Start the Day Right…

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

Success magazines and self-help sites are loaded with “start the day right” theories, especially at the start of a new year.  I’ve gotta say though, this “start the day right” thing really works!  I know…why am I so surprised that this actually works!?  I’ve been teaching this for years, and I’ve even experienced it on more than one occasion.  Nevertheless, I still surprise myself from time to time.

I’m going to tell on myself…

Several years ago (when I originally wrote this post) my husband Eric used to leave for work before I even got up most of the time.  Sometimes, not always, he would get on these kicks where he would set his alarm for super early but then hit the snooze button.  Consistently.  Over.  And over.  I’m a pretty light sleeper, and it typically takes me a while to even get to sleep.  I’m also a pretty cranky person if I don’t get enough sleep or if I’m overly tired.  Oh, did I mention that the sound of his alarm often wouldn’t wake him? So many times I had to wake him and tell him that his alarm was going off…every 9 minutes…for sometimes an hour.

Needless to say, this occasional morning snooze habit that he used to have tended to make me a little angry drive me insane.  I promise I really tried to stay calm and not get angry.  Really I did.  However, there was a particular day that was not the case.  On that morning it was all I could do not to take his alarm clock and knock him over the head with it.  I’m telling you, I had some choice words in my head!  I became extremely angry and cranky.

Moving past my feelings

I didn’t feel like getting up early to read my Bible and have my quiet time that day.  I didn’t feel like playing praise and worship music.  Nevertheless, I sucked it up and got up regardless of my feelings.  I made a decision to start the day right, even though it went against every grain in my body that day.

I went into the kitchen to make my coffee and whole-grain bagel (even though I felt like eating the plate of leftover Christmas fudge that was still sitting on the countertop).  I pulled up my YouTube praise and worship playlist and clicked “He Lifted Me” to listen to as I made my breakfast.  In full disclosure, I probably used a little more force than I should have to click “play” on the music. It really only takes a light tap, not a blow to the touch screen with my index finger. 🙂  I think I even muttered out loud to myself, “I don’t WANT to listen to praise music!” like a little pouting 3-year-old.  See what a baby I can be at times?  After that song was over, I was still angry but clicked on another song anyway, “O Praise the Name”.

Afterward, I took my breakfast and phone and went to my usual morning chair to read my Bible.  I did each of my reading plans, prayed, and journaled my thoughts.  Amazingly, I even finished before the kids got up.  I think I was still in a little funk but really didn’t pay much attention to it after that because I was on to get the kids up, ready, and off to school.

It worked!

After I dropped the kids off, I was listening to the radio in the car and caught myself smiling and feeling pretty happy.  Wow!  I actually felt better.  I was looking forward to the day.  I was no longer angry, cranky, mad at Eric, or insane. 🙂  Deciding to go ahead and start the day right had actually worked.  I think I even said that out loud, then immediately thought, “OK, I have to write about this and tell on myself.”

So take it from me.  Start the day right…even if and when you REALLY don’t feel like it.  It works.  When you start the day right it truly sets the tone for the day as a positive one.  My pastor often says to do the right thing even when you don’t feel like it, and later the feelings will follow. 

And remember… When you don’t feel like doing the right thing the most, that is when you most need to do it.  You never know when that decision could be a pivotal turning point.  It may cause you to avoid a downward spiral into a series of bad decisions, or it may be the catalyst to a snowball of blessings.

Take Some Practical Steps to Start the Day Right:

• First, make a decision that no matter how you feel you are going to do what you know is right even when you don’t feel like it.

Don’t let your feelings beat you.  Tap into your inner 3-year old and tell your feelings, “You’re not the boss of me!”

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)

• Get up early.

According to a Forbes post, “Several studies have correlated waking up early with success.”  This post in Business Insider also concludes that “the most successful people tend to be early risers.”

“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

• Always start with praise.

I wrote more about this and the importance of it in this post here.  I find it’s a good idea to play a couple of praise and worship songs right when I get up to get my focus in the right direction.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

• Eat a healthy breakfast.

Although the fudge might have been tastier, I typically try to eat a breakfast higher in fiber and protein.  Both help my brain to function a little better throughout the day, and they also help me to feel and stay fuller longer in addition to helping my energy levels.

• Finally, have a regular morning quiet time—read your Bible.

I would also probably combine prayer and journaling in with having a quiet time too (for purposes of this post anyway).  The benefits of a daily quiet time are countless.  Some of the biggest benefits I personally experience are a better mood, hearing God talk to me, an increase in wisdom and knowledge about God (and life in general), and getting instruction for what’s to come.

“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.” Mark 1:35 (NIV)

“LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)

“For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations…” Malachi 1:11a (ESV)

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” Psalm 46:5 (NIV)

Have a great week, and may you, too, reap the benefits when you start the day right!

What do you do to start the day right?  Have you had a similar experience to mine?  Tell us about it by leaving a comment below. 

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If you have benefited from this post or if you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward and share this post with them via the sharing links below! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) 

*Update: Originally posted 1/12/2016