“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”
Psalm 55:17 · KJV
Daniel prayed three times a day, “as he did aforetime.” He did not wait to feel like it. This is a plain way to do the same: a short order you can learn by heart and say anywhere, with the same words each time so your mind is free to pray.
You need no priest, no church building and no special books. Everything is here, in the King James Bible. Say the words aloud if you can. If you miss a time, pick up at the next one. Do not make up for it.
- Pause
Be still
Stand, sit or kneel. Put the phone in another room. Take one slow breath, and let the first thought be that God is here.
- Say
Begin
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
Psalm 51:15 and 70:1 · KJV
- Psalm
Come, let us sing unto the LORD
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Psalm 95 · KJV
- Read
A word for the morning
¶ It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22–23 · KJV
- Read
The Word
Read one chapter from the study, in the order of events. If you have more time, add a psalm. Write one line in your journal.
- Say
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
- Say
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9–13 · KJV
- Pray
Offer the day
Lord Jesus Christ, this day is yours. Keep my eyes on you when the hours get loud. Give me work to do and the strength to do it as for you. Let my words be true and my hands be useful, and where I fail, bring me back quickly. Be with those I love, and with those who are alone today. Amen.
- Silence
Name your people
- Say aloud the names of the people you are praying for today. Ask for what each one needs.
- Say
Go
Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
- Pause
Stop where you are
You do not need to kneel or close your eyes. One minute is enough. Let the work wait.
- Say
Begin
Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
Psalm 70:1 · KJV
- Psalm
I will lift up mine eyes
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. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Psalm 121 · KJV
- Silence
Examine the morning
- Have my dealings with others shown Christ’s love?
- Have I kept patience, humility and grace?
- Have I passed over a chance to serve or encourage someone?
- Have I let distractions pull me away from God?
- Read
Confess and be cleansed
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Lord, where I have fallen short this morning, forgive me. Cleanse me, and give me strength for the rest of the day.
1 John 1:9 · KJV
- Say
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9–13 · KJV
- Pray
For the afternoon
Lord Jesus, the day is half gone and I am tired. Meet me here. Give me patience for what is left, a clear mind, and a quiet mouth when I need one. Help me finish what you have given me to do. Amen.
- Say
Go
Blessed be the LORD. Thanks be to God.
- Pause
Put the day down
Dim the lights. Put the phone away. Take a few slow breaths and let the day go quiet.
- Say
Begin
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
Psalm 141:2 and 70:1 · KJV
- Silence
Give thanks
- Name three things from today you are thankful for. Small ones count.
- Silence
Examine the day
- Where did I love well today?
- Where did I fall short, in word, thought or deed?
- Whom do I need to forgive, or ask to forgive me?
- Psalm
Have mercy upon me, O God
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalm 51:1–4, 10–12 · KJV
- Read
Be forgiven
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 · KJV
- Psalm
He that dwelleth in the secret place
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Psalm 91 · KJV
- Say
The song of Simeon
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Luke 2:29–32 · KJV
- Say
Commit the night
¶ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Luke 23:46 and Psalm 4:8 · KJV
- Say
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9–13 · KJV
- Pray
Lay it down
Lord Jesus Christ, I lay this day down. What I did well, I thank you for. What I did badly, forgive. What I left undone, I leave with you. Guard me while I sleep, and wake me again to serve you. Amen.
- Say
Go to rest
The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
The prayers in your own voice are yours to change. Make them plainer or longer, or pray them in your own words. Scripture is quoted from the Authorized (King James) Version.