Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.

 I used to think of myself as a morning person. For a few semesters in undergrad, I had an office job that started at 7am. And I loved it. Those were my most productive mornings. Up by 5am, done at the gym, showered, and at breakfast, doing my devotions by 6:30am. Work by 7am, and class by 9am. 

I still don't hate getting up early and my most productive days are ones that start well before 7am. But I have gotten lazy and those days are fewer and farther between. I find myself sleeping until my alarm, rolling out of bed, letting the dogs out/feeding them, checking the interwebs, getting dressed, and leaving. All in about 20-30 minutes most mornings. 

I'm going somewhere with this, I promise. 
My devotion this morning has me rethinking my morning 'routine.' 
The sidetext in my study bible noted this about Eph. 6:10-18-

"Most women have a pretty regular morning routine. From a cup of steaming coffee to a brisk morning run, time with the newspaper's early edition to breakfast with the kids, there are patterns in our lives that add strength, vitality, and purpose to our days."
- Women of Faith NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Publishing. 

It goes on to talk about how routines mostly have the basics covered...makeup, clothes, hair, food, etc. But what about the armor of God? Is that covered in our morning routine? Everyone has different preferences, and some like to spend their quiet time with God in the evening or over lunch. I've always been one of those all-or-nothing morning people, though. If it doesn't happen in the morning, it probably won't happen. Devotions, eating healthy, working out, you name it. 

If our routines reflect our priorities, mine are all wrong. Jesus and caring for my body rarely make the list most days, if I'm honest. I'm not sure at all the my morning routine is one that adds 'strength, vitatlity, or purpose' to my days. Its definitely gotten gotten a lot better over that last few months as I've committed to {more} regular study and hitting the gym a bit more. But its still inconsistent and lacking.
I want need to seek wisdom first thing in the morning, I need to start my day off on a healthy note. So I'm thinking of revamping my mornings. Seeing what I change.

I'm interested- what's your morning routine look like? Do you get up early? Sleep in? Share! 

9 comments:

Christina said...

oooh this is SO something I struggle with!! Katie, I could have written the same exact post!! I really have gotten lazy in the mornings, and if I don't have devotion time then, there's a 99% chance I won't do it later that day! Thanks for the reminder/challenge...

Emily Carnes said...

SUCH a great reminder. I'm the same way-if it doesn't get done in the morning, it probably won't happen. But, my mornings always consist of sleeping in as late as possible, spending wayy too much time on my phone, and then rushing to head out the door. :( Thanks for the motivation to get my priorities straight!

Amanda said...

On the two days that I work I have to be there at 9am. I shower at night. Wake up at 7:30. I just started for about a week now making the Bible, God, & my devotion the first thing I look at and talk to. It's so helpful to do this. Because like you, if I don't do it in the morning I won't do it at all.
I'll look at the devotion again through out the day and read the Scripture that goes with it through out the day and then again before I go to sleep. So when I wake up the first thing I breathe in is God and when I go to sleep the last thing is God :)

You're welcome for the novel ;) have an awesome day! XO

Katie @ My Darling Days said...

Girl I'm struggling right there with you. My big thing is working out. If I don't do it in the morning, I never will. I try going to bed earlier to wake up earlier but that snooze button just seems to hit itself. I already HAVE to get up by 5:30am to make it to work on time. If I coud just make myself get up 30 minutes earlier to get a workout in, I know I would feel so much better. I just know it. Now, why can't I DO it?

Emily grapes said...

I have quite the regimented morning routine that given me 30 minutes in the word and prayer. Its not the much and I always feel like I'm not giving enough, but w/the time I wake up, get ready it fits into my 1st cup of coffee time and I can tell when I miss a day with how I feel throughout the day. Even the 30 minutes makes a huge difference for me.

Holly Osbeck said...

I used to workout/do devotions in the morning, but boy, I found that I am so much more engaged when I do them after work. This week I started doing my Bible reading as soon as I get home (not allowing myself to check the internet first). It's actually been really nice b/c then I want to do it--rather than put it off. It's still not easy to be consistent though! I definitely agree that having a routine (or for me a plan for each day) helps. And your desire to be obedient is a step that most people don't even take!

Megan said...

Oh yeah, I'm definitely not good with mornings. I hit snooze as long as I can, so I'm usually running super late!

Laura Darling said...

I once heard someone say, "how you spend your 5-9 directly affects your 9-5." I've never forgotten that. It's so true too, for both a.m. and p.m.! :)

Ashley said...

we SO talked about this at my bible study last night! this is a hard one for me that i'm working on. i somehow always have the time to workout or work late....but am "too tired" to do my bible study....good food for thought!