Morning Discipline – A Focus On Mindfulness

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 mindfulness. 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 Mindfulness

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:

Merciful ONe,

Give me grace to be mindful today of Your constant, loving presence. Give me wisdom to listen for Your voice. Open my heart to Your glory in everything, Your light in everyone, even those who do not see it.

Remind me everyone I meet is struggling. Help me to see with clear eyes, without judging or reacting. Help me to be patient with weakness and forgiving of myself and others. Nudge me to learn from every mistake, to be courageous in the face of fear, to seize every chance to show love.

Ever-present Love, keep me mindful this day of Your mysterious grace, Your goodness and mercy that shadow me all of my day and through the night.

Amen

A Prayer for Mindfulness | Unfolding Light

AFFIRMATIONS for Mindfulness

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 approach others with love and respect.
2. I am grateful for even the simple things around me.
3. In this moment I have everything I need.
4. I am not my thoughts or fears.

SCRIPTURES For Mindfulness

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. Psalm 48:9, “Within your temple, O god, we meditate on your unfailing love.”
2. Psalm 89:15-16, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.”
3. Mark 1:35, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
4. Ephesians 5:15-17, “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

TODAYS CHALLENGE

Our challenge today is this: write down your goals for the month of June.

We are coming up on the end of the month of May and will be starting the month of June in about a week. As we prepare for the weeks ahead we can be more mindful of where we are and where we are going if we make a list of SMART goals.

SMART goals are (S)specific, (M)easurable, (A)ttainable, (R)elevant, and (T)imebased.

Perhaps you have a goal to clean out your house of all the clutter that has built up over the last several months or even years – set yourself some SMART goals to make that happen.

Perhaps you are about to transition into a new career – set yourself some SMART goals to prepare for that move.

These are just two examples, but whatever it may be take some time to write down what you want to accomplish in June and make some SMART goals to help you get there.

Then get ready, because June will be here before you know it!

Quote of the Day

Today’s quote comes from sculptor, painter, architect, and poet Michelangelo, who once said:

The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

Michelangelo

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