O Lord,
prepare us for all the events of this day,
for we do not know what a day may bring forth.
Give us to stand complete in your whole will;
to deny ourselves,
to take up our cross daily,
and to follow Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Modified from Miscellaneous Writings of Matthew Henry, (Wikipedia: Matthew Henry, d. 1714)
“to deny ourselves, to take up our cross daily…” is a reference to Luke 9:23
An address to God before a meal.
O Lord our God, in you we live and move and have our being and from you we receive all the supports and comforts of our being. You spread our table and fill our cup and comfort us with the gifts of your goodness from day to day. We depend on you and owe everything to you. Pardon our sins, sanctify the good things you have created for our use, and give us grace to receive them soberly and thankfully, and to eat and drink not to ourselves, but to your glory; through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.
Another.
Gracious God, you are the protector and preserver of the whole creation. You have fed us all our lives to this day with food convenient for us, even though we are evil and unthankful. Forgive all our sins by which we have forfeited all your mercies, and let us see our forfeited right restored in Christ Jesus. Give us a taste of your unfailing love in everyday mercies and to use these and all our creature comforts to the glory of our great Benefactor; through the grace of our great Redeemer. Amen.
An address to God after a meal.
Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with his benefits and gives us all things richly to enjoy, though we serve him but poorly. O Lord, we thank you for present refreshments in the use of the good things you have created, and for your love to our souls in Jesus Christ, which sweetens all things. Pardon our sins, continue to do us good, provide for the poor that are destitute of daily food, fit us for your whole will, and be our God and guide and portion forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Another.
We thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for all the gifts both of your providence and of your grace; for those blessings which relate to the life we now have, and of the life to come, and for the use of the good things you have created at this time. Make complete, O God, all that we need. Nourish our souls with the bread of life to life eternal, and let us be those who will eat bread in the kingdom of our Father; for Christ Jesus’ sake, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Source: Modified from Miscellaneous Writings of Matthew Henry, (Wikipedia: Matthew Henry, d. 1714)
A Collection of Prayers 