A Prayer for the Morning After a Slip

Father, I slipped. I am sitting in the grey light of this morning with the proof of it and a shame so heavy I can barely lift my head to pray. The streak is broken and the old voice is loud, telling me I was always going to fail.

I confess what I did. I am not going to dress it up or blame the day. I reached for the thing again, and I am sorry, and I am scared this means I cannot change.

But I am turning to You before that voice convinces me to give up entirely. You do not meet me with contempt this morning. Your mercies are new with this very sunrise, not used up by yesterday.

Let this fall be a stumble and not the end. Lift me up before noon, not next month. Help me throw out what I held, make the honest phone call, and step back onto the path without spiraling into a deeper hole to punish myself.

The righteous may fall seven times, yet they rise again. Count me among those who rise. One slip is not my whole story.

I give You this broken morning and the fear that came with it. Set me back on my feet. Today can still be a clean day. Amen.