Connecting with God in the New Year

 

Do you begin the day by checking email or social media sites on your phone, grumbling and grouching, or with a ritual first cup of coffee? What you do first thing in the morning sets the scene for the rest of the day. Create a ritual for centering yourself and connecting with God and family before the day gets rolling!

 

Opening Prayer:

Lord, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Help me to begin each day in a way that helps me to better love and serve You and my neighbors. Amen.

 

Make a short list or write a brief paragraph discussing your morning routine.

If you live with someone, share your list with them. If you live alone, spend time reflecting on the list. Some questions as a starting point:

• How does my current routine help me start my day off right?

• What about this routine is not helpful?

• If I could change anything about my typical morning, what would I change?

 

Read Lamentations 3: 23-25

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

 

Create a list of all the ways you might connect to God’s new mercies every morning. Some ideas to get you started: read a Bible verse (maybe on a smart phone app), listen to a song, pray a short prayer, say a phrase like “God is good all the time” or “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” turn on the light and thing: “Christ is the light of the world,” greet the people you live with or your friends with “Peace be with you.”

 

Choose one morning ritual to try for a week. Make it the first thing you do each day. If you’re completing this activity with someone, keep each other accountable and check-in with each other to see how it is going.

 

Closing Prayer:

God of fresh starts, Your mercies are new every morning. Help me as I do my best to try to start my day by connecting to this reality and connecting to You. Amen.