As the season changes, so does my prayer chair. Every morning when I get up, I make my hot water with lemon and head to my prayer chair to spend time in God’s Word and in prayer.

Why?

I have found it is the wisest way to start my day. Yes, filling my mind and soul with truth and love matters, but even more importantly, as Mark 1:35 tells us...

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Although Jesus’ schedule is not known minute by minute, scripture strongly suggests that prayer was a priority in His life. And if it was the foundation to His morning routine, I believe it is given to us as an example of how to begin our days.

When we start our day, we are faced with a choice of what what we turn to first and what we allow into our eyes and ears first.

Do we let the chaos of the world in first, or do we first turn to the One who brings calm to the storm?

Do we begin on the shifting sand of life, or on the solid foundation of the truth of God’s Word?

I choose the latter, and I encourage you to do the same.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we make it a priority this week to begin our days, even if only for a minute or two, being still with God.

It will be tempting to do your normal routine, but it can wait. You may feel the urge to grab your phone or jump into the day, but it can wait.

I’ve made the commitment not to touch my phone until I’ve completed my morning routine. Some days I slip, some days I catch myself and literally say out loud, “No phone yet,” yet most days I don’t think about it until much later in the morning.

But I always notice the same thing, when I begin with God, my mind is steadier and my heart is more at peace, and I pray you find the same to be true.

May this morning prayer time be a blessing to each of us. May we allow our time with God to give us a steady, calm foundation for our day so that when we step into the world, there is less space for chaos to take root within us.

With love and hope,
Shawn