Every morning is a fresh, new opportunity to live a full and enriched life, most importantly, your spiritual life walking with the Lord in relationship. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” There is not one specific method to start your day with Jesus, but there are always ways to experience Him in new ways.
1. Bible Study
Time soaking in the Word is one of the greatest ways to connect with the Lord in the morning. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 offers how, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Holy Bible is God’s exact Word to His people, and what a beautiful gift it is that we live in an age where we have quick access to the Word in our own language! Through His Word, we can see His faithfulness from generation to generation and relate to those who have gone through trials, tests of faith, or big calls of God before. Study in the Word can also be a gift to do with someone else. Studying with a spouse is a way to forge even deeper intimacy and a way to grow in faith deeply rooted together. Time in the Word with a friend can also provide a path of cultivating Godly friendships and what it means to do life with someone through brother/sisterhood in the faith. Invite the Lord to guide you in what He has for you to glean from His Word for this very season.
2. Journaling
Prayer journaling or conversation journaling with the Lord is another great way to start the day richly soaked in the Word. What is imperative for journaling with the Lord is that we invite His Holy Spirit into every crevice and corner of the conversation, and we test each Word. John 16:13 highlights how, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” Jesus offers us His Holy Spirit to guide us in truth and understanding. Prayer journaling is also a great place to write down your daily prayers and petitions, and when you look back at former entries, you can see first-hand how He answered the prayers you wrote down. This is part of what, through Scripture, we are called to remember His faithfulness. In the book of Joshua, when the Israelites crossed the Jordan, God called the people to build a reminder of 12 stones as a tangible reminder of how God literally parted the sea to lead the people through. In the same way, we can do this by writing down our prayers and recalling the places where He has seen us through the waters. It is important to praise Him along the way with grateful hearts and spirits.
3. Worship Music
Time with the Lord in the morning ought to always hold focused time on sincere worship and thankfulness to Him alone, not just what we can get out of it. Praise through gratitude in our words, dancing before the Lord, or raising our hands and voices in worship music are ways that we can lift His Name on High. Psalm 96 puts it well in “Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.”
He is worthy of our praise, even when those praises are proclaimed through tears. Worship music is also a great way to prepare your heart and spirit to enter into a time of prayer, journaling, or time in the Word. Sing to Him a hearty song of your genuine love.
4. Coffee with Jesus
One of the greatest ways I find connection with the Lord in the morning is a set apart time of coffee with Jesus. The word “holy” literally means “set apart.” Over time, I have found myself in the habit of giving my coffee time as an intimate, holy time between my Lord and me. It is usually early in the morning when no one else is around, and the only sounds are that of the coffee maker brewing and the stream of coffee into my mug. Some of the most profound revelations and conversations I have had with the Lord have been in my quiet coffee time with Jesus. Coffee is not even required; it could be a pastry with Jesus or no food at all. What matters is the dedicated time every day that belongs to God and God alone. You never know what He might have for you on a coffee break.
5. A Walk with Jesus
Many of us have dogs that require a walk in the morning, and it is the perfect opportunity to get some time with Jesus as well. Instead of listening to music or a podcast, take that time you would be using anyway to care for your dog and take a walk with the Lord. Spend it in time of prayer or simply thanking Him for all that is around you in this brand-new day. Let the Spirit guide you as well; He may lead you on a literal path you have not taken before that can speak to you through metaphor in a different way. It is also an excellent way to calm yourself before the day really begins to wind up and to allow God to prepare you for what this day will require. Sometimes walking with the Lord is literally walking and talking to Him.
There is no one perfect way to spend time with the Lord or invite Him into our early mornings. The gift of a relationship with Christ is that there are no specific rules or methodologies in how to exactly spend your time with Him. Take time to consider the different ways you can make a habit of spending time with the Lord to start your morning or ask Him to reveal to you ways to creatively and truly spend quality time alone together.
Prayer:
Father God,
Thank You for the abundant truth that Your mercies, love, and Spirit are with us even before the birds wake up in the morning. Lord, it is the sincere desire of our hearts to set apart focused time with You, and You are alone. Lord, show us how we can implement in action this time, and give us the resources necessary in order to do so. We praise Your Holy Name, and we come before You with no expectation of anything but communion with our Lord and Savior.
It is in Jesus’s Holy Name that we pray,
Amen
Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com
