I’m not sure about you, but for much of my life, which now encompasses over six decades, mornings were often a hectic routine of trying to get the kids fed on time, ready for school, and out the door. Even attempting to wolf down my own breakfast and kiss my wife goodbye as I flew off to work could be frenzied, notwithstanding first getting out of bed, getting dressed, and trying to deal with my mind going off in all directions. Sure, Jesus would enter my thoughts here and there, but sadly, his presence in my rushed mornings was not typically the priority.
Now that my life has slowed down a bit, the Lord is showing me that starting each day with Him is a far better and calmer way of doing things. I wished that I had paid attention sooner. Did you know the word “morning” appears 217 times in the Bible? Nope, neither did I until I Googled it. In fact, the AI Overview states, the word “morning” is often used metaphorically in the Bible to represent renewal, a new beginning, and a shift from darkness to light. To my way of thinking, starting my morning with Jesus is the best way to usher in each new day.
King David talked about the morning in Psalms: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalms 5:3 NIV)
He also used the morning to wait for the Lord to respond to his requests and for God to rescue him from his enemies. David understood the benefits of praying in the morning and seeking Jesus when the day was just beginning: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go. For to you I entrust my life.” (Psalms 143:8 NIV)
Personally, I need to be deliberate in my morning routine, especially when my feet first hit the floor. It’s then that I need to stop and look towards heaven, thanking God for the breath in my lungs and the beating of my heart. Just this morning, when I went downstairs and met my wife, who was sitting at our kitchen table with her morning latte, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and thanked God for all the blessings we had. No doubt you have your own list of things to thank God for. I encourage you to take a moment at the start of each new day and thank Him for them.
There was a prayer on my phone this morning that I believe was no coincidence, a prayer that began by thanking God for waking me up today, a prayer that lifted God up and that no one compares to Him—a prayer that thanked God for carrying me through each day, even the hard parts. At the end was another verse of scripture that I’ll leave with you, my friend. Together, let’s include Jesus in our morning routines before the craziness of daily life takes hold: “If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalms 139:9,10 NKJV)
Paul Smyth
