O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace.
Help me in all things to rely upon thy holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal thy will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day
with peace of soul,
and with firm conviction that thy will governs all.
In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events let me not forget
that all are sent by thee.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely,
without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day
with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will,
teach me to pray,
pray thou thyself in me.
Amen.
ORTHODOX TRADITIONAL; COMPILED IN CURRENT FORM BY 19TH CENTURY AD
Prayer at the Beginning of the Day
Also known as Orthodox Morning Prayer ยท Prayer on Waking
About this prayer
Orthodox morning prayers are said upon waking, before beginning the day's work. They are part of a larger cycle of morning prayers that includes the Trisagion Prayers, psalms, troparia, and various petitions. The prayer given here is the opening personal prayer of the Orthodox morning rule, addressed directly to God as the giver of light and life. It asks for protection through the coming day, for the grace to do God's will, and for forgiveness of sins committed during the night. The morning prayer rule in Orthodoxy typically takes fifteen to thirty minutes for those following a full rule, though shorter forms are used by those new to the practice or in difficult circumstances.
When it's said
This prayer is said as part of the morning prayer rule, after the Trisagion Prayers and before beginning the day. The full Orthodox morning rule includes the Trisagion Prayers, a morning psalm, a prayer of thanksgiving for the night, this prayer, and additional prayers for the coming day. The prayer is attributed in many Orthodox prayer books to Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (1782-1867 AD).
Notes on the text
The phrase 'pray thou thyself in me' reflects the Orthodox understanding that true prayer is not primarily a human activity but the work of the Holy Spirit within the person (Romans 8:26). The goal of Orthodox morning prayer is to place the entire day under God's will before it begins.
Source
Orthodox morning prayer rule. Attributed to Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (1782-1867 AD). English text from the Orthodox Church in America Prayer Book, 1979. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.