I have a fascination with watching people’s morning routines they post online. I love to see someone romanticize their morning and make it their special time. What is it about mornings that make them so special? It’s a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to let go of everything from the previous day that didn’t go the way you wanted.

How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Are you hitting the snooze button one too many times or maybe waiting until the very last minute to get up? Are you rushing to get ready? When we discipline ourselves to go to bed just a little bit earlier, wake up earlier, and use our time wisely, we can set ourselves up for success.

There are a few things that are non negotiable for me in the morning time (if I can help it) One: make up my bed and two: spend time with Jesus. Those two simple things, two easy things that cost absolutely nothing and take very little time, actually make the rest of my day so much better. Those two things make me feel like I have my life together even on the days that I don’t.

We can’t all be “morning people”, but what we can do is make an intentional decision to have a productive morning. But why? Why should we do this?

As I’ve already discussed, morning productivity enables us to start the day off right. When we start the day right, we set ourselves up for success.

Very early in the morning when it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where He prayed. (Mark 1:35)

When we choose to spend time with God first thing in the morning, we are not only following the example set by Jesus; we are giving the first portion of the day to God, not the left overs. Have you ever tried to pray when you’re really sleepy? I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve gotten into bed and tried to pray before bed. I always, without fail, would fall asleep right in the middle of praying. There’s nothing wrong with falling asleep while praying so long as that isn’t the only time you have set aside for prayer. Morning time, for most of us is the quietest time with the least amount of distractions. We are (hopefully) well rested and able to think clearly.

When we conquer our mornings, we set ourselves up to conquer the day. I hope this encourages you to conquer your day, making every morning not just a good morning but a God morning.