Sunday Drive: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

For today I have chosen one of Charles Wesley's best-known and best-loved hymns:

From Morning Prayer, Rite One, The Book of Common Prayer:

A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the
night and turnest the shadow of death into the morning:
Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep
thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that,
having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we
may, when night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Peace
O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in
knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service
is perfect freedom: Defend us, thy humble servants, in all
assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy
defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through
the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Grace
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God,
who hast brought us safely to the beginning of this new day:
Defend us with thy mighty power; and grant that we fall into
no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but being ordered
by thy governance, may do always what is righteous in thy sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Guidance
O heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our
being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy
Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life
we may not forget thee, but may remember that we are ever
walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love
on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come
within the reach of thy saving embrace: So clothe us in thy
Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring
those who do not know thee to the knowledge and love of
thee; for the honor of thy Name. Amen.

Regardless or faith or non-faith, we all need something to steady and strengthen the inner man.  If any of these prayers help you, I'm glad.  Take what you like and leave the rest; take it all merely as poetry, if you please, and feel free to change the pronouns around as you wish.

If you prefer modern verb forms, see Morning Prayer, Rite Two.