Piper's Mealtime Prayers

From Gospel Translations

John Piper wrote the following meal time prayers for his own family to use. The three longer ones have been used by his family for over 20 years, and all the children know the prayers by heart now so that they are able to say them together without reading. 

For example, in August of 2001, when Benjamin, John' second oldest son, was married in Brazil, John was asked to say a table grace at a large family gathering in Fortaleza. Instead of praying by himself, he said, "I think what I would like to do is ask all my family (Noel, Karsten, Benjamin, Abraham, Barnabas, Talitha) to pray with me the evening prayer that we have used during all their growing up years." Then they all recited the prayer. The people were so moved that the whole family could say the prayer together in unison that they asked John to pray it again slowly and have it translated in Portuguese one phrase at a time. It proved to be a wonderful witness for Christ to all the people there.

Morning Meal
Lord Jesus, thank you for this day,
And for the night of rest,
And for this food, and for the way
That we are always blessed.

Midday Meal
Lord Jesus, Thank you for these gifts
And what each one displays;
For your own steady love which lifts
Our hearts in midday praise.

Evening Meal
Lord Jesus, come now to our meal,
And bless to us this food;
Where faith is weak, dear Lord, reveal
That all you give is good.

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Morning meal
Our Father, every day you give
The food by which our bodies live.
For this we thank you from our heart
And pray that as we this day start,
You might allow our eyes to see
Your endless generosity.
And grant that when we thus are filled,
We may do only what you’ve willed.

Midday meal
We're grateful, Father, for this hour
To rest and draw upon your power
Which you have shown in sun and rain
And measured out to every grain.
Let all this food which you have made
And graciously before us laid
Restore our strength for this next hour
That we may have your fullest power.

Evening meal
How faithful, Father, is your care;
Again as always food is there.
Again you have set us before
A meal we pray will mean much more
Than single persons filled with food;
Let there be, Lord, a loving mood.
And as you make our bodies new,
Come now and feed our oneness too.