Good morning!
It is a new week and a new day and I’m so glad you could join me as we continue our journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline. If you’re just joining me, you can read my article, “Morning and Evening: A New Self Discipline Journey” to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.
This week we are going to focus each day on building a better relationship with God. Each day this week I will provide affirmations, scriptures, and daily challenges regarding this topic. Next week will be a new one!
With that said, let’s start our morning together!
BREATHING EXERCISE
Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to calm our mind and prepare us for this mornings discipline.
MUSIC FOR A NEW DAY
I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time together.
PRAYER For A Better Relationship With God
Now that we’re calm, let us transition to a time of prayer. Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:
Father God,
Your Word says that nothing can separate me from your love.
Thank you for never leaving or forsaking me! Your Word says when I call upon you, you hear me and save me. Lord, remind me of these truths today. I have a broken and contrite spirit, remind me that you are close to me through this season. Though you feel far away, you are close.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Prayers for a Closer Relationship with God | www.livingproof.co
AFFIRMATIONS for A Better Relationship With God
Here are a few affirmations for this morning that you can put in your pocket and carry with you throughout your day.
As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this morning:
- I will let God’s word soak into my mind and my soul throughout the day.
- I will keep my eyes fixed on God’s ways.
- I will bring to mind all of the mighty and amazing things God has done in my life.
- God’s word is good for all areas of my life and I will meditate on it daily.
SCRIPTURES For A Better Relationship With God
As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the strength and power of God who empowers us and strengthens us to face every trial and every day (both good and bad).
Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe try to commit these to memory as well:
- Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
- Psalm 119:15, “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”
- Psalm 77:2, “I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.”
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Our challenge today is this: pick a scripture from the bible and meditate on it throughout the day.
Meditation – it’s a word that doesn’t get spoken about often in the Church, largely because it has gotten a bad reputation from the “New Age Movement”. But the word is used all throughout scripture, and primarily relates to an intentional focus on God, His Word (the Bible), and His works in our lives.
The word “meditation” literally means “to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.
In the case of the Christian, meditation is the mental exercise of focusing on God’s Word, His feelings toward us, and His promises for the purpose of growing closer to God.
So today, pick a scripture from the Bible and then meditate (aka focus) on it throughout the day.
There are also awesome apps out there that will guide you through a meditation on God’s word an din prayer such as:
- Abide
- Glorify
Focusing our minds on these things will help renew our minds, which is the entire reason we are going through these exercises every morning.
Quote of the Day
I also wanted to include a little quote of the day that maybe you’ll find some inspiration in as well.
Today’s quote comes from author of “Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus”, Sarah Geringer, and she said:
Day by day, as you hide God’s Word in your heart and mind, you will move closer to the heart and mind of God.”
Sarah Geringer
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