Daily prayer

Found in my library this afternoon: The Book of Daily Prayer compiled by Robert E. Webber and published in 1993. I think it was a Christmas gift from my parents (we all made lists for each other after my brother and I reached adulthood).

Amazon describes the book: "Organized around the Christian year which, reflecting the life of Christ, celebrates Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost, this thoughtful and convenient guide to daily prayer helps carry Christians more fully into the experience of Christ."

Webber was a professor of theology at Wheaton College and was particularly interested in introducing or re-introducing Evangelicals to the rich heritage of Christian worship. The book provides prayers for every day of the year. What follows are his selections for a Tuesday in August (like today):

Theme: Our choice to believe in and follow Jesus is no mere intellectual decision, but a life-changing event.

Antiphon and Opening Prayer

Give ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry. Psalm 5:1-2a

Lord God, you who give peace to those who follow you, work in my heart and life those virtues that are becoming to your children, to your glory.

Scripture Reading

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5, optional: Job 6:1-15

Responsorial Psalm

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
so that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
you cover them with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:11-12

Prayers, pp. 529-32 (Where are found several prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. I've chosen the one that follows.)

Prayer of General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, I your unworthy servant give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to me and to all whom you have made. I bless you for creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, I pray, give me such an awareness of your mercies, that with a truly thankful heart I may show forth your praise, not only with my lips, but in my life by giving up myself to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all my days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages.

Closing Psalm Prayer

Listen to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. Psalm 5:2-3