About 6:15 in the morning, my husband and I arrive at the couch for morning prayer—sometimes feeling like a couple of limp balloons.  Even though we are showered and dressed for work, we are still sluggish, petting the cat and dogs that come to sit with us.

After thanking God and praising Him with help from the psalms, our first prayer every day is “O breathe on me, Breath of God, Holy Spirit, fill me with life anew, that I may love what You love and do what You would do...”  Oh, to live up to that offer!

And then, “Holy Spirit, at creation’s first dawn You came forth to give form and life to all; hear me at the beginning of this new day.  Shape my life today in the image of Christ; let nothing unpleasant be found in me.  Illumine my life’s horizon with your light; dispel all darkness from my mind and soul; light the fire of love in my heart; and be the light I radiate today, and every day of my life.”  Glory be to the Father…

Now we are warming to the rest of our prayer time and being revived for the day ahead.  We know first-hand that it is true: 

“The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; they are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”  Lamentations 3:22-24 u

Carolyn McNerney is on staff at WWCCR.  She and her husband are parishioners at St. Theresa Church in Federal Way, WA.  The prayers she mentioned are taken from the book “Devotions to the Holy Spirit” by Brian Moore, SJ  which can be ordered through the WWCCR bookstore.