First thing in the morning

What is done in the morning tends to have a big impact on our outlook and mood throughout the day. Starting your mornings with prayer reinforces your mind, body, and spirit with a sense of calmness, gratitude, and joy to help us maintain a positive perspective through our daily tasks. It is easy to get distracted, frustrated, or in a rush, especially in the morning, but praying to God and giving thanks initially gives us peace to better approach each day. It is much easier to enjoy our life when we begin each day praising the grace and gifts from God.

Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the Word and not my feelings.

Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided. Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be.

Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity rather than a personal inconvenience.

And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, "Great is your love toward me." (NIV)

You already see the ways I will fall short and mess up. But right now, I consciously tuck your whisper of absolute love for me into the deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on my performance. Your love for me is unconditional and that is amazing!

But what's most amazing is that the Savior of the world would desire a few minutes with me this morning. Lord, help me to forever remember what a gift it is to spend time with you like this.

What is your first thing in the morning?