Spending Time With God In The Morning-13 Habits To Start

Spending time with God in the morning- 13 habits to start

Mornings have never been my strongest time of the day. I admit I have not always been the greatest morning person. Hitting the snooze button more times than I’d like to admit, grabbing a coffee in a rush, and diving straight into my to-do list or emails was more my style. Somewhere along the way, I realised that I was starting my days with everything but God. And that left me feeling scattered and disconnected before the day had even begun. So if there was a Bible verse about spending time with God in the morning I think it would need to include many of the points covered here!

If you’ve ever wanted to start a morning habit with Jesus and your Bible but didn’t know how or where to begin then you’re in the right place. It doesn’t have to be perfect or complicated. It just has to be intentional. Most importantly it should be a routine that fits in with your routine and space.

Spending time with God in the morning- Being intentional

It wasn’t until I intentionally carved out some quiet time with God in the mornings that I began to notice a difference. Just fifteen minutes of prayer time, bible study, and journalling started to change the tone of my entire day. I felt calmer, more focused, and more aware of God’s presence in the small moments.

So, here are thirteen ways I’ve learnt to create a morning habit that helps me start my day with Jesus Christ at the centre.

Spending time with God in the morning-13 habits to start

1. Begin With Prayer First Thing

Spending time with God in the morning first thing starts with a short prayer in my head. It’s usually quiet and simple as I lie in bed.

Even before my feet hit the floor, this tiny moment reminds me that God is with me and that my day doesn’t have to be ruled by stress or busyness.

Starting with prayer time is like pressing the reset button on my heart and mind before the world demands my attention. I sometimes start with the Lords prayer as well. Try thinking about and meditating on each line of the Lords prayer rather than rushing through it.

2. Keep Your Bible Nearby

I used to tell myself I’d read my Bible “later,” but later rarely came. Now my Bible is always within reach the next morning.  I have a physical Bible on my bedside table and also in my favourite quiet place. If you only have a Bible app on your phone then do invest in a physical Bible as well.

I often use a physical Bible, other times I open a Bible app on my phone. I don’t use an app on my phone in the evening as I find I end up on instagram or youtube and get distracted. 

(I mainly use my phone for Bible apps and for reading plans and devotionals)

3. Start Small

I have learnt that aiming too high can lead to frustration. 

Focus on small, manageable steps:

• Read a passage from the New Testament or Old Testament
• Reflect for a few minutes
• Write one thought in your journal
• Build up to larger sections and whole chapters 

Small moments spent with God will grow your spiritual life over time.

4. Follow a Year Bible Reading Plan

There were seasons when I opened my Bible and didn’t know where to start. Year Bible reading plans can change that.

Benefits of following a year Bible reading plan:

• Removes guesswork
• Keeps you consistent
• Helps you see progress in God’s Word
• You also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have read the whole Bible from the start to the end
• See the whole story: Reading the whole Bible allows you to see God’s whole story from creation in the garden of Eden to the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. 

5. Combine Reading with Journalling

Journalling helps me process what I’m reading. After a passage, I take a few minutes to write down thoughts, prayers, reflections or questions.

Why journalling works:

• Makes the reading personal
• Its a helpful tool to process what you have just read
• Encourages reflection
• Tracks growth in your spiritual life
• Download a free printable journal page here

6. Create a Sacred Solitary Place

I’ve found that where I spend my quiet time matters more than I realised. Even a small corner of a room can become a place where I feel close to the presence of God. I like to have my Bible, my notebook or journal, a decaff latte, and a candle, I must have a candle!

7. Let Music Set the Mood

Some mornings, I’ll include a worship song. A few minutes of music can shift my heart from worry to gratitude and make me more receptive to God’s Word.

Music is powerful because it:

• Prepares the soul for Scripture
• Helps you feel God’s presence
• Opens your heart to the Holy Spirit

8. Memorise One Verse at a Time

Memorising Scripture is a powerful way to feel closer to God. I don’t try to memorise dozens of verses at once. Instead, I pick one from what I have been reading and repeat it throughout the day or week. I also like to make Bible verse cards and I have stuck some on the fridge, mirror and keep a few in my bag.

Benefits of memorisation:

• Guides your thoughts
• Strengthens your faith
• Helps when your soul thirsts for the right verses in specifc situations
• Helps with the renewing of your mind ( and allows you to think less negatively).

9. Pray the Scriptures

After reading, I often pray the verses back to God. If a passage speaks about his steadfast love, I thank him. If it talks about courage, I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me and give me courage.

Praying a passage of scripture transforms words on a page into living truth. 

10. Begin with Gratitude

Starting my day with a thankful heart changes everything. I try to list three things I’m grateful for every morning.

Why gratitude matters:

• Brings the peace of God
• Opens your heart to God’s love
• Encourages joy and awareness of God’s presence
• Allows you to remember God’s faithfulness in the every day

11. Reflect on Application

Reading the Bible is more than gathering knowledge; it’s about transformation. I like to ask myself, “How does this apply to my life today?”

Reflection helps:

• Turn knowledge into action
• Make your spiritual life meaningful
• Helps you to grow in the word of God

12. Establish a Specific Time of day

Create a specific time to spend with God in the morning. Carve out this time as sacred time and push off any distractions. The enemy will do everything to stop you from reading your Bible and spending time with Jesus. Be aware of this and make your morning time a priority. 

13. Be Patient and Keep Going

Habits don’t form overnight. Some mornings will feel rushed or distracted. Some days you might skip entirely. That’s okay. Give yourself grace. What matters is returning to the habit, even in small ways.

Consistency, not perfection, creates lasting habits. Over time, these small acts of faith become a rhythm that strengthens your spiritual life and draws you closer to Jesus.

13 ways to spend time with God in the morning: Final thoughts

Mornings like this aren’t just for morning people. They’re for anyone willing to take small, intentional steps. Even five minutes of quiet time counts. A single verse read slowly with attention can make a difference.

When I make time for God first, everything else flows differently. I am calmer in traffic, more patient with my to-do list and myself generally and kinder in conversations. The peace of God and God’s love shape my day before the world has a chance to clutter it.

Your mornings can become your sacred space too. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You just need to start. A small prayer, a single verse, a few minutes first thing with closed eyes. I promise you, spending morning time with God will shape and set up your day.

It starts small. It starts intentionally. It starts with wanting a personal relationship with God.

What does your morning look like with God? Let me know your thoughts below?