The Most Important Part of the Day

I am always looking for ways to elevate the seemingly mundane aspects of my daily interactions. I especially like it when I find short little tefillot (prayers) for activities that I do on a constant basis; it helps inject them with a certain meaning and significance, and reminds me that everything we do can be as precious to God as a korban (sacrifice; offering).

The sefer Kav HaYashar has many suggestions for ways to enhance one's mornings:

After washing one's hands in the morning and reciting the appropriate bracha (blessing) say the following prayer:

God, the God of all spirits, may it be your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, that the merit of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov will stand by us, saving us and our offspring from all transgressions and iniquity, that we may fill the commandments of Your holy Torah without any alien thought. And purify our hearts to serve you  in truth and innocence, Amen. (Chapter 11)

Before leaving the house in the morning, place your hand on the mezuzah and consider that the last letters in the expansion of the word yetzer (incliation) spells out the Divine name of Shad-dai (yuD, tzadI, and reiSH); that Divine name has the power to protect one from the Evil Inclination. Then say this prayer:

Master of the Universe! Please have pity upon me and spare me from the evil impulse and all it's minions, Amen. (Chapter 1)

Then, one can say the first paragraph of the Shema.

Obviously, we still have to maintain vigilance; these are not miracle cures. But they do bolster our will and remind us that we are Jews who recognize that every moment of the day is holy...