Haven’t you found that what you do each morning dramatically affects the rest of your day and sometimes your whole week? If you’re lazy, haphazard, or just slow in your actions in the morning, you’re likely to experience a slow, unfocused, and unproductive day. If you’re weak in your thinking, your emotions, your vision, and your daily efforts toward your family purposes, you will have weak results.
What you do in your mornings can cumulatively affect how you respond to the distractions, challenges, setbacks, and responsibilities of your life. It also affects how your children respond to you. When you feel overwhelmed or out of control, your soul atmosphere communicates that. When you feel on top of things, making headway in your daily purposes, your children experience that sense of security that all is right with their world, and they step up and respond more positively to personal growth too. When they experience confidence in you, it signals permission for them to grow in self-confidence as well.
What Makes You Feel Good about Yourself?
I know some moms who just look forward to a bit of time in the afternoon (when their children are napping or otherwise occupied) to work on a hobby, or read a book. I used to sew or study during that quiet time of the day, but these activities aren’t what made me feel good about myself. Although Bible study contributed to my personal growth and development, it didn’t actually cause my inner growth, except to compel me closer to the Lord in obedience, which did outwork as character in my life. But I had to take actions! What made me feel on top of my world, or that I was changing on the inside, were the small positive disciplines that overcame various character flaws, and built better personal habits both mentally and spiritually. I believe that’s what a personal morning routine will facilitate for you too.
To get past the “settling for less” syndrome, you can simply begin by dedicating time each morning to becoming a person who is capable of consistently creating and sustaining the levels of success you want in your family and other areas of your life.
Say “Yes” to Your Morning!
John Maxwell says, “If you don’t like today, you won’t like where you’re going.” Begin to say yes to your morning, and use the first hour like a rudder that steers the rest of your day so you will like where you’re going tomorrow.
Committing to your personal development as soon as you wake up in the morning sets you up to succeed for the rest of your day.
Seven Benefits When You Say “Yes” to Your Morning
1. You experience a positive motivational jump-start to your day that overflows to your kiddos.
2. You start your day feeling like you accomplished something good for yourself and that some of your own needs are getting met too.
3. Your outlook on life shifts toward increasingly more hope for positive changes that seem too big to tackle.
4. When implementing one new practice in your routine, almost immediately new possibilities begin to open up for making changes in other areas of need.
5. You get inspired to take more and more positive actions toward your family’s needs for growth and development, because you’re more internally aware and can receive the suggestions God gives to your heart.
6. You begin to feel purposeful and that you want to rise to the challenge of preparing for the mission God has given you right there in your home.
7. You begin to feel like your life is full of possibilities. Yes!
Don’t you want these experiences too?
Today is the most important day of your life. NOW matters more than any other day. This is the day the Lord has made, won’t you rejoice and be glad in it? Who you are becoming tomorrow and next week is based on the decisions you’re making and actions you’re taking today. TODAY, you’re creating the quality of person you will be TOMORROW. This morning you decided the quality of your children’s experience of you tomorrow.
A dedicated morning routine that is intentionally planned and executed will cause growth and change, and take you forward on a path of success in all areas of life that you want to improve.
I want to help you learn personal disciplines that will set you up for success in your parenting and homeschooling. I’m creating the Empower Your Morning series just for you. I’ll be sharing with you some of the practical actions I took early on, and how I carried my efforts forward to achieve increasingly more personal growth and development over the years. Will you come along with me?
A Personal Example
Recently, when I was helping my daughter throughout her long recovery this past year (2015), (she was finally able to get back to being up for more than a few minutes at a time), I encouraged her to get some inspiration for just one thing to do for herself to build her health. I had been helping out in the planning and executing of her care, but she was finally ready to take the reins for herself. Within a week she was inspired toward a commitment to juicing fruits and vegetables in order to increase her energy levels. It was only a few days that her simple actions opened the way for more self-awareness, resulting in more inspiration.
In just a few weeks she was back to preparing most of her family’s healthy meals, walking outside, and getting her life back. In just three short months, she lost a bunch of weight and is on her feet much of the day now. She still has a ways to go to get back to her previous level of activity, but the point is that a single small commitment compounding daily became a significant change and overflowed to making other inspired changes as well.
What is one thing that can inspire you toward action tomorrow morning that is for your own personal growth and development? Let me know what you decide!
Hello Marilyn!
I’ve been working on making pretty, decorated pages that co ordinate with the steps of the “Life Message Learning Model” to move me towards a new in depth word study.
This is so inspiring to read, I’m sure the Lord is using your message here to keep me at it. I wasn’t quite finished, but so close.
I love your new blog!
Thank you for sharing a bit of what you’re doing, Yolanda! Your pages will be so fun to work in!
I’m full of inspiration right now! Last March the Lord impressed on me to start my day earlier and I’ve been struggling to make that a consistent habit. Since we moved, my husband is leaving the house very early, so my new struggle has been to not sneak back into bed after making his breakfast and lunch! It’s so silly that I’ve done this in the past and one thing that helped me get up and stay up was to write down and record some affirmations. I listen before I go to bed and when I get up (I made the recording on my phone and it’s under 60 seconds) reminding myself how great I feel when I get up and stay up and how productive I am when I do this. This has facilitated some new habits, opening up my mornings for self improvement! Really similar to what you say above!
Yes, Michelle! You’re definitely on the right track with your idea! You will be able to accomplish something in your early mornings that there is no time for the rest of the day. I look forward to hearing updates! Love and hugs to you!
Oh my! I have been seeing this principle at work in my life lately. For years I was very diligent about getting up early to spend time with Him in prayer and personal Bible studies because it set the tone for my whole day, but lately He has instructed me to get up so that my personal routine and simple chores are done before the kids are awake. This has helped me be mentally and physically free to greet them with breakfast and a cheery “Good morning!” And even though I haven’t been getting my “devotional” time, it has made a significant difference in how our days have unfolded. And amazingly enough, I haven’t felt like I’m lacking in being in His presence as now I seek Him and spend time with Him all day!
I am excited to follow your “Empower Your Morning” series!
Leah, It’s fun to hear how you and others are doing their mornings! Mornings are so very critical to how the day unfolds. I’m going to enjoy this series immensely too!
One inspirational thing is how much better I feel when I rise before everyone else and have time to just talk to the Lord, read LOL materials, journal, etc. It really does make or break the day. I find winter time especially challenging to make this happen (less sunlight, cold, tired, etc.). I am really looking forward to this series, Marilyn! Bring it on! 🙂
Thank you Shannon! Yes, winter is a bit more difficult, but some people find ways to “trick” themselves awake with special light alarm clocks that slowly brighten the room. Can’t recall what these are called, but my daughter used one during her recovery time last year when she had to sleep so much.
You spoke directly to my heart with this post! Monday is back to normal for us after a quick vaca in the snow. I’m so excited to say Yes!
That’s great, Ruth! I LOVE my mornings (when I get to keep them to myself ; ))
I wrote a long comment yesterday but it seems to have disappeared into cyberspace….but the jist of it was…
i used to have a strong structured morning routine thanks to Flylady. The only problem was it was lacking love. Snuggles with the kids was an item to be checked off. It gave me alot of get up and go but left my family in my wake. :-(…I then swung to the other extreme of having relaxed mornings with more love but lost all the ‘get up and go’. Trying to get up earlier than everyone else hasnt worked in the past because as soon as they girls hear me they want to be up too. Also, saying Yes to my mornings starts with saying No to staying up late trying to get things done…Before this recent heat wave hit I had started to go for a morning walk with the girls. That definitely gave me alot more energy. I plan to start it up again when the weather is a little cooler. I love your new blog Marilyn and am reading the posts over and over. The highlight of my year, last year, was getting to meet you in person and the beautiful community you are apart of. Blessings to you. 🙂
Hi Sweet Tanya! Your visit was a highlight to us too! We loved meeting you! I’ve thought of you off and on and wondered how you’re doing–I’m sure you’re trusting in the Lord!
I couldn’t agree more that saying “Yes” to your morning must begin by saying “No” to staying up late. I know how tempting that is for moms–once the kids are in bed…..Hugs and love to you, Tanya! Glad you’re here and I hope you’ll get back to your mornings soon! Maybe it’s the season for something that works for both you and your girls.
Thank you for this post and I am looking forward to more of your morning series. I needed this encouragement right now to be more intentional about how I spend my mornings. I get up earlier than my children, but it’s really easy to waste the time I have in the mornings and I don’t want to do that anymore. I have been so blessed by every piece of wisdom you’ve shared through your ministry! Thank you!
Thank you for commenting Jill! I know how much moms struggle with morning routine. I’ve had my own periods of struggle! I love this topic and am eager to share more about it!
I appreciate you sharing the benefits of an intentional morning routine. It is such encouragement to know and remember the purpose of it. I remember long ago bucking against the “Holy Early Morning Rollers” as I call them. It seemed that just by virtue of getting up early somehow you were better or holier. I needed to see real, genuine purpose and not just touting that I got up at 5 am. Later, I did find purpose and realized it wasn’t about the time and doing X activity by rote, but was about all the things you mentioned here.
I have gotten away from a morning routine for various reasons over the last year, but have been feeling the need and timing to return to it. This encouraged me to seek inspiration to accomplish it. And what a great testimony of the domino effect of just the “one thing” bringing so much more than you imagine at first as you shared Kathryn’s story! I am looking forward to your series and my own empowering mornings!
Thank you for your thoughts Hollie! Yes, your own real purpose to grow and become a stronger person in every way is the reason to get an early start embracing your day! Enjoy your ponderings!
Marilyn,
Thank you so much for this way to start and finish well- start my mornings well. I see this as a new discipline I need to implement so I can be productive through the day. I do get up at reasonable times, but productive outcomes aren’t always my main motivation. I usually make meeting appointments, or other personal care appointments as early as possible, to get that out of the way of the day. I do enjoy morning walks when I can, or morning exercise to keep me positive. But your thoughts of “What is one thing that can inspire you toward action tomorrow morning that is for your own personal growth and development?” I can think of a couple things that come to mind to make my day successful.
Thank you for your inspiring words of growth. I look forward to more nuggets of wisdom about empower my morning routine!
Hi Jeri! Yes, the motivation I have for you moms is a bit different, although I agree that other reasons are just as important to your day too. My thoughts are about inner growth and change to become a better person, with more self-discipline in thoughts, actions, emotions, toward the overcoming life in Christ! Bless you as you consider your mornings, Jeri!
This post is so inspiring and convicting. Just as I’m reading it I am gaining a new and refreshed outlook on what my mornings can look like. I have read all kinds of blog posts from others which have similar thoughts on mornings being important but your post has a different effect on me maybe because I know it is written in love. For years I have chosen to go with the flow of our home which includes late nights and lazy mornings. When I finally do get going I find I am often occupied by trying to put out fires, of my own making, throughout the day. I don’t want to “settle for less” anymore. I do want to say “yes” to my mornings. I love mornings!
One thing that can inspire me toward action tomorrow morning that is for my own personal growth and development is your words ‘your children experience that sense of security that all is right with their world, and they step up and respond more positively to personal growth.’ I think the action item that comes to mind is getting myself ready for the day by getting dressed and made up first thing. I like the idea of feeling put together so I’m ready for whatever comes my way. So, here I go!
Thank you so much for your practical and motivating thoughts! I am so looking forward to your Empowering Your Morning series!
Thank you, Tara, for sharing your thoughts! I love the idea of getting ready for the day before doing anything else. I taught my kiddos to do that when growing up and I, myself, don’t come out of my bathroom in the morning until I’m dressed and ready to walk out the door. I get going on my life really fast. I couldn’t do that with little ones, but I always got dressed as soon as I could. Getting ready lends a sense of intention and purpose to the start of the day. Much grace and power for the changes you want to make!
I just discovered the ability to comment on your blog posts after reading this post. 🙂 I really appreciate this post and look forward to your upcoming series on this topic! It really hit home for me to read this and it encouraged me.
Just this morning I was telling my husband, I think that my mornings might be easier if I got up a little earlier and made him breakfast and started working on my chores a little earlier. I felt really convicted this morning as he rushed out the door with only a bar for breakfast.:( On the mornings he goes in a little later I usually make him breakfast and we get to eat together, but when he leaves earlier, I haven’t been getting up early enough to make it in time.:(
It always amazes me when I read your writings, how often the subject matter seems to be so in tune with the direction the Holy Spirit seems to be leading me and the areas He is wanting to work on with me. Love your writings and how inspired they are! Love and blessings to you! Thanks for your faithfulness to the Lord!
Thank you, Velda, for sharing about your mornings. I’m sure your husband is grateful when you are there for him in the mornings, and I hope you are inspired to start your own day off at a better place too!
I hadn’t really put any thought to what makes me feel good about myself and you hit it right on the head. The times when I feel “on top of the world” is when I know I am connecting in more with the Lord in my purpose, which begins with the changes going on inside… I feel His love and I am happiest at these times.
This post, followed up with your question about the “one thing” fits right in with where the Lord has me right now as I feel like I am a mother bird building her nest (home) trying to find her groove. Let me explain… I have, for a long time now, used my morning time when no one else is up to dig into the materials mainly from your ministry to record what speaks to me and to journal what thoughts and revelations come from it to me. For the first time in a long while I have my own personal computer (the one I was using a couple years ago died) and for the first time ever my very own personal desk area… no more sharing Dan’s work space and removing all my stuff when he needs to start his work day. I have been settling in this past month or so and it’s been so exciting to move my “stuff” into a permanent place to sort and organize my office stuff which includes lots of journaling and notes from my learning process… I am in that phase with my mornings and I am enjoying it, but I sense the Lord drawing me toward something new once I have that “settled” feeling and I am looking forward to that. I hope I remember to come back and share what that is… in the meantime my “action” is to sort, organize and settle in… and I have a great desire to get my favorite quotes and sayings organized and laminated so they can be all around me reminding me regularly of little precious thoughts and ideas to take in deeper so the Lord can translate them into my life. I am enjoying the one’s from the M.Ints that I have been able to laminate so far.
I am loving all your posts so far and will be praying for you as the Lord reminds of you in this new exciting phase of your ministry. Thank you for all you do Marilyn.
Hi Nancy! Thanks for telling me about your new little office space! It’s so fun to have your own private space to just be! I love my little office space in my home, but I’ve had so much less space than that at different times. As long as it’s mine to do with whatever, it works for me. I’m glad you have yours now. I also used to put up laminated cards and quotes everywhere! Have fun, Nancy! Thank you for praying as we come to mind! Love and hugs, Marilyn
Wow Marilyn! This was spot on for me. There’s so many thing in my life which have lead to my mornings just being unproductive and me fighting to catch up all day and late late nights again trying to either catch up or have quiet time. I’ve felt forever trapped in a vicious cycle knowing this is not what I want. There’s been some small things on my heart to take steps toward change which will facilitate better routines I hope for starting the day out moving forward. The one challenge I hope you might address is now I have two teens(almost…Nicole will be thirteen Friday) who like to stay up late. I’ve never been one to just go to bed and leave my older kids up. I just can’t seem to sleep. This has been a challenge to my routine over the years as my husband goes to bed and I end up with the night watch, then our routines don’t go well with his. I’m too tired to get up before he’s out the door etc. It’s not been a healthy place to be. I hope to work specifically in this area soon but will start with some personal things I’m already inspired will be easy to implement and move us forward. Thanks for your inspiration!
I would love to hear some suggestions for this dilema. My husband tells me to just go to bed – but I don’t like leaving my teens up either although now I will go to bed b4 my 16yo but don’t sleep.
Hi Glenys, I answered Colleen’s post below your comment. I wouldn’t want to go to bed before my teens either. I think if we view our kids as people who we are raising to be adults with adult responsibilities, we can more easily see the need to raise the standard for their character, habits, and lifestyle choices. I hope I gave something for you to consider. Thank you for your comments. ~ Marilyn
Hi Colleen! We really enjoyed your visit this past weekend and know the Lord’s work in your family is continuing at home. I know it might be a real challenge, and could take some time to make it work, but you could decide as a family to go to bed in the same hour every night. If you and your husband want to be in bed by a certain time, why not teach the kids to rise earlier so they can begin a personal morning routine too? In real life with jobs, they need to. In real life with school, they need to. Why not teach them now. Make it a family project for a personal health and wellness routine that includes a thought life, exercise, and healthy breakfast. I know this might be a lot to ask, but in our family we always went to bed together when the kids were teens. We weren’t always in bed at the exact same time, but within the same half hour or so. Hugs and prayers to you and Gerard as you consider all the Lord is doing in your family! Love, Marilyn
As an “older mom,” with no children living at home, a husband gone to work for 12-hour shifts, and therefore having much freedom and many hours in my day, it has been too easy to not have a good morning routine. I still accomplish much most days, and have a good deal of regular and sweet contact with grandchildren, our grown children, and parents, but, because none of them live in my home and are therefore not in my regular daily care, it’s much too easy (and likely) to mosey through the day, and not get the most out of it. What you are sharing here is exactly what I know the Lord is wanting to build into my life! Thank you so much for writing it, and so clearly and beautifully, and for your examples!!! I am excited to say YES to the Lord and implement your encouragement and these principles into my life!!!!!!
Thank you, Barb, for sharing your thoughts! It was having more of the responsibility of my family who no longer lives with us that brought a measure of desperation to grab every moment I could to have some time for my own growth. But I also realized from knowing many moms and how they live, that they don’t always stretch themselves as much as they could.
It’s my hope to stir up desire in all the moms who surround our lives to take the use of their time (time=opportunity) more seriously, to be as productive and fruitful as they can be. To live life bigger than the meeting of their own needs and purposes, but to grow big enough in their inner life that their purposes will overflow to others. ~ Blessings as you step up in your “Yes”! ~ Marilyn
This is a great article, then again I haven’t read one of yours that hasn’t inspired me. Thank you so much. I put up a little note and taped it to my computer monitor that says, “Be intentional about looking for the positive.” As I’m cooperating with the Lord in being set free from self-pity, I see more clearly that my thoughts govern my actions, emotions, decisions and attitude. In the room I’m setting aside as a place to reflect, study and plan, I put up Scriptures and sayings to help me develop a healthy thought life. I’m changing the focus from poor me and my circumstances (yuck) to the Lord is so good and provides for my every need, he knows and loves me and has plans for my life. I’m putting them up throughout the house so I can change my thought that will change my way of looking at everything that will lead to changing my life in many ways. I’m so grateful for all the Lord has provided.
I already have a morning routine of exercise and listening and praying, but realize that I’ve been going about it too slow, just kinda in my comfort zone. I’m also reading, ‘The Miracle Morning’ and feeling inspired to be more intentional about how I spend my time and what I need to be doing.
You are such an inspiration to me. Thank you for pouring out your life and love in so many ways. I hope this year will be the best and most productive and healthiest year for you!
Thank you, Carlise! It’s so good to hear how you are working on your personal inner growth via your thought life! The actions you’re taking sound really good and fruitful. I look forward to hearing updates! Love and hugs, Marilyn
I have been enjoying all of your materials Marilyn, they are such an encouragement and challenge. Thank you so very much.
I struggle with distractions…it seems there are always so many things calling to me…good things. What I am finding is that only the Lord can give me the focus I need for my day…so that means spending time with Him first to hear His heart for me and my day and then being obedient to Him moment by moment. But as you said, if I don’t start my day right the rest of my day seems like a waste and it feels like I end up accomplishing nothing.
Another part of my struggle is with my health issues… I get very tired. So I waver between resting and doing…but even in this I realize that the struggle is because I am trying to decide what is best for me rather than asking Father. His answer always brings peace with no guilt.
I am realizing as well that spending time just to be in His Presence for Who He is, because I love Him, and not for what I need or for what He can give me is what is most important and that it why it is the biggest struggle … dying to myself to live in Him each day.
In some of the things I have been reading and listening to you talked about how your husband’s growth was much slower than yours was and that was encouraging to me because that is how I feel my experience has been…slow! And I think that much of it is because I was raised in “church”. It has been a real struggle to separate doing things out of duty or because I am supposed to to be pleasing to Him or accepted by Him and doing that just flows effortlessly out of a heart of love because in Jesus I am already loved perfectly and accepted fully. It is one thing to know those things in your head all your life and another to experience them in the reality of your life everyday. I have been getting small tastes of that freedom and the fog is beginning to disperse so that I can see more clearly. Praise His name!
There are also a lot of processes you write about that God has brought me through but I didn’t know what they were…I had no frame of reference for what He was doing. So when I read and listen to your teachings there are many ‘Aha!’ moments when I can look back and say, “He did that in me! He taught me that!” It is very encouraging!! 🙂
Forever Grateful,
Rebecca
Dear Rebecca, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, and I’m glad my words have given expression to some processes you couldn’t articulate to yourself before now.
I’m well acquainted with health issues, and found that the more I step out in my obedience to God, the more energy He gives me. I still, however, attempt to not overdo it, but the “balance” seems to always be on the side of stretching myself beyond what I think I’m able.
I know from experience with helping lots of moms who have been long churched that they seem to take quite a bit longer to change than others, due to wrong thinking about what spiritual truths look like. Think in terms of truth applied in real life relationships, and you might be able to get past some of those hindrances.
Be encouraged, God will help you sort it out. ~ Marilyn
I am enjoying the ‘fresh start’ of your ministry with you, Marilyn! Something that the Lord is working to teach me in this season is gratefulness. This is what I have been saying ‘yes!’ to in my mornings. I look forward to the season when He nudges me to more structure, routine, or discipline in the morning as well, but for now allowing Him to guide my (late!) waking thoughts toward thankfulness is putting me on a better and better course for my day. Every day my list of little and big blessings I am aware of gets longer, and I am able to practice expressing it with a little less effort as I emerge from my way-too comfy bed (for which I am thankful!).
Hi Luisa, Thank you for your thoughts on gratefulness. It was so wonderful to read that that is what you’re practicing! Such a profitable pursuit for your mornings and so powerful! Thank you for enjoying my “fresh start” with me! Love and Hugs, Marilyn