I want to start with a question that may seem simple, but has potentially deep meaning for many of us: “What gets the best part of your day?” When you first wake up, do you grab your phone to check financial markets, social media, and emails? If so, it’s possible that you are setting yourself up for a day filled with more challenges than necessary.
As Christian men, we are called not just to believe in God, but to put Him at the center of our lives. And if we are going to live our lives like that, we need to start our day the right way. But why are those first few minutes so important? I’m not a doctor or scientist (and didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night) but from what I’ve read, it’s because our minds are fresh, our spirits are renewed, and our bodies are rested. In that crucial time, what we choose to focus on can shape the trajectory of our entire day.
That brings us to our verse for the day:
Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” There’s a powerful message in these words. The Psalmist knew the value of presenting his day before God, first thing in the morning. It’s not that we are forbidden from engaging with the world. But our day should start with a declaration that God is our priority.
We are not just followers of Christ; we are His ambassadors in a world that desperately needs His touch. Our actions, our words, our attitudes – everything we are – should reflect His nature. Of course, we all fall short of that goal at times but, when we give God the first and best part of our day, we are stating clearly where our loyalty lies. We are showing that we value His voice above all others. We are declaring that His wisdom is more important than any insight the world can offer.
When we begin our day with Him, we align ourselves with His will, and as a result we can be more confident as we navigate our day. And, in addition to honoring God, we will live more fulfilling and impactful lives.
Questions:
- Do you believe that the way we start our day has a significant impact on the way the rest of our day turns out? Why or why not?
- Based on today’s lesson, if you were designing the perfect start to your day, what would that look like? What activities, how long, etc?
- Instead of starting our day with prayer and reflection, why is not just as effective to schedule some time during the day for these activities?
- If this is such an easy concept and the benefits are so clear, why doesn’t everyone just start their day in prayer and reflection? Why is it not just that simple?
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