Powerful Morning Prayer

“Let us begin each day with repentance and resolve, for morning is the hour of mercy.” — St. Gregory of Nazianzus

Public Domain: For Only One Short Hour via Yale Center for British Art.

The Prayer

I rise and pledge myself, Lord, that this day I shall do no evil deed, but offer every moment as a sacrifice to You. I blush when I remember my sinfulness; I shudder when I recall how I have betrayed You. Yet You know that now I want only to serve You. Make me this day Your devoted servant. Amen.

About This Prayer

This prayer at dawn, written by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (329–390 A.D.), one of the great Doctors of the Church and Cappadocian Fathers, is a short yet powerful act of morning consecration. It captures the essence of Christian humility — an honest acknowledgment of human weakness paired with a renewed desire for holiness. Gregory’s words model the perfect way to begin the day: with repentance, trust, and a vow to offer every moment as worship to God.

When To Pray

Pray this immediately upon waking, especially before beginning your morning prayers or daily work. It is particularly fitting during times of spiritual renewal, confession preparation, or Lent — when the soul seeks to begin again with God’s grace and resolve to serve Him faithfully throughout the day.