Anchoring your prayer, morning and evening

In monastic societies, there were dedicated times of prayer every day. This practice was known as The Hours and there are eight parts.

Night - Vigils

Waking - Lauds

Beginning work - Prime

Midmorning - Terce

Noonday - Sext

Midafternoon - None

Evening - Vespers

Bedtime - Compline

Stopping at specific hours every day to pray may not always be practical, but bookending your day in prayer practices can prove anchoring for your soul.

In the spring of 2022, I practiced morning, noon, and evening prayer as an assignment within spiritual direction. I had picked this practice with little realization of how valuable it would prove over the next few months. After a period of uncertainty and struggle, my husband and I were bringing our relationship to its close. Nothing about this was what I wanted, and in addition to my grief, I needed to continue to care for my children and their grief.

As I shared my situation with close friends, some asked about my prayer life. In the midst of all this sorrow, how was I drawing close to the Great Comforter? It felt strange to say, my prayer life was solid. In fact, it was the only solid piece of my daily life.

First thing after the alarm went off I sat in bed with my Bible and prayer book, taking 15 minutes to pour out my heart to God. And before I turned the light off each night, I did the same thing. The middle of day was more complicated, given toddler needs, appointments, and work that needed to happen.

I was going through one of the most heartbreaking seasons of my life, a time when I could scarcely think, let alone come up with spontaneous prayers. Yet I was praying, showing up day and night in a posture of depending on God, leaning on words that have been said for centuries.

As the weeks passed, the repetition of phrases embedded themselves in my heart and brain. I did not even need to look at the prayer book. I found myself repeating parts of the prayers in the middle of the day. Unbidden in a moment of anxiety, the words would come. Sometimes I would say so many words, other times sit in silence. I did the only thing I could, which was to show up.

When it comes to prayer, showing up is the best thing you can do. You begin to see the mercy of God, not just in the big picture, but how He was and is present with you throughout the day. The thread of hope in the morning to trust in the evening, and back again is the root of faith.

“Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Amen” (The Book of Common Prayer)

Scripture for meditation

Rejoice always, pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prompts for reflection and journaling

Do you have a prayer practice you rely on?

Is there a time of day you feel could use more regular prayer or contemplation?

How might you make a little more space for prayer this week?

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