The Morning Prayer: The Modeh Ani

Before even checking your phone, before coffee, before anything — start the day with thankfulness. You’re alive, breathing, awake. That’s not a small thing. Sleep is seen as a kind of pause where your soul goes back to YAHUAH for safekeeping. Waking up means He chose to give you another day, another chance.

It’s not just about you having faith in Father, it’s about HIM having faith in you. He handed you today because He believes you have something important to do during it.

The meaning of the Modeh Ani morning prayer is a declaration of gratitude for being returned to life at the start of the day. When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you do is to whisper a short thank-you to Father. The words of Modeh Ani basically say:

“I acknowledge before You, Living and Eternal King, for You have restored my soul within me with compassion and mercy. Great is Your faithfulness.

Modeh Ani morning prayer with נִקּוּד (vowel markings):

אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ.

The Text (transliteration)

Modeh ani lefanecha, Melech chai v’kayam, she’hechezarta bi nishmati b’chemlah, rabbah emunatecha.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Modeh ani – “I thank / I acknowledge before You” (the first words a Jew says upon waking).
Lefanecha – “before You.”
Melech chai v’kayam – “Living and Eternal King.”
She’hechezarta bi nishmati – “for You have restored my soul within me.”
B’chemlah – “with compassion / mercy.”
Rabbah emunatecha – “Great is Your faithfulness.”