Are you a morning person? I am, and it’s been a key part of my faith journey.

I recently listened to a free LinkedIn course on the best morning habits of high performers. These are practices that millionaires, CEOs, Olympic athletes, and other successful people in the eyes of the world do each morning which they credit to their successes.

Once I listened to this valuable secular advice, I thought, “We can take this worldly knowledge and transform it for even more effectiveness as Christians.”

That’s what I want to share with you the 6 morning habits for victory in Christian living.

Let’s look at the best morning habits the world uses that we can easily adapt for Christian living, and make them even better. I also have a free printable for you!

Prefer to listen? Here’s the podcast episode:

6 Morning Habits for Victory in Christian Living

Whether you’re a morning person or not, it’s worth considering this list of habits to employ for greater effectiveness in your Christian life. In certain seasons of my life, such as when my children were babies, I had to shift these priorities around to different times of the day. Try them in the morning if you can, but most importantly, apply them daily to achieve the greatest growth.

1. Silence

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
Psalm 131:2 NIV

When we are quiet before the Lord in the morning, we can intentionally focus only on him. As I’ve explained in this video, focus is a superpower in our culture. Take a few moments to still yourself in God’s presence. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and tell him that you love him while receiving love from him. The elements of this quiet time will benefit most from a blend of Bible study, prayer, meditation on Scripture, and listening for the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice.

2. Affirmations

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:16 NLT

The affirmations we can make as Christians are so much more powerful than the ones the world makes. Rather than saying that we are strong, powerful, and successful in our own power, we can claim the living promises of God. The Bible is chock-full of promises and affirmations of your value in Christ. You can declare these verses out loud for greater victory in the spiritual world. As a subscriber to my email list, you get access to my Library of printables that is full of Scripture affirmations. Simply sign up in the pink box below for instant access.

3. Visualization

During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called. “Here I am,” Jacob replied.
Genesis 46:2 NLT

The world says to visualize things you want: a better job, a bigger house, a bank account full of money. But those aren’t the kinds of things God wants us to envision. Instead, he wants us to visualize all we can accomplish only by his power and strength. I included this scripture above because Jacob had the right response. “Here I am” is an open-ended invitation for God to speak to us and do whatever he wants through us. We must be willing to submit to God’s will alone, not our own. But we can visualize what God will help us accomplish throughout our day, in total dependence on him. We can say each morning as Jesus said, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matt. 26:39 NLT)

4. Exercise

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

Exercise has so many benefits. It revs metabolism, boosts muscle, burns off toxins, increases concentration, and helps us sleep better. I’m glad God’s Word affirms that physical training holds value. It can help us live longer, healthier lives in service to God’s kingdom. My favorite form of exercise in the morning is a prayer walk, where I combine the benefits of physical training with spiritual training. It’s when I meditate on God’s Word, pray for others, and praise God. How will you combine physical training with spiritual training in the morning?

5. Read

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5 NIV

The most successful people in the world read at least a few pages of books on personal development each day. We can also greatly benefit from Christian books and devotionals that enhance our study of the Bible (but do not replace it). I read over 100 books per year, and almost all of them are in the Christian living and spiritual growth genre. Christian authors help me see the truths of God’s Word and principles from many different perspectives. Need recommendations for great spiritual books? Check out my Book Reviews page.

6. Journal

And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today…Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:6,9 NLT

If you aren’t writing down what God is doing in your life, you’re likely to forget all the ways God is blessing you. I’ve kept a journal since age 10, and it’s wonderful to reread old journals and see the growth God has produced in me. Lately I’ve been keeping a prayer journal to record what I’m praying about a few times per week, and I’ve already tracked some answers. You may also consider using a five-year journal, in which you write a few lines every day. This method will make it easy to reflect on the blessings you’ve experienced for five years in a row! See links to the journals I recommend HERE.

If you want to have victory every day in your walk with God, try out these six tips in the mornings. I pray they will inspire you to be more intentional and fruitful for God’s glory.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the fresh start each morning holds.
I want to put you first in my day.
Help me to begin my days in silence before you,
meditating on your ways and your Word.
May those times of fellowship between us
affirm my value in you.
May I only visualize what I can do each day
in your power and strength.
Help me to care for my body so I can serve you
in maximum capacity.
Teach me through quality books
and move me to record your deeds
so my faith can grow each morning.
I thank you in advance for the victories I will have with you
as I meet you in the mornings.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Get your free printable: Meditation Verses for Mornings with God, right HERE, or by clicking on the graphic below. No password required – this is my free gift to you!

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