. Yea, now that Thou livest and hast risen from the dead, I live indeed. Thy resurrection has provided for me life and full abundance. Let Thy divine life be clearly manifest in me. Let me not only experience it myself, but let others behold it in me. As in the realm of nature the return of the sap and the new life in the trees is plainly evident to the eyes, even so and much more in the kingdom of grace must it be seen that Thy holy life has entered into the soul. Therefore, since by Thy resurrection I have become partaker of Thy life, let me manifest its power before the world.

Let me manifest this life toward God. Let me keep Him in my thoughts, commune constantly with Him, and begin and perform all things in His name. May I never be ashamed to speak of Him, to praise Him as my best and dearest Friend, and to magnify His goodness before all men. But guard me that I may not do these things from wrong motives or for self-glorification, but out of fervent love for Him and for the glory of His holy name.

Let me manifest Thy life in me toward my neighbor. Let me show concern for his welfare, speak to him about the interests of his soul, and rejoice with him in Thy love. Let me consecrate my hours to Thee, and never spend them in vain conversation and sinful amusements. Grant me, from Thine inexhaustible fulness, the grace and strength which I need, in order not to judge my neighbor unkindly when his actions do not seem right to me; not to ascribe everything to his ignorance; not to find fault with the conduct of my superiors, nor to regard them as lacking in common sense; but to speak with becoming humility of every one, and thus to make manifest that Thy Spirit dwells and rules in me. When I speak with others concerning Thee, let it always be with the deepest reverence, and never for the purpose of exhibiting my knowledge rather than promoting Thy glory.

Finally, let Thy life in me be manifest in those duties which I must observe toward myself. Let me gladly remain in Thy fellowship, ever find my delight in Thee, and unceasingly seek to know Thee better and to live in closer communion with Thee. For in so doing I shall find my temporal and eternal happiness, as well as perform what is my bounden duty. Therefore help me, O risen Saviour, to hold that fast which I have, that no man may take from me the crown which I already possess in believing hope. Let me never in any way forsake Thee. Let neither height nor depth, nor death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor any other creature separate me from Thy love and fellowship. Let me not only appreciate and value above all else those gifts of grace which Thou, by Thy indwelling, hast bestowed upon me, but employ them diligently and properly, so as always to reap the sweetest fruits from them. And when my heart is kindled with Thy love, and my knowledge increases and abounds, let this spiritual growth continue in me uninterruptedly. Let me strive unwearied It to turn others also from the error of their way, and to rescue their soul from death.

If Thou, O my Saviour, wilt, as I confidently hope, grant me this grace which I seek, — to live in Thee and always to manifest Thy life in me by my walk and conversation —, then let me not fall again into a carnal sleep and perish, but henceforth continually rise and walk in newness of life, and bring forth good fruits, till, in Thine own good time, Thou shalt take me to life eternal, and make me partaker of Thy heavenly joys. Amen.