Throughout scripture, we see Jesus and His followers meeting with God in the morning, sometimes while it is still dark. King David stated in Psalm 5:3 (NIV), “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” David was praying in the morning. He was also looking to be filled with the joy of the Lord in those early hours as Psalm 90:14 (NIV) when he extols the benefits of morning time with Jesus, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Why this emphasis on the morning? I believe the root can be found in Matthew 6:33, where we are told to seek God’s kingdom first. If we are to do that literally, we must begin in the morning. There are clear benefits to having a spiritual routine in the morning: quiet, lack of distractions and more energy. Then, as we go forward with our day, we are armed with the armor of God after a time of reading scripture and praying.
God’s Word is full of positive, joyful encouragement that can set our face, heart, and mind on an optimistic track for the day. Let’s look at how prayer and scripture can help us when we use them as anchors in the morning and start our days with Jesus.
PRAYER
Prayer in the morning allows our hearts to pour out thoughts and feelings with greater detail and clarity. If we miss this opportunity, our prayers end up being short, stunted, quick requests in the middle of a difficult moment or response to an immediate stress.
This makes it harder to hear God speak to us in prayer.
We don’t have time to explore our thoughts. People or needs that may come to mind at a slower pace will be forgotten in the midst of mess and noise.
Often, our outlook in the morning is more optimistic, spurring on greater praise than we might offer while dealing with the ups and downs of our day or the tired defeat that can sometimes come at the end of the day.
Starting with prayer starts our day with hope. John Piper put it this way, “God responds to prayer because when we look away from ourselves to Christ as our only hope, that gives the Father occasion to magnify the glory of His grace in the all-providing work of His Son.”
If we are hoping in ourselves to create a good day, we will inevitably be disappointed, but if we put our hope in Jesus first, we will not.
SCRIPTURE
Reading God’s Word first can offer us not only encouragement but also protection, wisdom and weapons.
God’s Word can protect us by telling us what is true. When we are confronted by a lie from culture, others, the enemy or even our sinful hearts, the truth is there in our minds to shoot down the lie.
Scripture offers wisdom to guide us through the many choices, challenges, and decisions that we make each day. When we start our day in the Word, our minds will be full of it, and we will possess the knowledge necessary to guide us.
The Bible tells us that God’s Word is like a weapon against sin and the enemy. Armed with scriptures, we can answer, offer a witness, and understand the why behind how we live.
God’s Word will not only prepare and protect us but also fill us with joy as we daily revel in God’s grace and goodness.
Anchoring Yourself for the Day
In order to be sure that you keep your morning time centered on prayer and scripture, consider setting up some routines and habits.
Keep a basket full of scripture cards, pre-written prayers, your Bible, a journal for writing prayers and some pens. You can easily grab your basket in the morning and get started right away rather than looking for all your materials and becoming distracted by the dishes in the sink. You could also create a morning station where all your items are kept. Choose a place with as few distractions as possible.
Go outside. A porch, patio, bench under a tree, or even a walk can be an excellent and peaceful means for meeting with God. Pray out loud or in your heart, bring scripture cards and practice memorizing them.
Keep scripture or a prayer journal or book of prayers next to your bed. Before you even crawl out from beneath the covers, saturate your mind with the Word and call out to the Lord.
Create a plan that will keep you consistent, and remember that “His mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22 -23, NIV). The cumulative impact of these mornings will strengthen your faith as you meet with God in His Word and through prayer day by day
