The beauty of written prayers is their thoroughness. So often in prayer our minds wander and we are distracted. These two Orthodox prayers are beautiful expressions of the heart to the Lord at both ends of the day.
Prayer at Daybreak
Eternal King without beginning, You who are before all worlds, my Maker, Who have summoned all things from non-being into this life: bless this day that You, in Your inscrutable goodness, give to me. By the power of Your blessing enable me at all times in this coming day to speak and act for You, to Your glory, in Your fear, according to Your will, with a pure spirit, with humility, patience, love, gentleness, peace, courage, wisdom and prayer, aware everywhere of Your presence.
Yes, Lord, in Your immense mercy, lead me by Your Holy Spirit into every good work and word, and grant me to walk all my life long in Your sight without stumbling, according to Your righteousness that You have revealed to us, that I may not add to my transgressions.
O Lord, great in mercy, spare me who am perishing in wickedness; do not hide Your face from me. And when my perverted will would lead me down other paths, do not forsake me, my Savior, but force me back to Your holy path.
O You Who are good, to Whom all hearts are open, You know my poverty and my foolishness, my blindness and my uselessness, but the sufferings of my soul are also before You. Wherefore I beseech You: hear me in my affliction and fill me with Your strength from above. Raise me up who am paralyzed with sin, and deliver me who am enslaved to the passions. Heal me from every hidden wound. Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit. Preserve me from every inward and outward impulse that is unpleasing in Your sight and hurtful to my brother.
I beseech You: establish me in the path of Your commandments and to my last breath do not let me stray from the light of Your ordinances, so that Your commandments may become the sole law of my being in this life and in all eternity.
O God, my God, I plead with You for many and great things: do not disregard me. Do not cast me away from Your presence because of my presumption and boldness, but by the power of Your love lead me in the path of Your will. Grant me to love You as You have commanded, with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength: with my whole being.
For You alone are the holy protection and all-powerful defender of my life, and to You I ascribe glory and offer my prayer.
Grant me to know Your truth before I depart this life. Maintain my life in this world until I may offer You true repentance. Do not take me away in the midst of my days, and when You are pleased to bring my life to an end, forewarn me of my death, so that I may prepare my soul to come before You.
Be with me then, O Lord, on my great and sacred day, and grant me the joy of Your salvation. Cleanse me from manifest and secret sins, from all iniquity hidden in me; and give me a right answer before Your dread judgment-seat.
Amen.
Prayer Before Bed
To the Holy Spirit:
O Lord, the Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth: have compassion and mercy on me, Thy sinful servant! Absolve me, who am unworthy. Forgive all the sins I have committed this day both in my humanity and my inhumanity, behaving worse than beasts in sins voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown, from my youth,from evil suggestions, haste and despondency. If I have sworn by Thy name or blasphemed it in thought; if I have reproached anyone or become angered by something; or slandered or saddened anyone in my anger; or have lied, or slept unnecessarily; or a beggar has come to me and I have despised him; or have saddened my brother or quarreled with him; or have judged someone; or have allowed myself to become haughty, proud or angry; or, when standing in prayer, my mind has been shaken by the wickedness of this world; or have entertained depraved thoughts; or have over-eaten, over-drunk or laughed mindlessly; or have had evil thoughts or seen the beauty of someone and been wounded by it in my heart; or have spoken inappropriately; or have laughed at my brother’s sins when my own transgressions are countless; or have been indifferent to prayer; or have done any other evil that I can not remember – for I have done all this and more: have mercy, O Master, my Creator, on me, Thy despondent and unworthy servant! Absolve, remit and forgive me, in Thy goodness and love for mankind that I, who am prodigal, sinful and wretched, may lie down in peace and find sleep and rest. May I worship, hymn and praise Thy most honorable name, with the Father and His only-begotten Son, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
The Hope Blog 
Beautiful. Thank you Ingird. They sound a little like some of the prayers from, Valley of Vision. That is one of my favorite prayer books. Sometimes, I just enjoy praying some lovely old Hymns to the Lord. Here is one of my favorite Hymns to pray in the morning: (Regretfully, I have never heard it played, or I might sing it to the Lord too.)
Awake, my soul, and with the sun Thy daily stage of duty run:
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise To pay thy morning sacrifice.
By influence of the Light Divine Let thine own light to others shine;
Reflect all heavens propitious rays In ardent love and cheerful praise.
All praise to Thee who safe hast kept, And hast refreshed my whilst I slept:
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake.
Lord, I my vows to Thee renew, Disperse my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will, And with Thyself my spirit fill.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Jess
Thank you for sharing with us. Is it from a book?
Hi Christina, the prayer before bed is from the Orthodox Daily Prayers published by St. Tikhon’s Press. I found it at a blog I sometimes read called Glory to God for All Things. I don’t agree with everything written there, but find encouraging thoughts about devotion to the Lord there at times. The flippancy and irreverence that is so endemic in evangelicalism is absent among devout Orthodox who have a very high view of God. That is not to say that I am embracing a false view of justification, but I appreciate the ancient prayers that reflect a reverence and awe of the Lord. That is so rare these days. The other prayer is written by a devout Orthodox named Elder Sophrony.