No Motivation for the Day? Start Your Morning with God

Did you know that the morning is the most important time in your day? Yes, because what you are able to accomplish will depend on how you begin it. Imagine that in the morning you are already feeling refreshed, motivated, with a full stomach. Of course mood will be good and you will be eager to go through the day.

The problem is, how do we start the morning well?

“Why Does My Morning Feel Bad?”

At first, I myself did not care about my mornings. As long as I had breakfast, took a shower, and got ready, the rest was up to fate. But instead of becoming productive and enthusiastic, I actually felt down all day long. I found it hard to work, and could not even produce anything.

Later, I realized something. If the morning feels unpleasant to me, it is because I start it badly. I spent more time thinking about what I was going to do that day, and forgot Who gave me the opportunity to live through it.

The Key: Start with God

“Put God first, and your priorities will be right.” Sounds cliché, doesn’t it? But this is the truth. It turns out that all this time I had been leaving God out of my daily life. Okay, maybe my days felt smooth and ordinary. But over time, especially in difficult times like these, I felt like I was losing direction and had no drive to keep going.

When I decided to prioritize God, everything changed. I no longer read the newspaper in the morning, but the Bible first. I filled my mind with God’s word and His promises. The result? Even a single day became clearer and brighter: by putting God first, my thoughts and ideas flow more clearly.

If you are still not convinced about this, let us look at what Jesus did. He began His day by prioritizing His relationship with God the Father. Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up and went outside. He went to a solitary place and prayed there.” Why did Jesus do that? Because He was deeply connected to His Father. It is said in John 10:30 that “I and the Father are one.” Jesus was able to do His works because He depended on God.

So now it is clear that the best way to begin the morning is to start it with God, the Creator. The good news is, you do not need to take big or drastic steps, but simply begin with small habits.

Starting the Day with God

1. Wake Up Earlier

Morning is the time when your mind is still fresh and not yet pressed by the problems of life, so God’s word can have a greater influence on your life. In Isaiah 50:4 it says, “Morning by morning He awakens my ear to listen like a disciple.”

Waking up earlier in the morning will make you more willing to live through the day. Not only that, you will also have more opportunities to arrange your schedule, so that your priorities become more focused. This means you have more time to read God’s word and pray.

2. Read God’s Word

Besides giving direction and guidance that will certainly benefit you, starting the morning with God’s word also gives you peace. Just as Jesus began His day with quiet time with His Father, as followers of Jesus, it would be good for us to begin the day by reading God’s word.

The Bible itself often mentions the morning. For example, Psalm 143:8 says, “Let me hear of Your steadfast love in the morning, for in You I put my trust! Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”

John 1:1 also says, “In the beginning was the Word; the Word was with God and the Word was God.” The point is that God wants us to prioritize Him above everything else by reading His word first in the morning. Long before we begin all our activities, the word should be our “breakfast.”

“What if I do not have time in the morning?” Perhaps this question is on your mind. For some people, the most effective time for quiet time and prayer is not in the morning. Maybe because the distance between home and the office is far, or because of a work night-shift schedule. It could also be because of household busyness, such as taking care of children, preparing breakfast, taking the children to school, and so on.

Indeed, there is no command or absolute requirement to begin the morning with quiet time. However, it is highly recommended (see point 1). Moreover, Jesus Himself also practiced it (Mark 1:35). Try evaluating your schedule again. Is there any activity that can be shifted so that you can make time with God in the morning? Ask for wisdom from God as you manage your time.

3. Pray

Prayer is a no less important part of beginning the day. Praying feels simple; even children can do it. Sadly, because it is so simple, you and I often forget or neglect to pray. Even though, if we long to communicate with God, prayer should hold an important place in our lives.

Psalm 5:3 says, “LORD, in the morning You hear my voice, ... and I wait expectantly.” David became a good example of how we should begin the morning, namely by putting God first.

The Choice Is in Your Hands

Perhaps right now you are not yet used to starting the morning with God. All the busyness at the start of the day causes your focus to shift to other things. However, beginning it with God through quiet time and prayer is the best choice.

If we love God and want to give Him our best, of course we will set aside time for Him, not just leave Him the leftovers. Morning is the best time to hear His voice because we are still fresh and not yet distracted by many things. We can absorb His wordmore easily. Also, we have plenty of time and opportunity to put it into practice throughout the day.

So, are you ready to work for God with your best? Ready to see God work in extraordinary ways throughout your day? Let us begin it with God in the morning! - Related Articles:

• If It Doesn’t Feel Good, We Won’t Obey: How to Carry Out God’s Word Without Picking and Choosing
• Do We Need Strategy in Prayer?
• How Does God Answer Our Prayers?
• When Is the Best Time for Quiet Time?
• Is Diligently Reading God’s Word Enough?