Praise you, Lord God, for a new day, a fresh gift from your hand, steaming with potential, warm with grace, delicious with your presence. I praise you, Lord Jesus, my Good and Great Shepherd, for your provision, protection, presence and preparation of all that will come today.

Praise you for the privilege of nurturing a first love for you, of worshiping you, praising you, focusing on you, accompanying you through the day, joining you in what you are doing and checking in with you on what I should do—no sneakiness in doing what I’m not sure you would want.

I confess my sin of doing that, of ignoring you in making decisions, setting my heart on gaudy baubles of pleasure rather than on your kind eyes of wisdom. I confess my double-mindedness, my half-heartedness, my rebellion and unbelief. Forgive me for these serious, glory-stealing sins.  Help me to be open to you  in all things, so that I may live in the light of your presence, of your Truth, of your wisdom, of your grace. It is not worth it to try and do things I’d like without checking in with you; I only end up with a mouthful of gravel!

Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for your great forgiveness, your efficacious sacrifice, your total cleansing, your persistent application of discipline and correction, your patience with me in my unbelief and rebellion. You are great, you are good, you are gracious and thereby worthy of praise, honor, worship and obedience.  May each of these stream from my being today, enlightening those around me for your glory.