How would my morning routine change if I fully trusted Jesus?

How would my morning routine change if I fully trusted Jesus? I’m currently struggling with anxiety and a general sense of unease as soon as I wake up. My mornings are typically filled with checking emails, worrying about upcoming deadlines, and generally feeling overwhelmed before the day even begins. I want to genuinely surrender these anxieties to God and live with a deeper sense of peace and trust. Specifically, what practical changes could I incorporate into my existing morning routine – perhaps involving prayer, scripture, or a shift in mindset – that would reflect a complete surrender to Jesus and help me navigate the day with more faith and less fear? What specific actions or habits would be helpful, considering my tendency to immediately jump into work and worry? I’m interested in tangible steps, not just abstract concepts.

Answer

If you fully trusted Jesus, your morning routine might transform from a sequence of tasks into a deliberate and spirit-filled preparation for the day. Here’s how it could change:

1. Waking Up with Gratitude and Intention:

• Instead of: Reaching for your phone and immediately checking notifications.
• You might: Begin by acknowledging God’s presence and expressing gratitude for a new day and His continued provision. This could involve a simple spoken prayer like, "Thank you, Jesus, for this new day. Guide my steps and use me for Your glory." You would approach the day with a sense of purpose, seeking to align your actions with His will.

2. Prioritizing Prayer and Scripture Reading:

• Instead of: Rushing through breakfast or skipping it entirely.

• You might: Dedicate a specific time for prayer and reading the Bible. This time could vary in length depending on your schedule but would be a non-negotiable part of your morning.

  • Prayer: This would be more than just a routine recitation; it would be a heartfelt conversation with Jesus, seeking His guidance, confessing your needs and weaknesses, and interceding for others. You might pray for wisdom in decisions, strength to overcome challenges, and opportunities to share His love with those you encounter.
  • Scripture Reading: You might choose a specific book of the Bible to read through or use a daily devotional. The goal wouldn’t be simply to finish the reading but to meditate on the verses, allowing them to speak to your heart and mind. You would look for how the scriptures apply to your current situation and seek to apply them throughout the day.

3. Centering Your Thoughts on Jesus:

• Instead of: Filling your mind with anxieties, to-do lists, or negative news.

• You might: Consciously focus your thoughts on Jesus and His teachings. This could involve:

  • Memorizing Scripture: Recalling verses that resonate with you and meditating on their meaning.
  • Listening to Worship Music: Filling your environment with sounds that uplift your spirit and remind you of God’s presence.
  • Affirming Your Identity in Christ: Reminding yourself of who you are in Christ – loved, forgiven, and redeemed. This could involve speaking affirmations based on scripture.

4. Seeking God’s Guidance for the Day’s Tasks:

• Instead of: Plunging into your work without considering God’s perspective.
• You might: Ask for His guidance in your daily activities, big or small. This could involve praying for wisdom in making decisions at work, for patience in dealing with difficult people, and for opportunities to be a light in your sphere of influence. You would see your work as a way to serve God and others, not just a means to an end.

5. Aligning Your Actions with Your Faith:

• Instead of: Living a compartmentalized life where your faith is separate from your daily actions.

• You might: Consciously seek to live out your faith in every aspect of your day.

  • Kindness and Compassion: Looking for opportunities to show kindness and compassion to those around you, whether it’s a family member, a coworker, or a stranger.
  • Integrity and Honesty: Conducting your business and personal affairs with integrity and honesty, even when it’s difficult.
  • Witnessing: Being open to sharing your faith with others when the opportunity arises, not in a pushy or judgmental way, but with gentleness and respect.

6. Preparing Your Heart for Potential Challenges:

• Instead of: Being caught off guard by unexpected difficulties.
• You might: Anticipate potential challenges and pray for strength and wisdom to overcome them. This could involve praying for specific situations you know you’ll be facing, such as a difficult meeting or a stressful project. You would remind yourself of God’s promises to be with you and to provide for your needs.

7. Approaching the Day with Peace and Confidence:

• Instead of: Feeling anxious or overwhelmed by the day ahead.
• You might: Enter the day with a sense of peace and confidence, knowing that you are not alone and that God is with you every step of the way. This peace would come from trusting in His sovereignty and His love for you.

In essence, your morning routine would become less about productivity and more about cultivating a deeper relationship with Jesus, seeking His guidance, and preparing yourself to be a vessel of His love and grace in the world. It becomes a time of spiritual nourishment and preparation, setting the tone for a day lived in faith and purpose.

Pray This Prayer

Lord Jesus,

I come before you this morning, wrestling with a question in my heart: How would my morning routine change if I fully trusted you?

Right now, my mornings are often filled with a flurry of anxiety, rushing to accomplish, striving for control. I wake with a to-do list buzzing in my head, a frantic scramble to catch up before the day even begins. Fear of failure, fear of inadequacy, fear of losing time, all dictate my actions.

But if I truly trusted you, Jesus, how would it be different? Would I still rush? Would I still allow fear to grip me? I doubt it.

I imagine, Lord, that a morning rooted in full trust would begin with quiet. A moment to still my soul and listen for your voice. A moment to surrender my plans, my anxieties, my burdens to your loving care.

It would be a time of gratitude, acknowledging your presence in my life, your provision for my needs, and your unwavering love for me. Instead of focusing on what I lack, I would focus on the abundance of your grace.

It would be a time of prayer, not just a rushed recitation of words, but a deep connection with you, a pouring out of my heart, and a genuine seeking of your guidance for the day.

It would be a time of reading your Word, not as a chore, but as a nourishment for my soul, a source of wisdom, and a reminder of your promises.

Lord, I confess that I don’t always trust you fully. My fear and control often get in the way. Forgive me. Help me to surrender more completely to your will.

Show me how to reshape my mornings, to build a foundation of trust upon which I can stand firm throughout the day. Let my morning routine become a testament to my faith, a living example of your peace reigning in my heart.

Help me to trust that you are already working in my life, that you are in control of the details, and that you will never leave me nor forsake me.

Thank you, Jesus, for your grace, your love, and your constant presence. I trust you. Help my unbelief.

In your holy name I pray, Amen.