November 2: Before the Day Starts Talking

What’s the first thing you reach for when you wake up?

For most people, it’s the phone. Before your eyes are fully open, you’re reading news, messages, emails, other people’s opinions. The day starts talking at you before you’ve said a word. By the time you get out of bed, your mind is already full and busy.

Jesus had a very full life. Crowds followed Him everywhere. The night before this verse, the whole town had gathered at the door, and He’d been healing people late into the evening. And early the next morning, while it was still dark, He got up and went somewhere alone to pray.

If He needed that, so do we.

Step Eleven lays out a simple morning practice. When you wake up, before the rush, think about the day ahead. Ask God to direct your thinking. Ask that your thoughts be kept clear of self-pity, dishonesty and selfish motives. Ask for help with whatever you’re facing. Then go.

That doesn’t need to take long. Five minutes is a real start. Some people read a short passage of Scripture. Some write a few lines in a notebook. Some just sit with a cup of coffee and talk to God about the day. “Here’s what’s coming. Here’s what I’m worried about. Show me what to do.”

The hardest part is usually the phone. Try leaving it in another room overnight, or at least not touching it until you’ve prayed. Give God the first word of the day before the world gets it.

You won’t always feel anything. Some mornings will feel flat. That’s fine. You’re not doing this for a feeling. You’re doing it to point your day in the right direction before it gets going. Over weeks and months, it changes things. You’ll notice you’re calmer. You’ll notice you catch yourself sooner. You’ll notice God more.

One thing today

Tomorrow morning, don’t touch your phone until you’ve spent five minutes with God. Ask Him to direct your thinking and to show you the next right step.

A prayer

Lord, before this day starts talking, I want to hear from You. Direct my thinking today. Keep me from self-pity, dishonesty and selfish motives. Show me what to do and give me the strength to do it. Amen.

Morning prayer is the start of Step Eleven.

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