Good morning!…But HOW?!
Dear church,
Are you a morning person? Or are you an evening person? Does the early dawn invigorate you? Or does the late night prove to be when you’re at your best?
Me?
I’m neither. I’m a noon kind of person (the middle of the day is when I operate at my best, for sure!).
Yet over the years, I’ve learned that if I can set my mornings in order, my day (no matter when I wake up), ends up much better! I’m calmer. I’m more at peace. I’m happier. I’m more productive. I’m just a better version of myself.
Here are five things I (try to) do every morning…
#1 I spend time in worship.
I try to spend the first fifteen minutes or so of my morning listening to worship music. It’s such a beautiful way to set your heart on the things of God. I often will listen to artists and songs that have been recently significant for me and my walk with God. Since coming back from Guatemala, I curated a Spanish worship playlist with some of my favorite worship songs and hymns sung by Spanish artists. I was able to use so much of my Spanish in Guatemala and worship in Spanish a few times that it made me want to relive those moments in daily worship.
#2 I spend time reading a daily devotional.
I will then grab a cup of coffee or tea and then read from a daily devotional from authors that I trust. I currently am reading “God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life” by Timothy and Kathy Keller. It’s a year of daily devotions from the book of Proverbs. Libby and I started reading this one together at the start of the year. I’m also reading “New Morning Mercies” by Paul David Tripp. It’s a daily Gospel devotion with suggested Scripture readings. These quiet moments getting spiritually fed through these devotionals teach me, guide me, and lead me into a God-centered thought process as the day begins.
#3 I spend time reading Scripture.
Then I’ll open my Bible and read some Scripture. This part is a little unpredictable. I might read something that was mentioned in one of my devotionals. I might read the Gospels. Oftentimes I’ll spend time in the book of Psalms. This time in the morning when I’m reading Scripture is not necessarily when I study Scripture, but when I simply read and allow it to speak to me and feed me spiritually. One other note on my Scripture reading – I read from my physical Bible, not through an app on my phone or computer. I find myself too distracted when I read Scripture on a phone or computer, so I stick to my physical copy.
#4 I spend time reading a book.
I love reading. But I often get too busy or too distracted to read during the day or in the evening, so I prioritize it by reading in the morning. I set a timer for 15 minutes and I read till the timer goes off. The benefits of reading are so many: it exercises our brain, it improves our literacy, it improves our concentration and the ability to focus, it reduces stress…reading is amazing! Right now, I’m reading “The Emotionally Healthy Leader” by Pete Scazzero.
#5 I spend time journaling and praying.
Journaling has proven to be such a great way for me to clarify my thoughts, look ahead with purpose, and be present in the moment with the Holy Spirit. Here are some of the questions I’ll answer when I journal:
· How am I feeling?
· Is there a loss in my life I am grieving?
· What am I learning?
· What decisions do I need to make?
· What is holding me back?
The question I try to end my mornings with is: what am I grateful for? I find that planting my heart in gratitude in the morning helps me focus for the rest of the day with a better disposition than if I just move forward with my day without looking back on what God has done for me. Journaling gives me a place to pray from. If I find I’m anxious, I’ll pray from that anxiety into trusting God. I’ll pray through the decisions that I’m about to make in the coming day or week. I’ll thank God for what I’m grateful for.
Those are the five things I do every morning. But while I’m here, let me share with you a few things I don’t do. First, I don’t check social media in the morning. It’s just not helpful for me. It’s distracting. It sucks my time. It is often discouraging. So, I avoid social media in the morning (and all day if I can help it!). Second, I don’t check or listen to the news in the morning. I want my thoughts to be God-centered as I head into my day and oftentimes the news is discouraging, negative, or infuriating. Third, I do my very best to not complain about anything in the morning. Complaining in the morning has proven to set my day on a downward trajectory fast and sets the stage for a negative day.
That’s it. That’s how I try to structure my mornings. Some days are better than others, but these are the things I do (and not do) every morning. How about you? What are your mornings like? What would you add to my list? What’s on my list that you would add to your morning routine?
I love you, church.
Pastor Daniel
(In the next issue of ‘Dear church’ I’ll be sharing what I look for when I read Scripture)
