“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” -Mark 1:35 NIV

There are so many posts and videos out there where folks are talking about their morning routine. And not without good reason. We all have some sort of a routine in the morning and I wanted to shine a light on how what we do the first few minutes of the day can matter and set the tone for the rest of the day.

The morning is a precious time, it’s quiet before the hustle and bustle of the day has begun (hopefully). I see it as an opportunity to connect with God before I connect with people. I’ve learned I’m not much good to anyone until I’ve taken a little time to get my head on straight with God at the beginning of my day.

One thing I’ve learned over time is that it’s best not to put anything before this time. I don’t check my stocks, the news, or even my texts if I can help it. The way I look at it, all of that stuff can wait. It’s not going anywhere and will be there after I have spent the first part of my day with God.  So yeah, first thing in the morning, it’s quality time:  just me and God. That other stuff can distract like nothing else, trust me.

And even though I’m not a morning person, I wake up early-adjacent so that I have some uninterrupted solid time to spend with God.

My routine basically goes like this: when I wake up, and roll out of bed the first thing I do is hit the floor on my knees thanking God for the day…whether I’m looking forward to the day or not. Whether I’m tired or not. Whether I am feeling good or not. The fact that I woke up and the sun is coming up is reason enough to thank God for another day!

I make coffee so that I can have my “coffee with God” while I’m praying. I know there are some non-coffee drinkers out there, so feel free to substitute the word “tea”  for “coffee.” Go ahead, I won’t mind too much!

Side note: I used to think I had to pray before coffee, but I’ve since realized that I’m a little better at understanding whatever I’m reading or discussing with God after about 1/2 a cup of Joe. I’m also better at remembering it, which helps as I like to come back to what I’ve read throughout the day or week.

Then I read a few daily devotionals to kick things off. I’m currently reading My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, a book that a friend gave me. Talk about needing coffee to unpack some of those meaty bits! I really try to slow down and think about what I’m reading, but how much I absorb sometimes depends on how much caffeine I’ve had by that point 😉

I also try to watch the Verse of the Day Guided Scripture on the YouVersion Bible app. They have such a great way of explaining just one or two lines of Scripture, often highlighting something I hadn’t considered before. The speakers also do a wonderful job of providing context, whether it’s looking at what comes before or after a passage, or exploring when and why it was written. I’ve often suggested this awesome (and yes, free!) app to people who want to become more familiar with the Bible. It is an easy-peezy way to get into the habit of reading at least one  Scripture a day. Reading the Verse of the Day is a great and simple way to build up your scripture muscles! And context the speaker gives us in their 3-5 minute reflection helps us digest what’s in the Bible better. 

Once I’ve read some Scripture, I might perhaps look at commentaries to understand it more deeply. I also try to listen for what God might be saying to me through His Word. After all, Scripture is one of the primary ways God speaks to us. So to capture what I feel God is saying to me, I generally have my journal open so I can take notes.

One tip: If my mind or heart feels wayyy too cluttered to hear from God, that’s when I do some journaling to make space for Him to speak and for me to hear. I might start by writing down what’s making me angry or frustrated, what I’m worried about, or what’s causing me anxiety. This really helps!

I also try to acknowledge if I’m holding on to any unforgiveness toward someone. Whether we realize it or not, unforgiveness can sneak up on us. But God is gracious and shows me what’s really going on in my heart if I give Him the time, space, the quiet, and permission to do so.

If I realize I’m holding on to unforegiveness or hurt, I try to bring it to Him and ask for His help to forgive and let go before moving on. None of us will do this perfectly, and we may have to “rinse and repeat” these steps more than once, but I don’t want those sort of things to become barriers to my prayers.

And honestly, it’s a good way to start the day with a little less clutter in your heart and in your head. After all, I’ve always felt that the less baggage for the journey is always a better way to travel.

But journaling isn’t just about getting the hard stuff out. No matter where I land emotionally on any given day, I also make a point of writing down what I’m grateful for.

I do this for two reasons: First, it helps me get into a mindset of gratitude something the Bible encourages us to do repeatedly. Really and truly, it ALL comes from Him. We all have so much to be thankful for on any given day.

Second, I try to record the good things my life so that when I look back I’ll be able to see God’s faithfulness along the way. I don’t want my journal to become just a repository for all my angst. While it’s a good place for that, I want to make just as much room for gratitude.

Once I transfer some of these thoughts onto paper, it is like I have cleared the air *. I generally feel better and more able to hear what God might want to say to me that day.

[*This is also proven by science how writing things by hand helps your brain process and organize emotions and situations. There are many articles about it, like this one: https://scriveiner.com/blogs/scriveiner-blog/what-journaling-does-to-your-brain-the-science-of-writing-by-hand] 

Next, I take time to sit and listen to God. I try not to rush, but obviously I’m not perfect at this, so it takes practice and some discipline . Some days it’s hard to focus and listen, but I do try to actively make space for it. There’s no perfect posture or specific thing I do while listening. I just try to be still before Him.

Think of it as the part of a conversation where you stop talking and listen to the other person. We all have a lot of monologues with God, but what might He want to say to you? That would make it more of a conversation, don’t you think?

If/when I do hear something that impresses on me, I write it down in my journal, so I can continue to learn from it, or possibly pray on it if it’s some way I think God is directing me etc.

Finally, I pray. After taking the steps above, I usually have a clearer idea of what to pray for. Being that prayer is so super important, I don’t want anyone to misunderstand what I’m saying. You can absolutely pray when your heart is a jumbled mess and you’re feeling anxious, irritated, or overwhelmed. And of course, you can speak to God and pray at any point in your day and in your night. I believe God hears us right where we are. And sometimes we need to pray right on the spot, whether it is for an urgent situation, or something less pressing.

My point is simply that when I set aside the time and space to pray and listen to God first thing in the morning, I’ve found it helpful to do so free of the day’s impending distractions. Clearing out some of that clutter first helps me come to prayer with both a more settled heart and mind.

And with that, I start my day.  This one daily practice has helped me navigate life and people better than almost anything else I do in my day.

You may do your time in prayer time with God completely differently! Would love to hear about it!!! What’s your routine, if you have one? Please share below. If you don’t have a routine, now might be the time to start!

Scripture references:

-Psalms 118:24 ESV
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

-1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

-James 1:17 NIV
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

YouVersion Bible app: https://www.bible.com/

#MorningRoutine #MorningWithGod #CoffeeWithGod #StartYourDayWithGod #ChristianMorningRoutine #PrayerLife