The Christian Lawyer’s Morning Prayer Guide

“Holy Spirit, let me know You today in a more intimate and personal way.”
— the opening line of my Father’s decades-old morning prayer notes, upon which this guide is built

A note before you pray

This guide grows out of a morning meditation my Dad gave me more than twenty-five years ago. I have prayed some version of it for decades. I have reorganized it here for the particular work of the Christian Lawyer, but the center of it has not changed: put your mind – thoughts, intellect, reasoning, imagination, and memory – under the Word of GOD before the day gets a chance to tell you what you should believe.

The longer prayer guides (still a work in progress) are the brief. This is a hearing outline. After the 100’s of hours of study, research, and preparation, you reduce everything you want to say to the points you cannot afford to forget when you stand to present your argument. Use this the same way. It should feel more like the outline carried into a major hearing than a devotional book.

How to use it

• Pray it before the work begins. Five to ten minutes is enough. (Lam. 3:22–23; Ps. 62:5–8)
• Do not read every line mechanically. Move through the headings. Stop where the Holy Spirit draws your attention and stay there. (John 16:13; Rom. 8:26)
• Proclaim GOD’s Word before you say or confess any fear, doubt, or unbelief. Always remember the Hebrews 13 principle: He has said; so that I may boldly say. (Heb. 13:5–6)
• This is not a chant or incantation and it is not a way to get GOD onto my side. Rather, it is a way to remember whose I am, what He has said, and the kind of person I am supposed to be in Christ even when things turn adversarial and difficult.
• If a declaration gets ahead or goes beyond the scope of the Scripture beneath it, slow down and check your intentions. Confidence belongs to His promise, not to your capability, expectation, or desired outcome.

The first prayer

Holy Spirit, let me know You today in a more intimate and personal way. Before I ask You for an outcome that seems right and best to me, renew my mind and bring me into alignment with Your will. Show me what is true, what I have believed that is not true, and what You are asking of me today. Let me be Your witness and carry the presence of Your Holy Spirit with me as I go – because it is not by my power or might, will or emotion, intellect or manipulation, but only by the power of Your Spirit that anything of true significance and eternal value is ever accomplished. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

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I. The rule for renewing the mind

He has said. Therefore I boldly say. The declaration follows the Word; it does not replace it – this is not an avenue into a prosperity gospel or manifestation theology or anything that could be seen as manipulating GOD to do what we want. Rather, this is [re]orienting our minds to line up with what GOD has already said, so that His thoughts become ours and His desires replace our natural desires. When the Word says that if we delight ourselves in GOD, He will give us the desires of our hearts – think of it more as a “desire” transfusion than a cosmic vending machine.

He has said: I would that your soul may prosper in GOD and in His Word (3 John 2).

Therefore I boldly say: My soul prospers in You and in Your Word, O GOD. Bring my body, mind, appetites, emotions, and work into the order of the truth of Your Word.

He has said: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law; the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Gal. 3:13; Rom. 8:2).

Therefore I boldly say: I am not beginning this day under condemnation, curse, or bondage. Jesus has redeemed me. Therefore, I begin it in the liberty of a son or daughter of GOD.

He has said: My GOD will supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

Therefore I boldly say: All my need is met in Christ Jesus. Apart from Him I need NOTHING. I will not let scarcity, money, or fear become my focus or motivator.

He has said: GOD has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).

Therefore I boldly say: Fear does not get to determine what I do with today – whether my legal strategy, client interactions, or the way I treat my colleagues or even opposing counsel. I receive power of GOD’s Spirit without force, love without weakness, and a sound mind without bitterness, resentment, or manipulation.

He has said: I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5–6).

Therefore I boldly say: The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man can do to me. You will not fail me or abandon me in any place I enter today.

He has said: I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20).

Therefore I boldly say: This life and this work are lived by faith in the Son of GOD who loved me and gave Himself for me. My performance is not my life and my production does not dictate my value.

He has said: He strengthens the inner man by His Spirit and is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think according to His power at work in us (Eph. 3:16, 19–20).

Therefore I boldly say: Abba Father, strengthen the part of me no one in the courtroom can see. Do in me what my preparation, diligence, and good intentions cannot do.

Rule of use: read the promise first. Then say only what can stand on it. If I am trying to talk myself into something GOD has not said, I need to stop and reconsider my motivation. Am I living by every Word that proceeds from His mouth or trying to turn stone into bread? Am I content in receiving His manna for today (walking in the way of Life) or doing what seems right in my eyes (walking in the way of self-knowledge)?

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II. Before the client-matter: body, soul, spirit, mind

The first hearing on the morning docket concerns me. Who am I? I am a child of GOD (John 1:12–13) – old things have passed away, and all things are new (2 Cor. 5:17) —

A. Body and strength

1 Pet. 2:24; Ps. 103:5; Prov. 4:20–23; Deut. 8:3

• I receive the Word of GOD as life and health. I do not live by food, adrenaline, coffee, anxiety, or the next result alone, but by every Word that proceeds from GOD.
• Heavenly Father, by Your Holy Spirit renew my strength like the eagle. Let me run without being driven and work without making exhaustion or accomplishment virtues.
• I present my body this morning: my sleep, appetite, energy, mouth, hands, temper, schedule; as a living sacrifice. Make everything that I am useful to You.

B. Provision and sufficiency

Phil. 4:19; Ps. 107

• You, Abba, are my provider. I refuse the lie that I must grasp, manipulate, overbill, hoard, or win at any cost because there will not be enough.
• I am redeemed. When I am in trouble I cry to YAHWEH, my GOD, and He leads me by the right way. Satisfy the hungry places in me with goodness, Father, not the substitutes of the world and my flesh.

C. The heart and the mind

Prov. 4:20–23; Prov. 17; Rom. 14:17, 23; Josh. 1:8

• I keep my heart with diligence. I choose peace. Make my heart merry and my spirit strong in the Lord.
• I choose wisdom and to listen rather than to speak. Put Your Word in my mouth before I put argument there.
• The Kingdom of GOD is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. That is the atmosphere I am to carry into the office, not the agitation or frustration or anxiety trying to engulf me.
• I meditate on Your Word so that I can walk by faith and not by what my natural senses tell me. Knowing Your scripture is not the point; walking in Your statutes when pressed is the point.

D. Fear inventory

2 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 13:5–6; Josh. 1:9

• Name the fear that is most likely to consume my attention: the adverse ruling, the scared client, the unpaid or at-risk money, the partner in conflict, the outraged opposing counsel, being exposed as not enough — not good enough or insufficient to the task — being exposed for being wrong, or losing control.
• Answer that fear with what GOD has actually said. Do not agree with the fear, allow it to dictate your thoughts or behavior, and do not answer it with [false] bravado or overwhelming willpower.
• Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go.

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III. Counsel, speech, and the work of the day

Before I ask for a good argument, I ask for a rightly-governed mind and mouth.

A. Counsel

Prov. 15:22; Jer. 33:3; Isa. 1:19

• You are my counsel, Father. I listen to Your voice, Holy Spirit, and rely on the mind of Christ. Show me the great and mighty things I do not know.
• Keep me willing and obedient. Do not let intelligence, knowledge, or experience become an excuse for disobedience.
• Bring the right counselors. Give me humility to hear the associate, client, witness, spouse, or opposing lawyer who sees the fact I missed.

B. Hearing before speaking

Isa. 40:31; Ps. 105:19; 1 Sam. 3:19

• Teach me to wait. Waiting is not inactivity when You are doing the work in and for me that I cannot do for myself — when You are lining things up that I cannot see, and making all things work together for good — but it is actively pursuing You, seeking You, and learning to be patient as I care for whatever it is You have given me to do today.
• Until the Word comes, let Your Word try me, test me, and form me into what You have made me to be. I do not need to have the answer before I have heard the whole question and before I have given You a chance to speak to and through me.
• Be with me and let none of my words fall to the ground. Fewer words, better words, true words — words that honor You and bring light to darkness, order instead of chaos, justice in place of injustice, and compassion rather than contempt.

C. The mouth

Prov. 18:20; Josh. 1:8

• Let Your Word remain in my mouth. Do not let irritation, vanity, contempt, self-vindication, or the need to sound impressive decide what I say.
• What I say creates fruit. Let the fruit of my lips be truth, courage, restraint, righteousness, and peace.
• In the room: listen all the way through the answer. If silence is wisdom, let me be quiet and let You fight the battle I cannot improve by talking.

D. The work

Ps. 118:24; 2 Cor. 2:14

• This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it before I know how any of it will turn out. I praise You in advance of the evidence, the verdict, the outcome – when I still cannot see what You are doing and when I still have questions about Your thoughts and Your ways. I trust You fully.
• I will prepare thoroughly. Preparation is service and worship, not the means to an end and not my self-salvation. Make the knowledge of Christ evident through me in every place I work today. Cause the fragrance of Your Presence to be made known to everyone I encounter, and be glorified in my work.

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IV. Kingdom, authority, and peace

Remember the jurisdiction before entering the controversy.

A. The kingdom I am in

Col. 1:13; Rom. 14:17

• I have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of GOD’s love.
• That Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. I do not have permission to build a little kingdom of fear, contempt, or self-importance inside it.

B. The office I carry

1 John 4:17; Rom. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:1–2

• As Christ is, so are we in this world. I remember sonship first. I carry priestly intercession, truthful witness, stewardship, and service into the profession.
• I make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for those in authority. I pray for the people who decide things I cannot control.

C. The real adversary

Col. 2:15; 1 John 4:4; Isa. 54:17

• Christ has already disarmed the rulers and authorities. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.
• No weapon formed against me can prosper. I do not turn that promise into hatred of a person. The lawyer across the table is not my enemy.
• Where a human opponent has done wrong, I pray repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. Where spiritual opposition is present, the rebuke belongs to the Lord, not to my ego or vanity.
• Not everything is a devil. Some of what must be cast down this morning is my own agreements with lies: fear, pride, resentment, assumption, scarcity mentality, or appetite for control.

D. The peace I carry

John 14:27; Isa. 54:13

• The presence of the Spirit produces peace. I do not need the room to become peaceful before I can be governed by peace. I walk in peace, stand in truth, breathe and beat in righteousness, think in salvation, am shielded by faith, and wield the Word of GOD — the Spirit of GOD — as a sword.
• Great is the peace of those taught by the Lord. Teach me first, move in me first, rest upon me first, then let me walk into the room carrying You as a true Temple, a Tabernacle of Your Presence.

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V. The people I carry into the morning

Do not pray around the people. Name them.

A. My family

Jer. 29:11–13; 1 John 4:4; Isa. 54:13

• Keep my household in Your Shalom – nothing missing, nothing broken. Your plans are for peace and an expected end.
• Teach my children. Give them great peace. Greater is He who is in them than he who is in the world.
• Do not let me carry other people’s catastrophes home and hand them to my family. Teach me to lay the work down at the end of the day — and cleanse me of the residue that clings to me.

B. My client

Ps. 107; Prov. 4:23

• Who is this person apart from the claim? What are they afraid of? What do they need that no verdict can give? What words of life have You given me to speak?
• Deliver them from fear and lies. Lead them by the right way. Give me courage to tell them the truth even when the truth does not help my position.

C. The other side

Isa. 54:17; 1 Tim. 2:1–2

• I pray for the opposing party and opposing counsel by name. Where they are wrong, grace unto repentance. Where I am wrong about them, show me.
• I condemn no human being to destruction. I ask that they forgive and be forgiven, be restored, and come into the peace of GOD.

D. The tribunal and those in authority

1 Tim. 2:1–2

• Give the judge, mediator, arbitrator, jury, agency, and every person with authority wisdom, courage, honesty, and peace.
• I do not ask You to turn them toward me. Turn them toward truth.

E. Jerusalem, the harvest, and the nations

Ps. 122; Matt. 9:38; Ps. 2:8

• I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the natural and wild olive branches to be gathered in the Lord.
• Lord of the harvest, send laborers. Give me the people and places You have actually assigned to me – and keep me faithful there.

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VI. Assignment, territory, and service

Ask for enlargement, but ask for the hand of GOD with it.

A. Enlarge the territory — without enlarging me

1 Chron. 4:9–10; Prov. 11:2; 22:4

• Bless me indeed and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me. Keep me from evil so that I do not cause pain – and keep pride from attaching itself to Your blessing.
• With pride comes shame; with humility is wisdom. If influence grows, make service grow faster.

B. Go before me

Isa. 45:2–3; Jer. 33:3

• Go before me and make crooked places straight. Break the gates I cannot move. Show me the hidden thing in the record, the fact under the fact, the opportunity I do not yet see.
• Reveal what I need to know and restrain curiosity about what is not mine to know.

C. The purpose of the office

Isa. 58:6–11

• Loose bands of wickedness. Undo heavy burdens. Let the oppressed go free. Feed the hungry. Cover the exposed. Do not hide from your own flesh.
• For the lawyer, that may mean using the office to remove a burden, stop an abuse, tell a client a hard truth, make peace, or refuse a tactic the rules would permit.
• Do not ask for light detached from service. Isaiah ties the light to what is done for the burdened person in front of me.

D. Wait, speak, rise

Isa. 40:31; 1 Sam. 3:19; Isa. 60:1–5

• Wait on the Lord and let strength be renewed. Let none of my words fall to the ground.
• Arise and shine because the light has come. I do not manufacture the light. I stand where You put me and let it be seen.

E. The governing petition

Matt. 6:9–13

[May it please the Court:]

Our Father [Standing; Privity] in Heaven [Venue; Jurisdiction], Hallowed be Your name [Judicial Decorum; Recognition of Sovereign Immunity and Judicial Authority]. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth, and in my life, in my family, in my work, and in the matters I carry, as it is in heaven [Choice of Law; Domestication and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments].

[Prayer for Relief:] (1) Give me what I need today to fulfill the calling and purpose upon my life [Remedy at Law – Provision of Essential Assets; Sustenance]. (2) Forgive me as I practice forgiveness [Equitable Remedy – Reciprocal Release; Satisfaction of Liability]. (3) Do not lead me into temptation; deliver me from all forms of evil [Equitable Remedy – Permanent Injunction; Protective Order; Restraining Order].

[Conclusion and Verification:] The Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours – forever [Recognition of Supreme Authority, Jurisdiction, and Absolute Execution Power]. Amen.

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The morning hearing outline

One page for the desk. The long form has already been studied. These are the points to carry in.

1. Presence — Holy Spirit, let me know You today. (John 16:13)
2. Word / Standing — He has said; therefore I may boldly say. Promise first. Declaration second. (Heb. 13:5–6)
3. Identity — Christ lives in me. I am a son or daughter before I am counsel, advocate, or partner. (Gal. 2:20)
4. Mind — Power, love, sound mind. Keep my heart. Fear does not dictate my thoughts or conduct. (2 Tim. 1:7; Prov. 4)
5. Sufficiency — All my need is met in Christ Jesus. Apart from Him I need no-thing. (Phil. 4:19)
6. Counsel — Show me what I do not know. Let me listen before I speak. Keep me willing and obedient. (Jer. 33:3; Prov. 15:22)
7. Words — Let none of my words fall to the ground. Fewer words. True words. Your Word in my mouth. (1 Sam. 3:19; Josh. 1:8)
8. Kingdom — Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit – not fear, contempt, or control. (Rom. 14:17)
9. Warfare — Christ has disarmed the real adversary. The person across the table is not my enemy. (Col. 2:15; Isa. 54:17)
10. People — Family. Client. Opposing party. Opposing counsel. Tribunal. Pray for their real good. (1 Tim. 2:1–2)
11. Assignment — Enlarge the territory; keep Your hand with me; keep me from evil, pride, and causing pain. (1 Chron. 4:9–10)
12. Service — Loose burdens. Tell truth. Make peace. Use the office for the person in front of me. (Isa. 58:6–11)
13. Surrender — Your Kingdom come. Your will be done. I receive today as Yours not mine. (Matt. 6:9–13)

Close

My Father in heaven, holy is Your name. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven. Give me today what I need to sustain me and my family and to fulfill your calling upon my life. Forgive me as I practice forgiveness with others. Keep me from temptation and deliver me from evil and the Evil One. The Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours forever. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord GOD, I thank You in advance. Amen.

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Turris fortis mihi Deus – GOD is my tower of strength. Proverbs 18:10

Michael C. Kelley is a Florida attorney and shareholder at Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC. He writes at Turris Fortis on faith, justice, and the practice of law as peacemaking. This guide sits beside Practice Pointers for the Christian Lawyer and A Prayer for the Christian Lawyer on Holy Ground as a practical companion to the essays.