This document contains prayers for morning including a psalm, short reading, and meditation. It begins with an opening prayer and includes Psalm 42 read responsively. The short reading is from Isaiah 43:1 where God says "Fear not, for I have redeemed you." The thought for the day encourages focusing on the Lord for strength and shielding. It closes with a prayer asking God to grant faith, peace and other virtues through Jesus Christ.

1. July 18, 2014
Morning
Prayers

2. Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
One thing I have asked of thee Lord, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;
To behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
Amen. Alleluia.
If you are praying with another person – read responsively
where appropriate

3. The Psalm – Psalm 42Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
1
My soul is dry and thirsts for You, True God,
as a deer thirsts for water.
2
I long for the True God who lives.
When can I stand before Him and feel His comfort?
3
Right now I’m overwhelmed by my sorrow and pain;
I can’t stop feasting on my tears.
People crowd around me and say,
“Where is your True God whom you claim will save?”
4
With a broken heart,
I remember times before
When I was with Your people. Those were better days.
I used to lead them happily into the True God’s house,
Singing with joy, shouting thanksgivings with abandon,
joining the congregation in the celebration.
5
Why am I so overwrought?
Why am I so disturbed?
Why can’t I just hope in God?
Despite all my emotions, I will believe and praise the One
who saves me and is my life.
6
My God, my soul is so traumatized;
the only help is remembering You wherever I may be;
From the land of the Jordan to Hermon’s high place
to Mount Mizar.
7
In the roar of Your waterfalls,
ancient depths surge, calling out to the deep.
All Your waves break over me;
am I drowning?
8
Yet in the light of day, the Eternal shows me His love.
When night settles in and all is dark, He keeps me company—
His soothing song, a prayerful melody to the True God of my life.
9
Even still, I will say to the True God, my rock and strength:
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I live my life so depressed, crying endlessly
while my enemies have the upper hand?”
10
My enemies taunt me.
They shatter my soul the way a sword shatters a man’s bones.
They keep taunting all the day long,
“Where is He, your True God?”
11
Why am I so overwrought,
Why am I so disturbed?
Why can’t I just hope in God?
Despite all my emotions, I will believe and praise the One
who saves me, my God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

4. Short Reading and Meditation
But now, this is what the
LORD says — he who
created you, O Jacob, he
who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have
redeemed you; I have
summoned you by name;
you are mine."
Thought for Today
"When morning gilds the
sky, our hearts awaking
cry: May Jesus Christ be
praised! In all our work
and prayer we ask his
loving care: May Jesus
Christ be praised!" Focus
your heart's desire on the
Lord. Focus on the Lord
for strength. Focus on the
Lord to shield you. The
Lord forgives; be strong
and courageous.
Isaiah 43:1

5. Prayer
Pray Silently or Aloud for Others and Yourself
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
May God, who sees all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits
and the Lord of all flesh - who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and
us through Him to be a peculiar people - grant to every soul
that calls upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, peace,
patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to
the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and
Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty,
and power, and honor, both now and forevermore. AMEN.
- Clement of Rome