School is now back in session, which means that I'm now in the process of readjusting to and figuring out my morning routine. Last year I had quite an intense routine (if that's the right way to describe it), and I'm still praying about and deciding what is most important for me to get done in the mornings.
For reference, last year I woke up at 5:15 every morning, read a chapter of my Bible and took some notes. If it was a short chapter, I did a devotional at the end. And then, I pretty much just went along with the rest of my morning. It was very full, and I think after a little while, I got a little bit burnt out. Waking up that early and trying to get so much Bible study done was not quite working the way I had hoped, simply because I wasn't fully functioning and awake. I eventually began dreading getting up in the morning because it was getting harder and harder to get out of bed and harder and harder to keep deep diving into full chapters of the Bible that early. Everyone was so impressed with my routine and consistency in it, and I wanted to keep that up, but it became increasingly less realistic. The excitement I had at the beginning wore off, and it was simply replaced with exhaustion.
This year, as I'm really praying and reflecting on what I want my morning routine to look like, I don't want there to be such high expectations of what I have to get done. I know my brain isn't quite ready to study a chapter of the Bible and take in depth notes at 5:30 in the morning, so I want to take it a bit slower and give myself some grace. Besides, I do "two-a-days with Jesus" (which means I do two Bible studies a day), and so my nighttime Bible study gives me a better opportunity to do those deep dives.
(Disclaimer: because of the weather and practice changes, my morning Bible studies have kind of been changing/varying every day. But, this is the overall goal of what I want my Bible study to look life! Life happens and have grace on yourself. All that matters is that we are intentional about prioritizing the Lord in every situation.)
So far, my ideal routine starts at 5:30am. I wake up, grab my devotional book, prayer planner, Bible, and pens, and hop back into bed. Instead of doing my devotional at my desk, I chose to simply stay in bed. Surprisingly, I'm not tempted to fall back asleep; I'm just more comfortable and cozy (but this may not work for everyone).
First off, I always pray through whatever I've decided to intentionally pray over for the day. (to read about my prayer planner, check out this post!) This helps me wake up a little bit more and get my mind in the right place, first thing, on Jesus. It sets the tone for the rest of my day and helps me stay steadfast in prayer, and that is much needed before I go to school.
Then, I go through my daily devotional. I have a devotional book called "Words are Golden" by Allyson Golden, and I have been loving it. There's always a few questions to journal along with, and verses to tie it all in. It makes me think and begin reflecting on my faith, but it's not too challenging that I can't process at 5:30 in the morning.
And finally, I read through a Psalms and pray over it. On the first day of school, I started on Psalms 1, and each day I do a new one. I want to be in the word every morning, and set my mind on that, and reading a Psalms is one of my favorite ways to do that before school starts.
But you guys, it doesn't stop then. As I continue getting ready, I continue to pray and read over whatever I had done in my Bible study. I don't want to simply leave my time with Jesus and move on; I want to continually be meditating on Scripture and leaning into the Lord's presence. I have loved being able to take what I did in my Bible study into the rest of my day, because it really helps me stay focused on the truth and encourages me as I go into all of my classes and activities. This changes the course of the rest of my day and the attitude I go into it with.
A 5:30 am Bible study isn't for everyone, but Jesus is for everyone. No matter what it looks like, I'd challenge you to make time for the Lord at some point during your day. Find a little thing to do in the morning that focuses you on Jesus, whether it be listening to worship music, praying while you get ready, or reading a few verses. Maybe try praying in your car on your way to school (this has become one of my favorite things). Be intentional about meeting Jesus in whatever your schedule looks like.
I promise you, when you make time with the Lord a priority, you will notice a difference. There's a transformation in your perspective and attitude, in the way you see the world and go about the rest of your day. Suddenly, the presence of God empowers us to serve Him and love others in a new way, to obey His word and be a light in the world. Suddenly, we are strengthened, encouraged, and fueled to live our lives differently, and that brings the ultimate joy.
If there's one thing I want you to get out of this post, it's to make time to be with Jesus. Find time to be still with the Lord, to talk with Him and hear His voice. Find time to study His word and dive deep into His character and promises. It looks different for everyone, and that's the beauty of this relationship we call Christianity, but make it a priority in your life. Whether it's at 5:30 in the morning, 9 at night, or somewhere in between, spend time with Jesus, and notice the difference it makes when you create space for the Lord to work.
What does your Bible study look like right now? How is the Lord teaching you to meet Him in the midst of your busy schedule! I'd love to hear down in the comments below!
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