Prayers for wisdom and discernment

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place
in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting,
thou art God.

Thou turnest man to destruction;
and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

For a thousand years in thy sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
and as a watch in the night.

So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Establish thou the work of our hands upon us;
yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Amen.

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;

Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever
in the next.

Amen.

I pause and become aware of God's presence.
I look at my day with gratitude — for the gifts, large and small.

I ask the Spirit to help me see my day clearly,
not as I wish to remember it but as it was.

I review the hours: where was I drawn toward love?
Where did I turn away?

I bring what I find — the joys, the failures —
to God, asking forgiveness where I need it
and giving thanks where I can.

I look toward tomorrow,
asking for grace to meet what comes.

Amen.

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down,
and art acquainted with all my ways.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me.

Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
and see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.

Amen.