Morning
When I rise, You are with me
When the water breaks, You are there.
You take me away from the cares of the world
And warm me in the saline air.
Lord of the sand, Lord of the sea,
Lord of the sounds I hear in safe places,
Listen to my song of praise.
Take away my spirit of angst.
Lift me this morning into Your light.
Open my eyes to the wonders of Your grace,
May I feel Your presence as I feel the breeze,
May I hear Your voice in the songs of birds,
Here in this place.
Guide my hand as I write to You.
When the burdens of life seem unending,
When my mind is unable to rest,
When I can manage little sleep,
Still I can come to You in prayer.
You give me a moment, a reminder,
That You are there.
You are in the stillness of this morning hour.
Afternoon
I thank You, Lord, for this day-
For peace, for prosperity
And for every breath of air I take.
I thank You when the children play-
For laughter, for joy
All in Your name for Your sake.
I thank You this day for my brothers-
For father, for mother
For my family in various places.
I thank You too for another
For care, for love
For the cohabitation of our races.
I thank You, Lord, for the sun-
The water, the rain
The sea both beautiful and vast.
I thank You most for Your Son-
For salvation, for life
And for the way He holds us fast.
These I pray this afternoon
When darkness comes upon me soon.
Evening
I see darkness for days.
Over the sea a blackness, and silence.
May darkness not be my companion forever.
In it there is no knowledge of You.
This sort of ignorance is death.
It is here that the demons like to play.
Make my home away from their kind.
Though spirits roam these parts,
Yet they cannot touch me,
Because the Spirit of God dwells in me.
This is where dark spirits flee
For those whom You have chosen
And dwell close to them,
Would You keep them from the dark.
Yours is the Spirit of protection,
a Helper always near.
Draw me still closer to You this night.
– Tim Vander Meulen