When your eyes first open in the morning, what’s the first thing you think? Thank you Lord for a new day, or Gosh. There’s so much to do today? When your eyes first open in the morning, what’s the first thing you do? Do you start praying or reach for your cell phone?
How we begin our day often gives a great indication of how the day will progress. Not because we can control what things will happen to us, but rather, when we awake in the morning, we make a decision about our perspective. We choose whether to reluctantly begin our day or do so with a fine embrace. Regardless, the day is here, and we just have to decide how we’ll respond.
If we want to start our day with a positive perspective, we should set a goal to focus on God first thing in the morning. Every morning. We can pray to Him, thank Him for a new day, ask for His protection, ask Him who we can serve. We can also engage with God’s Word, reminding ourselves of His promises, reminding ourselves of how God has called us to live life.
Are you looking to wake up on the right side of the bed with God as your focus? If so, here are 15 Bible verses to start your morning.
15 Verses to Start Your Morning
“This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
Life isn’t always pretty, but there is always something pretty to see, something to appreciate. Can we thank God for an ability to read, walk, talk, think, a bed to wake up in, shows to put on? The list of blessings we have is long, but we don’t always see those small details.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)
If God is for us, who can stand against us? If God tells us not to be afraid, what is there to fear? When we fully acknowledge God’s protection and presence in our lives, living becomes that much easier. He really does guide us from one point to another. Suffering will happen, of course, but we will handle circumstances much more easily.
“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.” (Ephesians 5:22-23, 25-25)
Sometimes we need reminders about how best to engage with the people in our lives. In marriage especially, unmet expectations and conflict can cause division. Yet, where sin can lead people apart, Scripture can bring us back together.
“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)
How wonderful to wake up knowing that God created us with intention and purpose. That truth should encourage us to live life to the fullest, serving the Lord and other people.
“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
Almost everyone can relate to the experience of waking up afraid. Sometimes we have nightmares, sometimes we’re simply afraid of what the day will bring. Whatever has happened or will, God is with us. And He’s not just with us, but for us.
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is a poignant reminder of God’s love for humanity.
“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
God loved us before we loved Him. And that love doesn’t cease even when significant people leave our lives (Psalm 27:10).
“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
This verse helps us be mindful of what we should prioritize day to day.
“But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Many of us can relate to the experience of waking up day to day, living life as a routine. Sometimes that routine requires us to face adversity repeatedly. We could get tired, give up, and not try anymore. Or we can recite this verse over and over, and find encouragement to persevere.
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
No matter what yesterday brought, good or bad, God uses all things for good. That’s encouragement to go about today with a positive attitude.
“A joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.” (Proverbs 15:13)
A positive perspective helps create a positive day.
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Worrying is only effective if we want to waste time. Scripture is clear, we don’t need to worry. Not at night when we want to sleep, and not when we awake in the morning.
“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.” (1 John 4:18)
This verse is another reminder not to fear. Giving into such an emotion can hold us back from embracing God and enjoying the day He has given us.
“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
This verse is a great reminder for those of us waking up and knowing that big projects or other difficult tasks are impending. God is with us even when we are sorely afraid.
“Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds?” (Luke 12:24)
God takes such great care of the animals, all of them, day-to-day. And He cares so much more for us. Can we be faithful that He will provide what we need?
3 Reasons to Start Your Day with God's Word
1. God Is Our First Love
There’s wisdom to be found in the verse that reads, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). We set our focus on the things and people who matter most. If we’re slow to pray, slow to acknowledge God, or engage with the faith, then is God our priority? Only by being honest can we make the changes necessary to ensure God is our first love. And be certain, God is supposed to be our first love.
When Jesus is asked about the greatest commandments the very first one He mentions is, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37). There’s no doubt then, God is intended to be our first love, only we decide whether or not to fulfill this commandment.
2. We Live to Worship
Why do you get up every morning? You could stay in bed, sleep or rest the day away. Why go to work or to school? Some of us live to gain knowledge, money, others fame, and then there are those of us who live to serve God. We worship Him through dance and song, but also through deeds and words. By engaging with Scripture every morning before we read the latest news headline or social media post, we remind ourselves of why we live. We live to worship.
3. Perspective Matters
When blessings or tragedies befall us, our perspective will determine our response. A happy Christian can take the bad with the good and still manage to come out of any ordeal okay. A negative Christian is less likely to see the good in any form of suffering. Perspective matters as indicated throughout Scripture, including in the verse that reads, “A joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but a sad heart produces a broken spirit” (Proverbs 15:13). Starting our day off with positivity helps influence our behavior for later.
A Beautiful Day Ahead
A beautiful morning can grow into a beautiful day. While we’re not guaranteed conflict-free living, when we have God’s Word on our minds, we see life differently. We trade the worldly perspective for something godly. Good moments feel great, and those moments of suffering are never as bad as they appear. With God on our side, we can live differently. We can be different. Reading God’s Word gives us reminders of His love, which we can carry with us throughout the day. And while tomorrow is a new day, we suddenly find ourselves, embracing, loving, and so grateful for what is now.
Photo credit: Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes to Salem Web Network’s Crosswalk platform and supports various clients through the freelancing website Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo.
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.