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 smartphone 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. †