Hello and Welcome!
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, 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 creating space for facilitating good habits. 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 Focus
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:
Dear Lord,
I have important work to do in this moment, God. Please help me focus solely on the task at hand. Show me how to concentrate well so I can make good progress. Remove all other concerns from my mind during this time I’ve dedicated to accomplish this task.
I’m grateful for this powerful mind you have given me, and I commit to using it well. If anyone interrupts me or anything distracts me while I’m trying to concentrate, please bring my mind back to my work. Steady my attention so I can bring this task to completion well.
Amen
A prayer for concentration | Crosswalk
AFFIRMATIONS for Focusing
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 am not distracted.
- I am here and now.
- I focus on my priorities.
- Focus is a skill that I can master.
SCRIPTURES For Focusing
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:
- 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
- Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
- Proverbs 4:25, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”
- 1 Peter 5:8a, “Be alert and of sober mind.”
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Our challenge today is this: find a useful tool to protect your time for the good habits you want to develop.
I know, you’re probably surprised to see me posting something now that it’s been several weeks since I last posted. I do sincerely apologize for that. I’d like to say I had a good excuse, but I don’t really. The only thing I can really say is that life got really busy (again) and my focus turned toward some of the many things I needed to complete. This week my life has gotten back (slightly) to a more normal rhythm.
You see, I was struggling (and still do to some degree) to make time for all the things I wanted to accomplish in a day, including writing these articles. But, as my day fille up I found it harder and harder to squeeze things in. There are only so many hours in a day, and my family need my attention as much (if not more) than my job. So, the “side things” that I do took an even greater backseat.
That said, I’ve learned of a tool that I’m using now to help organize my day and carve out time for the things I really want (and even need) to make time for. This tool is called Reclaim.io.
The cool thing about this tool is that I can create a list of “habits” I want to form and it will sync with my calendars and I can set priority to those habits and determine how fiercely I want/need to protect the time for that habit. Some of the things I’ve added are making time to do school work with my youngest, writing these devotionals, various items at work, and now I am going to add another one – time with my wife (who needs more attention than I’m honestly giving her – and that can’t continue).
So the challenge today is to try and find a tool that will help you carve out time for the things that matter. There are many tools like Reclaim. Explore them and find something that works for you.
Quote of the Day
Today’s quote comes from Karen Salmansohn, who said:
Choose to focus your time, energy and conversation around people who inspire you, support you and help you to grow into your happiest, strongest, wisest self.
Karen Salmansohn
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