My alarm went off and I sleepily shut it down 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 office intending to get things done. 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. 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 called me. She's funny 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 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 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 like 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 for the rest of the day. I needed to ensure that I laid a rock-solid foundation if my days were to radiate productivity, fulfillment, and, ultimately, glorify God. I sought to find out how believers can start their days right, and here’s what I found:
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mathew 26:41
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. 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 dealing with. On finding them asleep, Jesus warned that unless they watched and prayed, they were sure to fall 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, the flesh gets subdued. Our Lord 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.
“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 only leads 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.
He was not to veer off God’s law to the right or left. God’s truth was to be on his lips and become his meditation. Esteeming God's words would guarantee him success. We too need to esteem God's Word if we are to lead prosperous lives. Each day, we should aim to have the Word of God on our lips and in our hearts.
Job confessed to having esteemed God’s Word more than his necessary food (Job 23:12). Little wonder that God could brag about Him to Satan. 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 into a prosperous, God-glorifying life, like Job's.
Trying to figure your day out in the morning is likely to 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 should first count the cost and assess his resources. If the aspiring builders 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.
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 appear harmless. Before we know it, our productivity is extinguished. Paul taught that a little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. 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. This laying aside is a conscious decision we must make every day.
With advancements in technology, distractions are all around us. Our phones are always pinging with notifications. There's also an array of entertainment at the click of a button. Many people squander precious time each day scrolling mindlessly on social 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 is gone, we cannot recover it. God wants us to give 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
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).
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/choochart choochaikupt