What’s the first thought that pops into your head when the alarm goes off in the morning? Have you ever noticed how your first thoughts carry over into the rest of your day? When my alarm rings, it takes a few minutes for my brain to shake off the slumber. But by the time I crowbar myself out of bed, thoughts start popping up:
- Wow, is it already morning?
- Do I really have to go walking?
- I can’t believe he said that yesterday.
- How can I get my kids to do their chores?
I grope down the hall to the kitchen and the hope of coffee. Some mornings, the voices of the world sneak up on me quick, like yesterday’s to-do list half undone, or my afternoon dentist appointment.
Our first thoughts in the morning set the tone for our day.
We carry them with us. That’s why I want to choose God and His word first thing when I wake up. God’s voice carries power to jump start sluggish mornings; it can transform even the worst “I-don’t-want-to-do-this” attitude. God says things like this:
“I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)
“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jer. 31:3)
“For I know the plans I have for you…plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” (Phil. 4:13)
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
If you’re like me, it takes an effort to hear God’s quiet voice, yet your own thoughts come crowding in loudly all by themselves. C.S. Lewis said that when you wake up “all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them back; in listening to the other voice.”
I want to wake up to God’s words and not my own. I want to let His Spirit direct me into my day.
Simple ideas for getting a good start on the day:
Say good morning to God before you get out of bed.
Hum a worship song while you make coffee.
Listen to the birds singing outside.
Thank God for three things.
Repeat a favorite Bible verse that you’ve memorized.
Read a short devotional.
Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to fill you and direct you as you think of the day ahead of you.
These are just a few ideas, not a 1, 2, 3 to-do list. One or two baby steps can get our day started in the right direction. God’s already there waiting for us when we wake up, so how about starting off the day with a simple prayer? “Good morning, God. Here I am. Fill me with your Spirit and help me to live for you today.”
I’m writing this to myself right now. After a lovely spring break family vacation, I’ve had a hard time getting back to real life. Getting myself up in the mornings feels like trying to raise the dead, but I’m looking to God to renew my attitude with each new day!
Now it’s your turn: Do you ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed? What helps you to get a good start on your day?
I link up with these communities: Holly Barrett’s #TestimonyTuesday, Kelly Balarie’s #RaRalinkup, Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #TellHisStory, Holley Gerth’s CoffeeFor your Heart, and Meredith Bernard’s #Woman2Woman.
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I am smiling of your image of crowbarring yourself out of bed-I understand that image perfectly! 🙂 I can easily fall into bad habits with how I focus for the day. I am too quick to check on the world instead of checking on God. The reminders that you share will certainly help me to readjust myself first thing in the morning. Hope you have a blessed week. Loved stopping by here today.
You have a blessed week too, Mary. Thanks for stopping by here today. You’re a bright spot on-line for me!
Hope you had a wonderful, fun-filled time with your family! Welcome back. We’ve planned our family vacation for mid-June, and I can’t wait!
Thanks, Kristine. We did have fun. I hope you’ll have many God-breathed starts to your days, so you can hold out with joy until June!!!
Do I ever! I wake up on the wrong side way too often anymore and need to do something about it. Thank you for such a reality check. I love the C.S. Lewis quote…I need to push aside the other voices! Blessings for such encouragement today. I , too, have an afternoon dentist appointment for another root canal 🙁 I will be praying for you!! ♥
How funny that we both have dentist appointments! Mine is done on my time zone. Sorry about your root canal. Lifting up a prayer for you now.
You know what? I rarely wake up on the wrong side of the bed, because I immediately go and blog. This forces me in to communion with God. I am so thankful for that time, Betsy. It is such a blessing. I think your tips are awesome and helpful. I want to listen to the birds too! I may open the door. I cheer your words on from the #RaRalinkup at Purposeful Faith.
Thanks for the cheer, Kelly. That is interesting that you go and blog, kind of like writing as a devotional, reading the word and responding to it! I go to my couch with my Bible, but sometimes thoughts crop up before I get there! 🙂
Reblogged this on Inspirational and Encouraging Blogs.
Thanks, Andrea!
Hi Betsy! I think you are a silent witness to my morning routine!!
I am getting into a bad habit of hitting the ‘snooze’ on the alarm clock. So bad! I want to get back into the habit of saying ‘Thank you Lord for another day!’. It really does help frame the day in a much better, more positive way. After all, this day is a gift. Am I using my gift, or wishing it away?
Great post for a bed-slug like me!
From #RaRa Linkup,
Ceil
That’s funny that you consider yourself a bed slub, Ceil! I don’t hit snooze, but I can start off with an “oh no is it morning already?” attitude! Yep, let’s start our days like we’re unwrapping a gift!
Just the encouragement I needed, Betsy! I’ve been struggling to get back into a routine since Spring Break and I know much of my difficulty comes from the way I’m spending my early morning hours. Thanks for reminding me what a blessing it is to wake up to God’s words and not my own!
Oh I hear you, Tarissa. It’s Wednesday now, and I’m starting to feel human again after Spring Break. (Like a happy human, that is. 🙂 ) God’s words make a difference.
Great post, especially loved the imagery in this quote, “God’s already there waiting for us when we wake up…” ❤️
Thank you, Beth
Betsy, so true that those first thoughts set the tone for the day. I appreciate your encouragement to be intentional about how we start our days…and about what we allow to influence our hearts and attitudes for the day.
Thanks, Holly. It sure makes a difference for me when I start the first moments of the morning off right.
Amen. I surely need to do one or all of those things, especially when I have not slept well during the night. Your “crowbar” image fit me ever so well! I smiled.
Thankful you are my neighbor at Jennifer’s.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thank you for stopping by, Linda. I know what you mean about it being harder to get a good start on the day when we didn’t sleep well at night. This morning (Thursday) I’m waking up with a sleep deficit myself and I’m trying to put my own words into practice!
My alarm clock wakes me with a song from our local Christian radio station. The first song I hear is what I hum/sing throughout my day.
That’s beautiful, Teresa! What a great way to wake up!
Betsy, you and I are the early risers! I am next to you today again on Meredith’s site! I love it because I can pray for you. Dear Lord, bless Betsy today. May she dive deep into your love and find the oceans of your peace, the length of your love and the power in you presence. Guide her in your paths. Amen. Much love Betsy! Happy Wednesday.
Amen, Kelly. I receive your prayer. How funny that we keep ending up as neighbors at Meredith’s. Lord, pour out your grace over Kelly today. Fill her with your Spirit, your wisdom, your joy.
I’m kinda slow to shake sleep out of my brain in the morning. I love that you give practical steps to get us started. This is one of your gifts friend. Blessings on you!
Thanks, Carmen. I’m kind of slow in the morning too, which makes it so easy for the mindset of the world to creep up on me! Gotta get intentional first thing about standing firm on God’s word.
These days have seemed long and busy and a lot of mornings I wake up and feel like I’m counting the minutes until I can lay down again. 🙂 I’ve asked my husband if that’s a sign our our age – our favorite part of the day is bedtime. I loved your simple ways to keep our heart fixed on God – I think they are great things to turn to through out the day to keep that connection to Him surging through our life. Thanks for sharing, Betsy – as always wise and relevant words.
That is funny, Tiffany! Sometimes I myself feel so happy to go to bed at night! Think it’s my age? (50). I never thought of that. May God give you grace for your busy days, Sister.
I love all of these, Betsy! I’ve been doing most of them since college. I’ve also discovered that I have to wake up before my husband’s alarm goes off–his alarm sounds like a Mack truck backing up and it obliterates all coherent thought from my brain (along with the thoughts of praise) in an adrenalin shot of confusion. ;).
Hi Betsy,
I believe that greeting God first is a key to starting the day off right. Unfortunately I’m not very cheery until I get some coffee into me lol. My husband and I have a devotional time at the breakfast table which I really enjoy. It binds us together and sets us both on the right track for the day. Great ideas and encouragement here!
Blessings,
Bev
I need to get some coffee in me too, Bev. But it’s BEFORE the coffee where I can get off kilter, so I’m trying to wake up with God. Great idea to have a devotional with your husband. My husband and I pray in the mornings. Sometimes it’s just 5 minutes, but it does make a difference.
Betsy, I love your posts they always encourage me to try something new!
Kim Stewart
http://www.kimstewartinspired.com
Aw thanks, Kim!
My pastor back in Indiana always taught us that one of first thoughts in the morning should be – This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. It sure makes you day start on a different level !!! Many blessings !
Love that! That’s easy to remember for a brain befuddled by sleep!
Such great wisdom here, Betsy. I have tried some of these but you’ve also given me some new ideas to try. This morning did not go so well for several reasons, so this was the perfect post for me today. Tomorrow is a new day! Thanks, friend. Good to have you back. 🙂
Bless your heart, Abby! My morning didn’t go well either, and I was trying out these ideas again on myself!!!!! Tomorrow IS a new day, and THIS is the day that the Lord has made. It’s good to be back. I missed y’all.
“Listen to the other voice”….yes, yes, yes! I want to do that. I want God’s voice to be the loudest. It’s sure not always easy. I have a busy next ten days, and I’m going to take your advice and make an effort to focus on God in those first few moments of morning. 🙂
I’m lifting up a prayer now for your busy ten days, Laura. Blessings to you.
Betsy, wonderful post. It may not be easy to get up & spend early morning time with God but it is well worth the effort. I love the thought that God is already there waiting for me 🙂
Isn’t that a wonderful truth, Joanne?
Love these verses, Betsy. I need those reminders often! I want to wake up to the Spirit’s leading too, not my own.
Thank you, Lisa. May the Lord open our ears and our eyes to Him in the mornings!
Hi, Betsy! I visited your blog through the Woman 2 Woman linkup, and I nominated your blog for the Liebster Award.
You can see instructions at the bottom of my post: http://beforetheblessing.com/2015/04/liebster-award/
Thank you so much for the nomination, Trena! I will check that out.
I always said good morning to Jesus as soon as I woke and thanked Him for a wonderful new day. And then I would immediately think about how much I hate having to go to work! I was miserable all morning.
Two things helped me get a better start to my day. One, I started praying about my attitude to be more positive about work.
Two, I started exercising for just 10 minutes in the morning after I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I jump on a fitness trampoline for a few minutes while I watch the news and get the weather forecast. (I can’t bring myself to set my alarm any earlier!)
It has been a fabulous 1-2 punch for a great start on my day. I truly feel more positive and more energized as well.
Wow, Deborah, you are a go-getter! Ten minutes of exercise is a great idea! I don’t do that as faithfully as I used to, and it does make a difference. I’m joining you now in praying for your job and a more positive attitude. You hang in there! You’re a champion!
Thank you for your prayers, Betsy. You are a wonderful sister in faith, and your “virtual” friendship is a blessing to me. I love reading your posts every week!
I love your tips and that quote! Mornings can be rough for me :/
I liked the quote too, Sarah. Blessings to you, friend.
Great post! Hope you had a wonderful trip – and some restful time off. I’m also feeling the strain of getting back into the routine after getting knocked down by allergies last week. Had to take the whole week off from blogging – needed the extra sleep and head was too foggy to think anyway. Feeling rusty this week and struggling a little to get back into my morning routines. But boy did I miss that early morning time with God – and missed my time writing and visiting all my online friends.