My alarm went off, and I sleepily turned it off before snuggling back into my covers. One hour later, laced in regret, I darted out of bed, showered in a huff, and roused my children for school.
After bidding them farewell, I slithered into my home office, intending to chow down my frogs.
School work, writing projects, and ministry assignments all bayed for my attention. All this while, I was conscious that I hadn’t spent time praying and reading God’s word, so I mumbled a quick prayer -mostly to ward off the guilt gnawing at me.
Having woken up late by an hour, I figured I didn’t have time for my cherished prayer and Bible study hour. As I fired up my laptop, contemplating where to begin, a dear girlfriend phoned me.
She has a funny bone, and our chit-chat soothes my soul. Needless to say, I was on the phone with her for close to an hour.
A second layer of regret latched onto me as I realized that my morning schedule was already dented.
I opened my email and spotted a notification from X (Twitter). It piqued my interest and I clicked on it. Regrettably, I lingered there for twenty or so minutes.
Realizing that I was on a downward spiral, I resolved to stay on track. Half an hour into my work, I instinctively checked my WhatsApp messages.
There was a heated conversation in one of the groups, and I gullibly hopped in. This morphed into twenty minutes of giggling and chatting with my friends.
When I finally put my phone down, I felt helpless. I was caught up in a web of distractions, and I didn’t fancy it one bit.
As I took stock at the end of the day, licking my wounds, it dawned on me that how I had started my day had defined how the entire day had panned out.
My morning routine seemed to have been the foundation on which the rest of the day rested.
I needed to ensure forthwith that I laid a rock-solid foundation if my days were to ooze with productivity, fulfillment, and ultimately glorify God.
I sought to find out how believers can start their days right, and here’s what I found out.
Prayer Insulates Your Day
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mathew 26:41)
We have got to give it up for our spirits. Unlike our flesh, our spirits are eager to do the right thing.
We crawl out of bed intending to make the most of our days. To please our heavenly father and shine His light.
But when we face bumps in the road, our weak flesh is often lured away. Our good intentions dissipate under the weight of distractions.
Before His crucifixion, Jesus warned His disciples that they would all fall away on His account.
They vowed not to, pegging their confidence in their flesh.
Peter, James, and John ended up snoozing away despite the agony their master was battling.
On finding them asleep, Jesus warned them that unless they watched and prayed, they were sure to plunge smack dab into temptation.
Prayer insulates us from falling prey to temptation. Our flesh is unruly and needs a higher power to tame it. Allowing it free rein only leads to destruction.
In prayer, our fleshly desires get subdued and our spirits soar. Our master Jesus modeled how to start each day with prayer.
Mark records that very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35).
Spending time in prayer before we face the day will empower us to triumph over the leadings of our flesh.
Esteem God’s Word
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105)
We need illumination as we go about each day. We are not to rely on our own understanding as it will only lead us astray.
God’s word illuminates our paths, leading us in the way we should go. It helps us spot the bumps in the road and steer clear of them.
For Joshua to successfully lead the Israelites into the promised land, God asked him to make His commandments a big deal, an obsession even.
He was not to veer off God’s law to the right or left. God’s word was to be on his lips and become his meditation day and night (Joshua 1:7-8).
Esteeming God’s word would guarantee him success. We too need to esteem God’s word if we are to lead prosperous lives.
We need the word of God on our lips and tucked in our hearts every day.
Job attested to having esteemed God’s word more than his necessary food (Job 23:12). Little wonder that God could brag about Him to Satan.
In addition, he had many possessions and was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
When we esteem God’s word every day, making it our guiding light and central focus, success will be inevitable.
One successful day after another will inadvertently culminate in a prosperous God-glorifying life, like that of Job.
Have a Plan
Trying to figure out your day in the morning will likely render you ineffective. Prior planning, preferably the evening/night before, will keep you tethered to your cause.
Jesus taught that anyone who desired to build a tower would need to first count the cost and assess his resources.
If the aspiring builder skipped the planning stage, they ran the risk of winding up as a laughing stock (Luke 14:28-30).
Good planning may involve crafting your goals the night before, prioritizing tasks, using a time management app, scheduling breaks, delegating, and setting boundaries.
Snuff Out Distractions
Distractions are grossly underrated, yet they have far-reaching, unsavory effects.
Succumbing to distractions can cost us lifetime opportunities and alter the trajectory of our lives.
Distractions are often subtle and imperceptible. They weave into our schedules stealthily and often appear harmless.
Before we know it, our productivity is extinguished. Paul taught that a little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough (Galatians 5:9).
Giving in to little bursts of distraction here and there can ultimately derail you from achieving your life’s purpose.
Furthermore, when we consistently miss the mark, we don’t glorify God with our lives. Paul asks us to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us (Hebrews 12:1).
That’s the only way we can win the prize in the race we are in. This laying aside is a conscious decision that we have to make every day.
With advancements in technology, distractions are all around us. Our phones are always pinging with notifications.
There’s an array of entertainment at the click of a button. Many people squander precious time each day scrolling mindlessly on social media, yet lack time to pray and study God’s word.
Our time is a sacred yet finite resource from God. The clock is always ticking, and once time elapses, we cannot recoup it.
God wants us to accord time the reverence it deserves. He wants us to spend every second, minute, and hour wisely, bearing fruit for His glory.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Final Thoughts
Take stock of your day and identify the things that derail you. Then catch those sneaky little foxes that are wreaking havoc on your vineyard (Song of Solomon 2:15).
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