First Week. Monday. Morning

O LORD our God, Merciful and Almighty Father! our hearts would respond to the psalm of praise which we have just been reading, and with our souls and all that is within us we would now bless Thee. For sleep and safety during the night; for life, and health, and strength this morning; for food and raiment, and a dwelling-place; and for all that supplies the needs of the body, we thank Thee. For all Thou art unto us as our Father; for the gift of thy Son our Saviour—for the sending of the Holy Ghost, our Regenerator and Comforter; and for the sacred volume which gives us the knowledge of thyself and of Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent, we bless Thee. We receive from Thee every day mercies more than we can number, and blessings more precious than we can describe; and we are sensible of obligations which these words of worship do not express. Accept, therefore, O merciful Father, not merely the praises of our lips, but the unuttered gratitude of our hearts.

And we beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord God, when we ask that thy mercy may follow us throughout this day—may it attend us in all our labours, and in all our recreations; in all our trials, and in all our temptations. Often move us to think of Thee, and may our meditation of Thee be sweet; may we be glad in the Lord. Open our eyes to see thy manifold works, and thy riches, of which this earth is full. Especially enable us to inquire into and to meditate upon the exceeding riches of thy grace, and the unsearchable riches of Christ, so that we may sing unto the Lord as long as we live, yea, sing praises to our God while we have any being.

We acknowledge ourselves to be defiled with the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and to be unworthy to receive any gift from Thee. Grant, therefore, that with the spirit of praise there may be ever united in our hearts the spirit of true humility; and that whenever we speak of Thee, it may always be with a penitent and believing heart.

We especially confess to Thee that we have often been unmindful of thy love to us, and that we have shown our unthankfulness by restraining praise, by coldness and indifference of heart, and by disobedience to thy commandments. Mercifully forgive us. We resolve, by the help of thy grace, to show forth thy praise, not with our lips only, but also with our lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and walking before Thee in holiness and righteousness all our days.

Accept, Father of all mercies, this our morning sacrifice of worship, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.