What Would Happen If?

Do you ever think about how you spend each day? How about just what you do when you first rise in the morning? Are you immediately busy thinking a thousand thoughts? Are you making to-do lists for your day? Are you busy checking the news, social media, or email? What would happen if you stopped; stopped all your usual routine? What would happen if you changed your morning routine?

What would happen if we didn’t turn on our phones, computers, TVs, or radios first thing in the morning? Would we be able to give our attention to the One who wants to spend time with us more than anyone else? Would we be able to quiet our minds? What would it take to quiet your mind first thing in the morning?

Some of the hardest things to do in our life are not the big things, but rather the little things. Things we may not even notice need changing.

For five years now, I’ve given Jesus the first of my day. This morning routine was NOT what I desired at first. In fact, I debated with Jesus for a couple of weeks before I began this morning routine with Him in August 2015. 

You’d think by now, I’d have figure it all out. I thought I had until last Wednesday morning when Jesus revealed something new to me. 

Here’s What Happened

At 5:30 a.m. with coffee in hand, I settled into my usual chair in my writer’s room and started journaling. That’s always step one of my morning routine of connecting with Jesus. Opening my journal, I write the date, time, and the same greeting:  Good Morning, Lord!

After journaling for a few minutes, next I read a one-page devotional in The Vision and prayed the prayer at the end of the page. 

Then I read a 10-minute chapter of Dear Wife to help me focus on my marriage. Blown away by the wisdom and knowledge, I prayed the provided prayer.

Then I prayed for my husband using Stormie Omartian’s book, The Power of a Praying Wife.

My next step tripped me up. I looked at the time, and I began thinking about a gazillion things. 

My mind was all over the place. I couldn’t focus on one thing because my mind filled with thoughts like swirling snow in a snowstorm. I didn’t know which flake to focus on.

This meant, I wasn’t focusing on Jesus either or even noticing He was with me. Have you ever been in the same room with your spouse, child, or friend and although you are physically present, you’re not mentally present? You’re thinking about other things? 

The person can be talking and you don’t even hear them. That was me.

My mind scattered. I felt discombobulated, frustrated, and burdened by life’s pressures. Guilt showed up. Condemnation next. Disappointment followed.

Right then is when Jesus snapped me out of my own thoughts and into the present moment.

Conversation with Jesus

J:  Stop. Stop what you’re doing, Michelle. Come sit with me for a while. I want you to take a few breaths. Close your eyes and breathe slowly. What do you feel?

So, I did. I closed my eyes and breathed slowly paying close attention to how I felt.

M:  I feel tense. I feel a pain in my hip, and I feel lots of stiffness in my neck. It hurts.

My normal morning routine was about to change.

J:  Turn on the One Minute Pause App and listen to the five-minute pause. Let’s see if we can release the tension.

So, I did. I had to listen to the five-minute pause three times before the tension began to release. My mind struggled to focus on the words softly spoken on the Pause app. 

Fifteen minutes releasing to Jesus was just the beginning, Friends. 

Release to Jesus

My mind wanted to wonder and think about all that I was “supposed” to be doing in these early morning hours. All that I was responsible for and what seemed like a million other things. But Jesus had a different morning routine for me:  Release to Jesus. 

What’s it look like to release to Jesus?

Well, here’s what it looked like for me Wednesday morning.

For the first time ever in my morning routine, I listened to spa-like music so that I could continue releasing to Jesus.

I just sat on my floor, eyes closed cognizant that Jesus was sitting with me. Some of my previous tension had already disappeared.

As we sat together, Jesus asked me a simple question.

J:  What do you know about me, Michelle?
M:  I know you are kind. You’re gentle.

J:  What else do you know about me?
M:  I know You care about me.

J: What are you thinking?
M:  I’m supposed to be writing right now. I’m supposed to be producing. 

J:  Do you know what I want right now?
M:  No.

J: I want you to just close your eyes and be with Me right now.

Together, we sat quietly, not talking. Me with my eyes closed, breathing slowly, listening to soft, flowing music, and being alone with Jesus. My racing mind calmed.

After probably 15 more minutes, Jesus asked me something I didn’t expect.

J:  Michelle, if you only had today to live. What would you want to do?
M:  Tell everybody how wonderful You are. I’d want to spend time with my family and close friends too.

J:  And if you had a year to live, what then? What would you want to do?
M:  Live for You. I’d change some things though, how I’m living. 

Friends, that’s when Jesus and I had a serious conversation about how I’m living. While I’m not going to share all of what we talked about, we did talk about what I’m carrying that’s burdening me. 

I tend to take on responsibilities, other people’s responsibilities, and even psychological and emotional burdens, that are not mine to carry. 

Do you ever do that? Do you take on things that are not yours to carry?

When I do, these weigh me down and cause tension in me. God designed our physical bodies to warn us of such things. My body sends warning signs like my stiff neck and the pain in my hip. 

Peace and Freedom

What would happen if we changed our morning routine, even just a little?

Being willing to change my routine Wednesday morning resulted in an amazing present-moment experience with Jesus. Because of that, an amazing conversation happened. Because of that Jesus calmed my mind. Because of that He helped me focus on what He wants. All those million other things disappeared.

Changing routines changes us. 

Our enemy likes to throw lies at us, wear us down, burden us, and get us all tense and unable to focus on what Jesus wants us to focus on.

What would happen if we released everything and everyone to Jesus on a much more regular basis?

For me, Jesus knew I needed to release some heavy things I’d been carrying in my heart and mind and just let them go. Sometimes, we can’t just hold things loosely. Sometimes, we need to actually release them completely to Jesus and let Him do what He needs to do with them.

Creating space in my morning routine in a new way refreshed my soul and produced what Jesus wanted to produce in me rather than produce through me. He wanted me to start my day with peace and freedom, not a to-do list, not write another piece of my book proposal, not more research, and not another blog post.

Jesus wanted to bless me with Himself, who is peace and freedom.

Releasing to Jesus changes us, and it’s non-negotiable if we want peace and freedom.

• What would happen if we allowed more space for Jesus in our routines?
• What would happen if we were willing to just sit quietly with Jesus in the morning first rather than hurrying to create our to-do list, drink our coffee, shower, even read our devotional?
• What would happen if we changed our morning routine to allow space for what Jesus wants?

Perhaps what I experienced Wednesday morning will become a more regular part of my morning routine. I may have to download some spa-music just in case.

One thing is certain, I plan to create more space for Jesus to change my morning routine.

Call to Action

Let’s encourage one another. 

I think some of the best ideas come from sharing with others. The old brainstorming activity creates space for new ideas that can help others move forward in new ways. 

You just never know. You may just be doing something that someone else needs to hear and try too. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. Personally, I like the little things. They are easier to do.

Would you be willing to comment and share one thing you do that has made a difference in your morning routine to connect with Jesus?