Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

 

 

The sound of your annoying alarm clock wrestles you awake from your sweet sleep, nagging and arguing with you about starting your day. Finally, your hand hits the clock and your feet hit the floor.

Next, follows your morning routine that usually involves a combination of things like showering/washing your face, brushing your teeth, getting the kids ready, doing hair and makeup, ironing, and eating breakfast. Often, if we aren’t careful, we will find ourselves omitting one very important detail from our morning routine—spending time with Jesus.

I, for one, am guilty of doing this—waking up late and rushing my way out the door with breakfast in hand. For me, choosing to spend some quiet time with Jesus in the mornings before the hustle and bustle has proven to be greatly beneficial for my spiritual life and my entire day. Here are 4 benefits to starting your day with Jesus.

1. PEACE AND JOY

When we rush through our morning, panic is usually present instead of peace. When you choose to put God before the start of your day, peace and joy have no choice but to follow.

Psalms 16:11 says, “…you will fill me with joy in your presence…”

There is nothing like basking in the serene presence of the Lord in the quiet moments of the morning. His presence brings so much joy and peace, and it’s breathtaking to revel in the knowledge that God chose to be there with you, too.

Being reminded of His lovingkindness for you every morning brings comfort all by itself.  This precious quiet time will usually require a little planning and sacrifice on your part.

For example, it may mean getting up 15 minutes earlier than you usually do, but oh, is the sacrifice worth it! That same peace will follow you the entire day. This leads me to the second benefit.

2. CONFIDENCE

I have noticed a huge difference in my level of confidence when I choose to spend my mornings with Jesus. His Word and His presence remind me that I belong to Him and reassures me that no matter what happens during my day, I know that God is still for me.

Jeremiah 17:7 says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Isaiah 26:3 also says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

It’s easy to trust God when our confidence is in Him. When we give the first part of our day to the Lord, we know that we can trust Him with the rest of it. Therefore, remembering that the creator of this very day causes all things to work together for my good gives me confidence as a child of God.

3. SENSITIVITY

After spending time with God, we tend to become more aware of His presence as well as more sensitive to how God is working in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit also opens our eyes to see the blessings of God and the beauty of His creation.

That sensitivity causes us to be more patient and loving with people and develop a heart that overflows with gratitude. Becoming more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit brings discernment and is a wonderful by-product of spending time with Jesus.

4. PURPOSE-DRIVEN

One of the best things to do during your quiet time with God is to read a scripture or a devotional. Devotionals are great because they expound upon scripture and usually give you something to ponder and focus on throughout your day.

I find that by having a scripture to meditate on prompts me to live out the Word with more intentionality. Instead of being a hearer of the Word, I am more likely to be a doer of the Word and live a life on purpose for God when I dedicate the beginning of my day to Him.

There are certainly many benefits when we decide to begin our day with God, but mornings don’t have to be the only time we spend with God. We should be in constant communication with the Father all day, talking to him about our issues, our family, our desires, etc. You can also read scripture on your lunch break or carry notes/verses in your pocket on index cards.

I used to think it had to be a perfect formula, but there is no perfect formula for deepening our connection with God. He simply wants a relationship with you! Just remember that none of us are perfect and that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Will you be less blessed if you skip a morning with God. No. Will God stop meeting with you because you forgot to put Him first? No.

Are you still saved and loved by God? YES.

We don’t do these things to get into God’s good graces—we’re already living in them because we said yes to Him. Jesus prioritized us and sacrificed His life, so that we could live an abundant one. A Savior like that is more than worthy of the sacrifice of our time we set aside to fellowship with Him.

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