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FAMILY · TOLD GENTLY

Bible Stories

“Suffer little children to come unto me.” — Mark 10:14 · KJV

A peaceful reading of this page. 0:00
"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee."

Psalm 5:3 · King James Bible

Why morning

Christians for two thousand years have prayed first thing. Not because morning is holier than any other time — but because the day gets loud fast, and the first minutes shape everything after them. "In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3).

A ten-minute shape

1. Silence. One minute. Sit still. Notice you are alive. God is here.
2. One psalm. Two minutes. Read it aloud, slowly. Notice one phrase.
3. One paragraph of Scripture. Two minutes. Whatever you are reading in the family Bible reading plan.
4. Confession + thanks. Two minutes. One thing you are sorry for. Three things you are thankful for.
5. The Lord's Prayer. One minute. Say it out loud, together if possible.
6. One line to carry. Two minutes. Choose one sentence from the psalm or the Scripture to carry into the day. Write it on an index card or say it three times.

With small children

Sit them on your lap. Read the psalm aloud. Ask them one question. Say the Lord's Prayer. Let them light and blow out a small candle to bookend the time. Children do not remember content; they remember shape.

With teenagers

Do not perform. Do not lecture. Read the Scripture. Ask one honest question. Then let them speak or not speak. Silence in the morning is Christian too.

A short breakfast blessing

"For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen."

The traditional Anglican collect for the morning

"O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day; defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Walk further

Continue Your Journey

Where else this page opens into the household library.

An Evening Family Worship GuideFor the householdA Family Devotional GuideFor the householdDaily prayersThe Lord's Prayer
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