Morning Discipline – A Time of Reflection

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man sitting on grass by the cliff

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 focused on forgiveness. Today, let’s spend some time reflecting over our week, the areas we needed forgiveness as well as the areas we needed to offer forgiveness.

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 Reflection

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:

Loving God,

We give You thanks for the many ways each of us is called to serve in Your healing ministry!

Awaken me to a sense of Your presence. Help me to catch glimpses of Your face in the faces of those around me. Help me to see others with Your eyes and to know them as Your own precious children.

Make me aware of what I cannot or will not recognize – in myself and in others. Make me an instrument of Your peace and reconciliation.

We ask this in Your name,

Amen

Prayers of Self-Reflection | The Spiritual Life

AFFIRMATIONS for Reflection

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:

  1. I offer myself rest and relaxation.
  2. My peace matters.
  3. I can help others when I help myself first.
  4. I am where I am meant to be and I will embrace it.

SCRIPTURES For Reflection

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:

  1. Proverbs 27:19, “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.”
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
  3. James 1:23-24, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

TODAYS CHALLENGE

Our challenge today is this: reflect on the acts of forgiveness you took this week.

This week we talked a lot about forgiveness and the impact it can have on us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We looked at forgiving ourselves, forgiving others, and even releasing God from things we blamed Him for.

Today, let’s take some time to ask ourselves some reflective questions. Perhaps write your answers down in a journal to return to later and reflect again on how you are doing.

Forgiving Yourself:

  1. What did I need to forgive myself for?
  2. How did I feel when I forgave myself?
  3. Did I return to my guilt and shame after forgiving myself? If so, why and how can I keep from returning to it in the future?

Forgiving Others:

  1. Who did I need to forgive this week?
  2. How did it feel when I forgave them?
  3. Did I return to my anger and grudge after forgiving them? If so, why, and how can I keep from returning to that in the future?

Releasing God from Blame:

  1. What was I blaming God for in my life?
  2. How did it feel when I released him from that blame?
  3. Did I return to blaming him after releasing him? If so, why and how can I keep from doing that in the future?

Quote of the Day

Today’s quote comes from Robin Sharma, author, speaker, and philanthropist who said:

Forgiveness isn’t approving what happened. It’s choosing to rise above it.

Robin Sharma

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