3 Ways to Start Your Day Right

By Jennifer H. Yates

Mornings. You either love them or hate them.

As women, most of us hit the floor running. Whether we are in the trenches of home, in full-time ministry, or in the workplace, we are accustomed to trying to do all the things. Consequently, our daily time with Jesus can sometimes get relegated to the back burner.

There’s nothing quite like the peace and stillness that come from spending some time each morning at the feet of Jesus. It didn’t used to be that way for me, though.

I used to go about my day with a few whispered prayers, guilty that I wasn’t reading the Word as I should and struggling to get through the day without my sinful nature getting the win.

I finally realized that no matter what the sacrifice, spending time with the Lord before every other commitment was worth it. Totally worth it. Even if it meant getting up earlier to seek Him first.

You see, no matter how much we think we can handle life on our own, it’s just not fact. When we go about our day, trying to be good and do good, but not seeking the One who is good, we will fail.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV 84).

The only way we can remain in Him throughout the day is if we started there in the first place. Time set aside with Jesus should be the first priority of our lives. Everything else should flow from that.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus speaks this truth in the midst of His teaching on worry. He tells His followers not to worry about the details of life, such as how to provide for your family. He says instead to focus on Him, and He will take care of the rest.

To me, this was a call to start my day seeking Him, His rule and reign over my life, His righteousness living in me. And I have found that as I seek Him first each day, He meets my needs and keeps my heart at peace with Him.

I’m reminded of Mary and Martha. I know we’ve all heard the story a thousand times, but I think it bears repeating. Martha wasn’t wrong to be serving. God calls us all to serve Him and to serve others. She just lost her focus for a bit.

“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made” (Luke 10:40).

Isn’t that so like us? We want to spend time daily with Jesus, but we’re so busy. And we get distracted by all the many responsibilities. Then we get frustrated when others won’t help. And out comes that sin nature, scoring another point.

But look at what Jesus told Martha:

“You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed” (Luke 10:41b-42a).

Jesus wasn’t saying that the work Martha was doing wasn’t necessary. It just wasn’t the priority. And if we can come to that understanding, we too will realize that although taking care of our families, working at our jobs, and serving in our church are all necessary, they take second place to our relationship with Jesus.

So, I want to share three tips to get your day started with Jesus, even if your schedule leaves little wiggle room.

1. Set your alarm 15 minutes ahead tomorrow.

Okay, so I know that is a little thing, but I promise it is the way to start. Just know in your heart that these 15 minutes are a commitment you want to make to the Lord because of His great love for you. Program your coffee if you need to so you can be ready and not waste a precious minute. Start here and let God do the rest.

2. Set aside a place to seek the Lord.

I know many people will tell you that you don’t need a particular time or place to spend with God. You don’t. But it sure helps. If you have carved out a little quiet space for you and Jesus, you will begin to look forward to that time. And it will cut down on time you would waste just trying to get started.

3. Set out your Bible, journal, and pen in your spot.

Just as we moms like to lay out our clothes or prep the kids’ lunches the night before, setting out our tools for spiritual growth can also cut down on our time in the mornings. We are more likely to carry out those activities for which we have prepared in advance.

I get it. These are elementary, (duh) kind of tips I’m giving. But sometimes the simplest acts are the ones we consider the least, and they can be powerful as we develop the habit of spending time with God first each day.

And what have you got to lose? If you know you need to spend more time with the Lord, and your schedule and responsibilities are getting in the way, why not make a small adjustment to your morning routine? You may not be a morning person (I’m not either), but there is something special about spending those few quiet moments in the Word and in prayer that will change the trajectory of your day. Eventually, you will find that time growing.

“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3).

So, what are you waiting for? Get ready for your 15 minutes of quiet time with Jesus tomorrow. And I’ll be back with more ideas for your quiet time next month. Until then, feel free to check out my book, Seek Him First: How to Hear from God, Walk in His Will, and Change Your World, available on Amazon.