A Review of Key Principles
I’ll begin with a brief review of the primary points I have covered in this series.
A God-Centered Perspective
First, we need a God-centered perspective on all of life.
Understanding any aspect of life begins with recognizing that God is our Creator and Sustainer. Solomon urges us in Ecclesiastes to “remember your Creator” (Ecc 12:1). All of life originates with God. To make sense of life, we must acknowledge him as the master Designer of our existence.
An Eternal Perspective on Life
Second, we need an eternal perspective.
This theme is central to Ecclesiastes and resonates throughout Scripture. Life is not confined to the brief years we spend on earth. Eternity awaits us, and God’s plan encompasses the whole of eternity. While we tend to focus on the immediate—days, years, or even decades ahead—God views all of time at once. His purpose spans eternity.
Purpose in the Mundane
Third, there is purpose in the mundane.
Even the smallest, seemingly insignificant aspects of our daily routines carry divine significance. By stewarding what God has entrusted to us, we fulfill his design for our lives. What seems small is never trivial when viewed through the lens of God’s purpose.
Christ’s Example of Embracing the Ordinary
Fourth, Christ dignified the ordinary.
Most of Jesus’s earthly life was spent in the ordinary rhythms of human existence. He was born, grew up, learned, and worked like the rest of us. For nearly thirty years, he lived an unremarkable life by human standards, carrying out everyday responsibilities. In doing so, God in the flesh affirmed the dignity and value of the ordinary.
The Practicality of Theology
Fifth, theology is immensely practical.
While I may not have emphasized this point explicitly, it is evident. If theology is the study of God, and if we are his image-bearers called to reflect him, then what we learn about God directly informs how we live. Theology is not abstract. It profoundly shapes every aspect of our lives, a truth I will explore further.
Eliminating the Secular-Sacred Divide
Sixth, we must avoid the secular-sacred divide.
It is common to separate life into sacred activities—such as attending church, reading Scripture, or evangelizing—and secular ones, which encompass everything else. However, Scripture does not support this division. Ecclesiastes, in particular, challenges this way of thinking.
When I was growing up, the church seemed to divide people into two classes: those with a spiritual calling—primarily pastors—and everyone else. This mindset was reminiscent of the pre-Reformation church, where only kings and priests were thought to have divine callings. The Reformers rejected this view, teaching that all believers have a divine calling. Martin Luther wrote:
Monastic vows rest on the false assumption that there is a special calling, a vocation, to which superior Christians are invited to observe the counsels of perfection while ordinary Christians fulfill only the commands; but there simply is no special religious vocation since the call of God comes to each at the common tasks.
Luther also said, “God is milking the cows through the vocation of the milkmaid.”
Every vocation is sacred because God calls us into it. Whether as a mother, a factory worker, or a student, we are to glorify God in all that we do. Christ himself lived in the ordinary and obeyed God perfectly through it. There is no secular space in a life lived under God’s design.
Finding Joy in Everyday Life
Finally, there is joy and satisfaction to be found even in the mundane.
If we grasp the first six points, it is no surprise that God provides joy and satisfaction in the ordinary. Recognizing his purpose and presence in every aspect of life allows us to embrace the mundane with gratitude and delight.
Our Ultimate Purpose: Glorifying God
With that foundation, I want to share one more principle before we consider the practicalities of life. While I’ve touched on the meaning of life, I want to clarify our ultimate purpose. You might say I’ve discussed what God made us for—reflecting his image, stewarding his creation—but now let’s step back and consider why he made us. Understanding this is key to how we view everything in life.
I’ve read my fair share of productivity books. Many offer useful insights, but most rest on a flawed premise. They assume our motivation for productivity should be self-centered—focused on maximizing our personal success or happiness. However, that is not a biblical perspective. God did not create us to live for ourselves or to serve our own interests.
This realization leads to an important question: If God didn’t create us for us, did he create us for him? And if so, does that mean God needs us? Was there something lacking in him that creation filled? The answer is an emphatic no. Paul declares, “[God is not] served by human hands, as though he needed anything” (Ac 17:25). God himself told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex 3:14). John Piper paraphrases it this way:
I Am. That’s my name. I Am: I depend on nothing, nobody to be who I am. I am absolute reality. I had no beginning. I will have no ending. And in relation to creation, I am not becoming what I am.
God’s self-existence and self-sufficiency mean he did not create us to fill a void or meet a need. He was “I Am” before creation, he is “I Am” now, and he will forever be “I Am.” “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8). He gains nothing from us that he does not already possess.
So, why did God create us? Isaiah provides the answer:
I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:6–7)
God created us for his glory. This was no arbitrary decision. It wasn’t because he was incomplete, nor was it for our self-centered purposes. He created us as an act of love to share in the beauty of his glory.
We must not misunderstand this. God’s desire for glory is not akin to human cravings for recognition or admiration. Unlike us, God possesses infinite beauty and worth. As John MacArthur writes:
God is the only being in all of existence who can be said to possess inherent glory. We don’t give it to Him; it is His by virtue of who He is. If no one ever gave God any praise, He would still be the glorious God that He is, because He was glorious before any beings were created to worship Him. … His glory is His being—simply the sum of what He is, regardless of what we do or do not do in recognition of it.
God’s glory is the radiance of his perfections. Pastor Sam Storms explains:
Glory is the beauty of God unveiled! Glory is the resplendent radiance of His power and His personality. Glory is all of God that makes God, God, and shows Him to be worthy of our praise and our trust. … Glory is the external elegance of the internal excellencies of God.
John Piper echoes this:
The glory of God is the beauty and excellence of his manifold perfections. It is an attempt to put into words what God is like in his magnificence and purity. … In general, God’s glory is the perfect harmony of all his attributes into one infinitely beautiful and personal being.
When Scripture says we were created for God’s glory, it does not mean we add to it. God’s glory is complete. Rather, God lovingly created us to experience and enjoy his glory. He is so wonderful, so beautiful, and so good that he desired to share himself with us.
Psalm 34 invites us, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Ps 34:8). In creating us, God extended an invitation to partake in the greatest gift of all: himself. Ecclesiastes concludes with this profound truth: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecc 12:13). To fear God is to stand in awe of his glory. Obeying his commands is not about following arbitrary rules but embracing the way he designed us to enjoy him.
Paul writes, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Co 10:31). This means seeing God’s glory in all things and striving to reflect and enjoy it in everything we do. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism beautifully summarizes, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
Piper points out that glorifying God and enjoying him are inseparable. He says:
We exist to bring our lives into alignment with the purpose of God in creation—namely, his purpose to communicate his glory in the overflow of his God-exalting, soul-satisfying love. … Our magnifying God’s glory [is] by finding him to be the most satisfying reality in the universe.
If I were writing a book on productivity, this is where I would begin. All of life—our work, relationships, and worship—flows from this principle: we exist to glorify and enjoy God. Every aspect of life, from the mundane to the extraordinary, becomes meaningful when seen in the light of God’s ultimate purpose for us. We were made to savor his goodness, reflect his beauty, and delight in him forever.
Morning Routines: Setting the Tone for the Day
With these principles in mind, let’s turn to the practical aspects of life, starting with our mornings. What better way to apply the call to glorify God in all things than by examining how we begin each day? How we spend our mornings often sets the tone and pace for everything that follows.
Mornings can be a challenge for me, and perhaps for you as well. I am not naturally inclined to rise early. My body seems to have its own schedule, stubbornly insisting that I won’t fall asleep before eleven at night and won’t wake up easily before seven in the morning. When my alarm rings at six, I don’t exactly spring out of bed with enthusiasm. It usually takes me some time—an hour or so, perhaps—to shake off the fog and fully engage with the day.
This struggle presents two challenges. First, my mind is not always sharp in those early moments. Second, without a clear plan, I tend to drift through the morning without any sense of intentionality. Yet clarity of mind and intentionality are essential for the Christian life. Let me explain.
The Christian Call to Clarity and Intentionality
As Christians, we need clear minds and intentionality, both in the morning and throughout life. Scripture frequently exhorts us to cultivate mental clarity. Peter writes, “Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Pe 1:13). Elsewhere, he warns, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Pe 5:8). Paul echoes this in his letter to Timothy: “Always be sober-minded” (2Ti 4:5).
Similarly, Paul instructs believers to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Ro 12:2) and to focus on what is true, honorable, and excellent (Php 4:8). He urges us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2Co 10:5) and to “set [our] minds on things that are above” (Col 3:2). These commands remind us that mental clarity and focus are not optional. First Thessalonians 5:6 admonishes us, “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”
While we often think of Christianity as a religion of the heart, it is equally a religion of the mind. Jesus taught, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37). The call to be sober-minded is repeated throughout Scripture because a clear, focused mind is essential for faithfully living the Christian life.
This brings us to the second key necessity: intentionality. Our sinful nature does not naturally incline us toward what is good, true, or God-honoring. Instead, we are prone to drift. Without intentionality, we move away from what is right and toward sin. It’s like driving while distracted. A driver glancing at their phone risks drifting off course, potentially causing great harm. Similarly, a Christian who lacks focus will veer away from the path of righteousness.
Paul’s own struggle in Romans 7 illustrates this reality: “I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind” (Ro 7:22–23). Even with clarity and intentionality, Paul wrestled with sin. If someone as disciplined as Paul faced this struggle, how much greater is the danger for those who approach life haphazardly?
Years ago, I wrote an article titled “Unplugging the Television,” in which I described visiting a friend’s house as a child. His father sat in the next room, watching TV, frequently expressing his disgust: “Ugh. Why did they have to put that in the show? This would be decent if not for all the foul language.” I remember thinking, If he dislikes it so much, why doesn’t he just turn it off?
In that article, I wrote:
Perhaps unplugging our TVs altogether is an extreme measure. It is, but following Christ is all about extremes. “If anyone wants to follow after me,” Jesus taught, “let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34). Forgoing the silly pleasures of television is hardly a great sacrifice. If you insist on keeping your TV, we can, at the very least, use wise discernment regarding what we watch and be mindful of how much time we give it.
Jesus also told his disciples, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away” (Mt 5:29). I’d rather lose a troublesome eye than attempt to blink every time something comes along I shouldn’t see.
Television is an example of how easily we can fall into thoughtless habits. Many people turn on the TV with no specific plan, let questionable content fill their homes and minds, and then lament what they see. This happens because they lack intentionality, not only in choosing what to watch but also in deciding when to turn it off. The problem is not just television. It reflects a broader tendency to live without purpose or forethought.
This same lack of intentionality often characterizes our mornings. If you are like me, mornings can feel rushed and chaotic. Time is limited, and if you have children, their needs add another layer of complexity. Some days, it feels like I’m operating on autopilot, going through the motions without much thought. However, this is not how Christians are called to live.
Remember the principles I reiterated previously: a God-centered perspective, an eternal focus, viewing all of life as sacred, and glorifying God in all we do. These principles should shape how we approach every moment, especially the start of the day. Mornings are crucial because they set the tone for everything that follows. Without clarity of mind and intentionality, we risk beginning the day adrift, missing the opportunity to live purposefully for God’s glory.
Biblical Insights on Morning Devotions
A couple of weeks ago, I looked up every reference to mornings in the Bible. There are hundreds, so I obviously cannot cover them all. Many are not directly relevant here, but several offer valuable guidance on how we should think about mornings. I’ll begin with Psalm 5.
This psalm of David begins with these words:
Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (Psalm 5:1–3)
David’s practice of turning to God in the morning is a recurring theme in his life, and he is not alone in this. His first priority each day is to lift his heart, mind, and voice to God in prayer. He says, “In the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you” (Ps 5:3). David begins his day in communion with God, seeking to serve him from the outset.
Contrast this with how we often approach our mornings. What occupies our minds when we first wake up? Is the coffee ready? I need a shower. Are the kids dressed? What time is it? I’ve got to get to work. It is easy to let the busyness of life crowd out our awareness of God. Perhaps we focus on our to-do list or worry about the day ahead.
Yet, there is no better way to start the day than by pausing to commune with God. If we begin the day without acknowledging him or forget that we were created for his glory, the rest of the day may reflect that neglect. We may find it harder to resist temptation, face challenges, or maintain patience and gratitude. On the other hand, beginning the day with a clear and intentional focus on God equips us to navigate the day with greater purpose and strength.
David saw the morning as a fitting time to present himself before God, to realign his heart, and to wait expectantly on the Lord’s will. Moses echoes this sentiment in Psalm 90:14: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” By orienting ourselves to God’s steadfast love at the start of the day, we establish a joyful and God-honoring foundation for the hours ahead.
Even Christ himself modeled this practice. Mark 1:35 records, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” The text implies that Jesus intentionally rose early, not because he happened to wake up but because he prioritized prayer before the demands of the day began. Our Savior, who perfectly glorified the Father, shows us the importance of intentional, prioritized communion with God. If the Son of God deemed it valuable to seek the Father’s face early, how much more should we?
Practical Applications for Morning Worship
Morning devotions provide a unique opportunity to reset our hearts and minds, seek God’s guidance, and dedicate the day to his glory. By following the examples of David, Moses, and Christ, we can make our mornings a sacred time to commune with God and set a tone of clarity, joy, and intentionality for the rest of the day.
This does not mean we all need to become “morning people” who enthusiastically jump out of bed at four a.m. However, it does mean we should strive to begin each day with intentionality—grounded in a God-centered and God-glorifying purpose. Instead of mindlessly going through our routines, checking emails, scrolling social media, or turning on the news, we should start with prayer, even if it is only brief. Picking up the Bible and allowing God’s Word to orient us for the day can make a profound difference.
This intentional approach transforms even mundane tasks. A shower or brushing your teeth, often viewed as perfunctory chores, can become opportunities to reflect on God’s provision and kindness. If that seems trivial, consider this: God created and sustains the world, including the water that cleanses us. He gave us functioning bodies, the materials to care for them, and the homes, electricity, and warm showers we often take for granted. Acknowledging him in these moments reminds us that every gift comes from him. By turning our attention to God, we move from taking these blessings for granted to receiving them as tokens of his goodness.
Even on days when you wake up late and cannot physically stop to pray, you can still pray as you move through your morning. As you shower, eat, or get dressed, you might say, “Lord, thank you for this water. Thank you for sustaining me through the night. Help me serve you today.” Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 6:17 that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” Recognizing his provision, even in the small things, is an act of worship.
That said, with intentionality and careful planning, we can and should make dedicated time to pray. Morning prayers, however simple, set the tone for the day and realign our hearts with God. Consider this prayer from Douglas McKelvey, titled “A Liturgy for the Ritual of Morning Coffee”:
Meet me, O Christ,
in this stillness of morning.
Move me, O Spirit,
to quiet my heart.
Mend me, O Father,
from yesterday’s harms.From the discords of yesterday,
resurrect my peace.
From the discouragements of yesterday,
resurrect my hope.
From the weariness of yesterday,
resurrect my strength.
From the doubts of yesterday,
resurrect my faith.
From the wounds of yesterday,
resurrect my love.Let me enter this new day, aware of my need,
and awake to your grace, O Lord.Amen.
This prayer is powerful for two reasons. First, it acknowledges our dependence on God right away. It is not an afterthought or a hurried plea later in the day. Like David, it seeks God’s help and guidance at the outset, recognizing that we need him to fulfill our purpose.
Second, it highlights a biblical truth about mornings: they are a fresh start. Throughout Scripture, mornings are often associated with renewal and new mercies. No matter what challenges or failures the previous day held, each morning is an opportunity to begin anew with God’s grace. As Lamentations reminds us, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (La 3:22).
No matter what happened yesterday—our failures, struggles, or sorrows—each day begins with a fresh outpouring of God’s mercy. His faithfulness remains unshaken, and because of that, we can face the day with hope, knowing that “the LORD is [our] portion” (Lam 3:23).
Starting the day with purposeful worship—through prayer, Scripture, and gratitude—allows us to align our hearts with God and approach the day with a renewed focus on his glory. Whether it is a dedicated time of quiet devotion or short prayers woven into your morning routine, the goal is the same: to begin the day with a heart fixed on God.
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