One thing I love about fall is how much I want to be home. I start thinking about what I can bake, which blanket I want on the couch, and how to make every corner of our apartment feel a little cozier. And lately, I’ve been wanting to give my mornings with Jesus some of that same attention.
I want to look forward to spending time with Him. I love Him more than anything, but I can still get distracted or start thinking about everything I need to do before I’ve even opened my Bible. Sometimes I reach for my phone and somehow end up reading everyone else’s thoughts before I’ve spent any time with God.
I notice when I do that. There’s already so much going on in my head, and it doesn’t take much for me to get caught up in it.
So I’ve been trying to give myself some time with Him before I get into the rest of the day. Usually, I’ll make something to drink, find a cozy place to sit, and bring my Bible and journal with me. I like having my journal nearby because there’s almost always something I need to get out of my head and talk to Him about.
Some mornings I read a few chapters. Other mornings, I spend more time with a shorter passage because there’s something I want to understand or keep thinking about. I’ll write down what stands out, look back at what I’ve read, and pray about how it applies to my own life.
And sometimes I get distracted and have to read the same paragraph again. I feel like that’s worth mentioning.
I think it’s easy to have an idea of what time with God is supposed to look like and then feel disappointed when your own morning doesn’t look that way. Especially when you’ve seen someone else’s beautiful notes and highlighted Bible, and you’re sitting there wondering what to write.
I love a pretty journal as much as anyone, but I don’t want to get so concerned with having a beautiful quiet time that I forget I’m there to know Him.
Lately, there’s been a lot on my heart. Things I’m hopeful about, things I’m trying to understand, and things I don’t quite know how to put into words yet. I’m grateful I can bring all of that to God. I don’t have to wait until I’ve sorted through it enough to say something that sounds good.
Sometimes writing a prayer helps me be more honest. I’ll start with whatever has been on my mind, and as I write, I begin to see what I’m actually worried about or trying to control. Then I can bring that to Him, too.
I don’t leave every morning feeling completely different. There are days when my mind still wanders, or something I’m worried about comes right back a little later. But I’m learning that I can keep turning to Him throughout the day. What I read that morning gives me something to return to when I need it.
That’s what I want more of. I want to know Scripture well enough to remember it when I’m discouraged. I want prayer to become more natural because I’m talking to Him often. I want to notice when I’ve spent an hour worrying about something I haven’t actually brought to God.
And yes, I do enjoy making these mornings cozy. I like a warm drink and a comfortable place to sit. If making that little space inviting helps me put my phone down and open my Bible, I’m happy to do it. I spend time making other parts of my life feel special, and I love giving this part some care, too.
If you’ve been wanting to spend more time with Jesus but keep putting it off because you’re unsure where to start, you could choose a Psalm or begin reading one of the Gospels. Read a passage, write down a question or something you want to remember, and talk to Him about what’s going on in your life. You can come back to the same book tomorrow.
You don’t need to have an especially interesting thought to write down afterward. Some mornings, you’re simply learning a little more about who He is.
I have so many things I want to do and create, and it’s very easy for me to wake up thinking about all of them. But I know I need this time. I need to hear something other than my own plans and worries. I need the encouragement, and sometimes the correction, that comes from opening His Word.
So that’s what I’m making room for this fall. I’m looking forward to the cozy mornings, but even more than that, I want to keep getting to know the One I’m spending them with.
