Good morning, my God,
Creator of all things visible and invisible.
At the dawn of this new day, I desire to unite my heart and mind with the song of all creation that glorifies You.
“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (Daniel 3:57)
I join the heavenly choirs who unceasingly sing Your glory, and together with them, I proclaim:
“Bless the Lord, all you angels of the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (Daniel 3:58)
Lord, as I gaze into this day, I bring before Your face the colossal statue the king saw in his dream.
This statue is an image of my life, my endeavors, and the values of this world. The head of gold represents my successes and talents, of which I am proud. The chest of silver is my reputation and relationships, which I strive to keep shining. The belly of bronze symbolizes my plans for the future, strong and steadfast in my own eyes.
But You, Lord, reveal the truth to me. All of this stands on feet of iron and clay.
I see the fragility of all that I build on my own. I see how my strength mixes with my weakness, how my determination blends with my instability. This is a kingdom that will inevitably be divided and crumble, for iron cannot truly merge with clay.
And then, Lord, I behold You. You are that stone, hewn from the mountain without human hands. You are God’s initiative, Your grace intervening in my history. You do not come to repair my statue, but to shatter it at its foundations.
I ask You, Lord Jesus, strike these fragile feet. Shatter my false security, my attachment to the perishable, and my faith in my own strength. May all that is in me of the gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay of this world be scattered like chaff in the summer wind.
And may the stone of Your presence, Your word, and Your love grow into a great mountain within me. May Your kingdom, which will never be destroyed, fill the entire space of my heart, so that it may truly become My Heart, Your House of Prayer.
As You foretold of the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, so it is with all that we humans build: “The days will come when not one stone will be left upon another that will not be thrown down.” Help me not to cling to the beautiful stones and gifts in my life, but to fix my gaze upon You.
In a world full of wars, rebellions, earthquakes, and fear, there are so many voices crying out, “I am he!” and “The time is near!” It is so easy to become lost and frightened.
But Your word warns me: “He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and, “The time is near.” Do not follow them.’” (Luke 21:8)
Lord, grant me the gift of discernment, that I may recognize Your voice amid the noise. Grant me peace, and give me a measure of Daniel’s determination to trust You when the world around me trembles. Let me be mindful that all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
The end and the beginning is Your kingdom, which will endure forever. All else will pass away, but You remain. The dream is true, and Your interpretation is sure. Thank You for this hope.
Amen.
AMEN!!!!