Life is busy. The to-do lists are endless, the laundry basket piles up, and before we know it, the day has passed and we haven’t spent time with the Lord. Can you relate?
In this post, I’m sharing seven morning practices that I trust will help draw you closer to Jesus and equip you for the spiritual battle we all face as Christians. These practices have helped me so much in my journey with the Lord, especially in times of turmoil, pain, and struggle.
Don’t view these as boxes to tick off your morning to-do list, but as rhythms to weave into your life. Every season looks different—some mornings you might embrace four or five practices, while other mornings, you may only manage two or three. What matters most is cultivating a heart that longs to draw near to Jesus, even in the midst of busy days.
Another thing to keep in mind is that these practices work better when we approach them with focus. Of course, if you’re a mom with young children, you may not always be able to give your full attention, and that’s OK! Bring this to the Lord in prayer and ask Him for strength, grace, and wisdom. Perhaps you will find there are ways you can work around your routines in order to have some quiet time with the Lord, or perhaps God will simply give you the grace to handle interruptions, noise, and cuddles while you pray, read and reflect. Jesus sees you and delights in your efforts.
Before we get into the seven practices, let’s just take a quick look at why Jesus-focused mornings matter.
Why Jesus-Focused Mornings Matter
Starting our day with Jesus is important for three reasons.
1. Because we’re called to love Jesus first.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to love Him above everything else—more than our work, our routines, even our families. So carving out time for Jesus each morning is a way to declare our love for Him. If we do everything but spend time with Him, what exactly are we demonstrating with our actions?
Sometimes we wonder why God feels distant, but often, it’s our hearts that have drifted. We may go through the motions of prayer or Bible reading, yet our minds are elsewhere, consumed by to-do lists and distractions. Let’s change that. Let’s slow down, draw near, and focus on Him.
2. Because we’re in a spiritual battle.
Every day, we face a constant battle against three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the spiritual powers of darkness.
These enemies oppose God, and if we’re not prepared to fight them, we give them ground in our lives. That’s why we need to put on the armor of God each morning (Ephesians 6:11).
We do this by soaking in the truth, meditating on our salvation, becoming fluent in the gospel, applying faith to our hardships, and counter-attacking the enemy with the word of God.
While we can (and should) meet with God throughout the day, starting the morning armored up in His Word fills our hearts with His peace and prepares us for whatever lies ahead. This leads us to our next point.
3. Because our mornings set the tone for the day
The way we spend our mornings has a profound impact on the rest of the day.
If we read a portion of Scripture, pray and worship God first thing in the morning, we will be more likely to think about Him, spend time with Him, and surrender to Him throughout the day. If, on the other hand, we forgo time with the Lord; we set ourselves up to respond to challenges with stress rather than faith, following our flesh instead of being led by the Spirit.
Scientific studies show that in the mornings our minds are especially open. What we feed our hearts first thing shapes the rest of the day. This is great when we give our minds life-giving inputs (like Scripture) but it also means that we need to be careful not to give our minds negative inputs early in the day. By negative inputs I mean content, practices, and thoughts that tear down our faith instead of building it up.
Once we understand why starting our mornings with Jesus matters, the next step is learning how to do it. Here are seven simple, powerful practices to help you connect with Jesus before the busyness of the day begins.
7 Powerful Morning Practices To Draw Closer To Jesus
1. Pray
Start your morning by lifting your heart to God. Begin with praise and thanksgiving — this opens your heart to His presence and creates space for His joy, peace, and love to fill you.
After thanking and praising God, spend time:
- Laying down your burdens and sharing your cares with Him
- Confessing your sins and receiving His grace
- Praying for family, friends, neighbors, leaders, and others
- Asking Him to reveal Himself and guide your day
Whether you pray while going about your tasks or choose to sit in stillness, the goal is the same: to open your heart and invite God into your day.
2. Read Scripture
Don’t let anxiety about the day ahead or lingering stress from yesterday be the first thing that grabs your attention. Instead, replace racing thoughts with God’s Word.
There are many ways to approach Scripture reading, and you can adjust depending on your season of life:
- Devotionally — Focus on one or two verses and ask, “Lord, what are You saying to me personally?”
- Reflectively — Read a full passage slowly, meditate on it, and invite God to speak through His Word.
- Study-focused — Dig deeper into meaning, context, and eternal principles.
During hard seasons, I often lean into devotional reading — slowing down and meditating on just one verse.
If you’re in a hard season right now, and you’re experiencing anxiety over upcoming conversations or situations, try this:
Meditate on 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Take a few moments to reflect on each part:
- “Cast” — What does it mean to cast something?
- “Your anxiety” — Name the specific worry in your heart.
- “On Him” — Picture placing that burden in God’s hands.
- “Because He” — Pause to remember who He is and why He’s trustworthy.
- “Cares” — What does it mean for God to care for you personally?
- “For you” — Rest in the truth that His care is constant.
When you’ve meditated on the verse, pray it out. Then, lay your burden at Jesus’s feet and ask Him to fill you with His peace.
3. Listen to Scripture While Observing Nature
One of my favorite morning practices is to listen to the audio Bible while sitting by a window—or, even better, outside in the fresh air—often with a warm cup of tea or coffee in hand.
There’s something deeply restful about experiencing God’s Word alongside the beauty of His creation. As I listen and pray, my heart grows still, my thoughts settle, and I become more attuned to His presence.
Often, God speaks to me through the simple things around me — leaves rustling in the breeze, clouds drifting across the sky, birds flitting between branches. It reminds me that the same God who cares for creation also cares for me.
4. Go for a Prayer Walk
When the weather is good, I love to take a morning walk in nature. Sometimes I go before my children wake up; other times, I head out after school drop-off.
These walks have become sacred moments — a chance to commune with God, release my worries, meditate on His provision, and pray for others. There’s something about walking under the open sky and breathing in fresh air that makes it easier to sense God’s presence.
If you have children at home, invite them to go with you! Take a short family walk, notice the beauty of God’s creation together, and thank Him for it. You can also use this time to talk with your kids about any struggles they’re facing and then bring those concerns to God in prayer.
5. Journal
Journaling has been such a blessing in my walk with Jesus. It creates space to slow down, reflect, and notice how God is working.
Here are a few ways journaling can deepen your faith:
- Memorize Scripture — Writing key verses helps plant them in your heart.
- Capture insights — Jot down thoughts or impressions the Lord brings while you read and pray.
- Track answered prayers — Write your prayer requests, then look back months later and see how God has moved. It’s such a wonderful reminder of His faithfulness.
Whether you write a single verse, a simple prayer, or just one thought, journaling can become a sacred rhythm that helps you stay rooted in God’s Word.
6. Eat Breakfast With Your People and Talk About Jesus
Starting the day by sharing a meal and talking about Jesus is a beautiful way to grow in faith as a family or community. When we come together to read Scripture, pray, and share how God is working in our lives, we grow closer not only to Jesus but also to one another.
Sharing a meal is also a meaningful way to demonstrate our reliance on God’s provision—in this case, the food that nourishes us physically. Eating breakfast together is a rhythm my family and I enjoy at the weekend, and my kids always look forward to it.
If you have young children, keep it simple:
- Start with a short Bible story or a single verse.
- Ask one easy question like, “What does this teach us about God?”
- As your children grow, you can start weaving in longer Bible stories or have simple, Scripture-focused discussions about everyday faith. Talk about themes like forgiveness, grace, or loving our enemies, and finish with a prayer.
Even small, simple conversations about Jesus can leave a lasting impact on your family and community.
7. Worship Through Music
Another beautiful way to set your heart on God in the morning is through music. Singing, playing, or listening to Scripture-infused praise songs can help you grow in your love for God.
I don’t play an instrument, but I love singing. Whether you sing, play, or simply listen, let praise music become a spiritual rhythm that draws your heart closer to God. Music has a unique way of helping us focus on Him throughout the day.
Try This Prayer for a Jesus-Focused Morning
Jesus, align my heart with Yours. Be my Everything—You are Everything!
Forgive me for the times when I seek satisfaction in other things.
Empower me by Your Spirit to adopt rhythms that draw me into worship, deepen my trust in You, and fill me with strength for the day ahead.
Amen!
An Invitation For You
Friend, don’t wait for a “perfect season” to begin. God meets us right where we are, in the middle of our busy lives. Start tomorrow with one small step. Choose one practice from this list and commit to it for a week. Watch how God shows up, and how He gently leads you closer to Him. I’m rooting for you!
