LBW #441, “Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ”
Devotion
This hymn says the Holy Spirit “pray[s] the prayer I need this day.” This comfort lies behind Luther’s instructions for morning prayer in his Small Catechism: He suggests that as soon as you get up, you should make the sign of the cross, say the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and perhaps Luther’s short morning prayer. Then, “after singing a hymn” or “whatever else may serve your devotion,” you are to go to your work cheerfully.
Prayer is not so much an impressive effort on our part or a matter of our getting it right. Nor is prayer some pious interruption of our regular lives. Rather, prayer is the ministry of the Spirit, in whose power we can approach the throne of grace with confidence and go into our work with joy. We commend our bodies, souls, words and deeds—our whole future-into God’s charge and care.
Prayer
We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all danger and harm. We ask you to preserve and keep us, this day also, from all sin and evil, that in all our thoughts, words, and deeds we may serve and please you. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us. Amen.
(Luther’s Morning Prayer from Responsive Prayer 1 in Lutheran Book of Worship)