Here are four morning routines to help you start your day with God:
- Invest in a Bible Reading Plan. One of the common reasons why people don’t read the Bible is because they simply don’t know where to start! If you’re having trouble with where to start, don’t fret. Invest in a Bible reading plan. It can be a good way to help you to commit to reading God’s Word every day. We recommend the YouVersion Bible App. God speaks to us through His Word, so it’s important to take the time to read the Bible.
- Praise & Worship. Create a worship playlist or listen to your favorite worship album when you wake up in the morning. Fill your heart and mind with worship music and enter His presence. You can sing along or you can be still and listen to the lyrics.
- Go on a prayer/praise walk. Do you have time to go for a walk in the morning? Bring your headphones, listen to worship music and pray while you’re walking. Be humbled by God’s beautiful creation around you, thank Him for all He has created. You can also pray for your neighbors as you pass by them. If you don’t have time for a walk outside, do a walk around your house. Pray for each room and each person in your family.
- Repeat a morning prayer similar to this one from Pastor Mark’s message (John Stott):
Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in Your presence and please You more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen. (John R.W. Stott)
A Word about Spiritual Practices
A spiritual practice or discipline is any activity entered into with the intention of presenting and opening ourselves up to God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Remember:
- We cannot achieve spiritual growth through sheer grit and will power.
- Spiritual growth is essentially a work of divine grace with which we are called to cooperate.
- Opening ourselves up to the work of the Spirit requires discipline and effort.
- The spiritual practices are not as an end, nor a means of self-improvement, or a way of earning God’s approval but a vehicle God uses to surface the deeper issues in our hearts.