The Modeh Ani Prayer ( מודה אני )

I wanted to share with everyone the simplest Hebrew Prayer that I've ever been blessed to learn. This is the first thing I say (or sing, rather) each morning, as soon a I wake up. It's all about giving thanks and praising HaShem for restoring and rejuvenating our body and soul and for blessing us with another day. As with everything else in Hebrew, so much is lost in the translation.

Here is a short break down explaining the deeper significance of this prayer, from the myjewishlearning website:

"The wording of Modeh Ani also offers a powerful lesson. Grammatically, it would be correct to say Ani modeh — “I thank You.” Yet, the words are in the reverse order, which translates literally as “Thank You, I.” The point is that the very first word that comes out of our mouths should be one of gratitude. We often spend the rest of our waking day focused on ourselves, our needs, our work. So we want to ensure that we never forget to have the foundation of our day be “Thank You.” Only after that has been said, do we mention ourselves.

But Modeh Ani is about much more than gratitude. The word modeh can mean “thank,” but it can also mean “admit” or “surrender.”

Thank is clearly about gratitude. Our lives are gifts. And another day means another opportunity to figure out why we are here and what we are supposed to be doing.

Admit is the acknowledgment and verbalization of our gratitude. When we take an honest look at ourselves, we must admit that we have made mistakes. Nonetheless, we were given another chance to transform our reality. Often we allow our past to determine our present: If we messed up yesterday, chances are today we will again. With that mindset, it’s hard to motivate to even try. The opposite approach is problematic as well: If yesterday was amazingly positive and productive, we may rest on our laurels and fail to take responsibility for making today even better.

This is why the Hebrew word for the past, avar, shares the same root as aveira, which means “sin.” Living in the past, relying on the past, focusing on the past, whether good or bad, is unhealthy. Our focus needs to be on the present, on today. So we begin the day with the admission that no matter who we have been up until now, today is a new opportunity to be that much more.

Surrender is the recognition that there is something bigger than us, that the same God who gave us life is the God who takes it away. And until the morning comes when we are not gifted with another day, we want to ensure we never take for granted the day we are now blessed with.

Only after we thank, admit and surrender can we can focus on ourselves — who we are, what we are capable of, and who we want to be. And with this in mind and on our lips, we can get out of bed and start our day ready for the new opportunities that await us."

I highly recommend everyone who reads this to learn this prayer and to add it to your daily routine. It's extremely important to start your day off right with prayer and this one is so easy to learn, it's literally taught to children. It will only take a few minutes to learn and less than a minute to say each day; that's not much of a sacrifice, so do it!

I have placed a link to a children's video that helped me learn the proper pronunciation and taught me a nice rhythm to sing it to. There are several verses in the scripture that talks about how the angels sing praises to HaShem; so I believe that it truly increases our blessings and the overall effectiveness to sing our prayers in Hebrew. Here are a just few references:

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,

when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" - Job 38:4-7

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" - Psalm 98:4

"And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” - Isaiah 6:3

Adding this short sacred prayer to my daily routine truly changed my life. Of course, I have modified it just a bit and added B'Shem Yeshua Amen (In Jesus' Name, Amen) - as it is written:

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." - John 14:13-14

Always, Always, ALWAYS end each and every prayer with AMEN; which literally means "So Be It" or "So Let It Be". It's like closing a switch that enables your prayers to go through, without putting that "Amen" on the end, the switch is left open. Think of it as walking into a room and thinking about turning the light switch on; first you walk into the room, next you have thought of turning on the switch; but if you don't flip that switch, then the lights don't come on. That's exactly what saying "Amen" does at the end of a prayer and is the reason why every Christian tradition has preserved this sacred Hebrew word. It completes the circuit, so to speak, and sends the prayer up to G*d; thus sending your blessings up and enabling your blessings to come back down. It's the essential part to complete the pathway, going up and coming back down.

מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מלך חַי וְקַיָּם שֶהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ

בשם ישוע אמן

Modeh Ani L’Fanecha, Melech Chai V’Kayam, Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati, B’Chemla Raba Emunatecha - (B'Shem Yeshua Amen)

I thank You, living and enduring King, for You have graciously returned my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness. (In Jesus' Name, Amen)

Modeh Ani Lyrics Video:

https://youtu.be/eNdwdn9uSBE