Have you ever wondered if what you do in the morning actually makes a difference? Well, I'm going to talk about that today here on five minute mentoring.
If you ever wanted to have someone in your life who you could ask real questions about your art, your business, and even your walk with the Lord? Well, that's exactly what we do. Every Friday here on five minute mentoring, where I answer one question from one of my awesome podcast listeners, in order to help you start really thriving. As the artist, you know, God created you to be
my friend, so glad that you're with me today, here on five minute mentoring. You know, I used to wonder, does it really matter if you get up early or if you're a morning quote, unquote, morning person, but you know, more and more nowadays, there's really solid scientific research, that the things that you know, Psalm 63 says, Oh, God, You're my God, early in the morning will I rise to meet this idea of getting up in the morning, we've got tons of research now, that shows us that people are happier when they get up in the morning, they're at less risk for depression in their life, all sorts of health benefits, it's all want to talk today is as you're thinking about getting started on a new foot this year about setting in a morning routine.
Because I've found in my life over the last I would probably say 15 years. The one of the big, big, big difference makers in my life has been my morning routine. You know, there have been tons and tons of books about written about morning routines. I would say first of all, I don't think there's any magic pill for anybody. But I think there is something special that happens when you decide to choose to set the morning, at least a few minutes in the morning aside for you in the Lord to focus your heart to focus your mind, the first thing I would say is that it gives him the attention. It good lets the Lord know and it puts everybody in your life no but you know on notice it puts you on notice that God is the most important that his plan and purpose for your life is the thing that you're seeking, that you're taking time to, to focus in on hearing his voice. And so for me that's looked like a bunch of different things over the years. I think if I if I put it all together, and in one mix, it looks primarily like time and focus, I'm going to take time to spend with the Lord, whether it's 20 minutes, or whether it's an hour, I'm going to focus on hearing him and being with him. And I'm going to do that in a specific place. You know, there's nothing like having a place that you know, is the place that you can with God.
For me, that's been my study. And there's one chair that I have in there, that's by the window, I go, I get up first thing in the morning, take Porter out our little Cocker Spaniel, I go grab a cup of coffee, I sit in that chair. And usually I'll just take some time to just drink my coffee and just kind of breathe in the morning and just be like, Okay, Lord, here I am. I want to begin to focus on you, I want to begin to draw my my attention to his presence, I want to begin to draw my attention toward his plans and his purposes for me. And you know, as I begin to do that, as I begin to focus in typically what will happen is that I'll begin to either speak words of worship, sometimes I'll use music in the middle of that, not all the time. But a lot of times I've dropping into focus, I'll begin to ask, I'll start asking questions like Lord, what, is it the jam for me today? Or what about this situation? Or what should I do with this? Or God was your best, you know, intention for me with this with this project? Or that or not that idea that's been going around in my mind, Lord, what is it that that you want me to do?
And instead of just kind of moving on, which is what most people do when they pray, I take time to listen. And the way that I listen is not only listening just with your ears, but I'm also listening with my imagination. What does that mean? That means I take time to stop what I'm doing. Close my eyes, open the ears of my heart, open the ears of my head, and open the the eyes of my heart. That is his beautiful imagination. And I begin to to just look for incense God, what is it that you're saying? Sometimes God will speak a word. Sometimes they'll be an impression. Sometimes there'll be an image that goes across my mind, or sometimes I'll begin to daydream. But as I begin to focus on the Lord, I'm inviting the Holy Spirit into the middle of that. And as you begin to spend time with him in that you, you'll kind of begin to get the rhythm of that for you. Sometimes, that's two or three minutes, sometimes that's 30 minutes or an hour, depending on what the Lord is saying.
But I always try to in that time, with writing down what I feel like the Lord has said in that time, and try not to judge it. That is try not to say, oh, there's an exam so that that makes sense. Just write it down. Just begin to say, Lord, here's the things that I saw. I'm going to write this down. I'm going to be faithful to To record the things that I feel like you showed me, and then after that you can take time again to reflect sometimes I'll take time to reflect right then other times, other times in the morning during the day, maybe even revisiting things that the Lord showed me days before. I'll just kind of let that marinate. But as I take time every day, to do that, in the morning with the Lord, inevitably, inevitably, I find that I'm happier, I find that I've got a better disposition, I find that I'm more focused, I sense His presence in what I'm doing. I'm tuning myself in to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, rather than just getting right out of the bed, jumping right into the world, right into the things of the day and going halfway through my day thinking, Oh, God, what did I do? And where are you in the middle of this, and I'm in the middle of an emergency taking time.
Again, whether it's 10 minutes, or there's 20 minutes or an hour or whatever, to get a time and get a place to focus and to ask, to listen, and to write that down and to reflect with the Lord. It's a huge, huge benefit for you in the morning, and it sets the course for everything that you're going to be doing during the day. Listen, I love you, my friend this year has so much promise for you. And I pray that as you develop your morning routine, that's going to be a big blessing in your life. I know it will, because you'll be spending time with Jesus. I love you very much. And remember till next time you were created to thrive. Alright, bye