The concept that 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day' is widely accepted. It suggests that what we feed our bodies in the morning sets the stage for the rest of the day. The same is true for our minds and spirits. However, many people find it challenging to incorporate a devotional or quiet time into their morning routine. 

Firstly, let us affirm the value of purposefully setting aside time to focus on our connection with God. However, that doesn’t mean it will, or has to, look the same for everyone. The traditional picture often painted is of someone getting up while it's still dark outside, sitting quietly while reading the Bible and some devotional book, and spending time praying.

This is not a bad picture, but if we idealize it too much, it can cause people not even to try because they can’t see how that could be them in the picture. I guess you could argue that people are just making excuses or lacking commitment, but are we going to set up this one form as the only way to have regular one-to-one interaction with the Lord?

If you can consistently have a quiet time in this fashion, please continue. For those of you who like the idea of the picture but struggle to make it a reality, don’t give up. The goal is purposeful interaction with God, which can take many forms. 

Here is one option you could try: Morning Affirmations. 

You may have encountered this idea elsewhere and have a picture of someone standing in front of a mirror saying things like “I am good and getting better”, “Today is another day to heal” or “I am loved”. The concept is that we purposefully speak truths to ourselves to counteract negativity we may be telling ourselves or hearing from others. It sets the tone for our thinking for the rest of the day.

The problem is that, typically, the suggested statements are very self-focused. While there is some value to this, if we desire to grow in our understanding of who we are in Christ, simply focusing on ourselves will not produce a good result. This is why the affirmations we suggest are truths from Scripture. This allows us to consistently remind ourselves about who we are in Christ and what that means for us in this life and beyond.

Here are some of the benefits of this approach:

1. It is portable. You can engage in morning affirmations anytime, anywhere—while you lie in bed, on your morning commute, or after dropping the kids off at school.
2. It encourages Scripture memorization. These passages can become like dear friends who are available to us at any time of the day or night.
3. It focuses on the truth of God’s Word, which acts upon us in ways we don’t always fully understand or appreciate.
4. They can also be turned into prayers.

So how do you get started?

You can start with one or two verses and focus on them regularly. How many you include in your morning routine is entirely up to you. Our encouragement is to do at least one every day, starting today. Say it out loud if you can, think about its implications, and talk to God about what thoughts it provokes.

Below is a list of some suggested verses and some thoughts that can come from them. 

This is not an exhaustive list. You may have other verses you prefer. The critical thing is to get started. A little bit is better than nothing, and the benefits we enjoy from this discipline compound over time.