With school starting back and for me going back to work, mornings are definitely a challenge! Mornings can be the most hectic and crazy part of the day, especially around my house with 4 boys, 3 pets, my husband and myself. I can easily get to 8 am and feel like I have lived an entire day with all that has to be done to get everyone and myself out of the door! I can go into the day feeling very frazzled and already done before the day really gets started. That is not something I want to be dealing with on an ongoing basis. I know there are going to be mornings where inevitably things will be chaotic with my oldest forgetting to plug in his iPad the night before, my cat throwing up his breakfast or my youngest unable to find his shoes. Some things are just going to happen! But, I have some simple steps to helping my mindset along, starting my day off with devotion, prayer and focusing on Jesus and that have made mornings so much more peaceful!
1) Put your day before Jesus!
Before your feet hit the floor give your day over to Him! Before anything else happens, before I look at my phone or tend to my dog, anything else, I spend my first 5-10 minutes giving the day to God! I ask for His wisdom and direction. I pray that all I do and say will glorify Him! I pray that God will provide me with the strength and energy that I need to do all that has to be done and that I have joy along the way!
Psalm 55:22 says “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
2) Put Him first!
Once I get out of bed, I grab my journal and devotions, put on “Today’s Top Worship Radio” on Pandora and sit on my porch and spend time with Jesus! I start off with “Jesus Calling” and “Jesus Always” daily devotionals then read the daily devotion for “First 15.” I jot down some prayers, some feelings, or observations in my journal if I have time. I may only have 10 minutes, but it is essential for starting my day off on the right foot! Find a devotional, read some scripture, pick out a cute journal to fill with your thoughts, light a candle, get outside, whatever works for you to get alone and meet with Jesus! Jesus set the example of how to start a day off well by getting up and spending time with the Father first thing!
“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
3) Put off your worries
Whatever is on your mind or causing worry, give it over to the Lord! As you get out of your pjs and begin getting ready, take time to release that stress as you tell God everything that is on your plate. It may be something your child is going through, an unanswered prayer, or a tough work situation, whatever it is lay it in God’s hands and ask Him to comfort you and give you peace! I often stress over issues my children face. I have three children with learning disabilities and when they have a test coming up or are particularly struggling in school I can get so fraught with worry and consumed! Knowing how much God cares for me and knowing He cares for the things and people in my life more than even I do, it is such a comfort to lay all my worries at His feet!
I Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
4) Put on Jesus
When you are getting dressed, putting on your earrings, shoes, etc. pray that you will be like Jesus throughout the day with whatever comes your way. I pray that even during the stress and frustrations that I can be a light for Christ with my kids, coworkers, etc. I want to be a light in this world for Him and I need the Holy Spirit to guide me and shine through me! So, in the process of getting dressed I am praying that I am clothed with Him!
Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[a]
Col. 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
5) Put in the Good Stuff
As you are drinking your coffee, tea, diet coke, eating oatmeal, etc. whatever gets you going in the morning, at that time be in prayer that God would fill you with the good things of Him so that you live in the fruit of the Spirit and have that joy and hope with you for whatever the day brings. I enjoy my coffee concoction of a teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of sugar free French vanilla and a heaping tablespoon of liquid sweet Italian cream in my Folgers each morning on my way to work. I ask God to fill me with Him so that I can be a blessing to my preschool babies and coworkers that day! That warm, sweet goodness reminds me to bring that warm, sweet goodness to everyone I come in contact with in my day!
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I may not have an hour to spend to read, pray and be quiet in the morning, but I can take the time I do have to be intentional about inviting Jesus into those moments! When I make that time count I have so much more peace and begin my day feeling calm and ready to face the challenges ahead!
