Create a Prayerful Morning Routine

In some interview statistics from My Morning Routine, 63% of people meditate or practice yoga in the early morning hours, while 78% exercise after rising. Those are pretty high statistics for people who have an active morning routine.

What’s even more astounding is that 63% of those people had been doing their morning routine for over a year. That’s dedication. But obviously, there is something to a good morning routine, right?

People like and need a morning routine. Why?

Because your head is clearer in the morning. You have more focus and more energy (so to say). Even if some of us are not morning people, you can still benefit from a morning routine.

Why You Need a Prayerful Morning Routine

Let’s take this a step further than just a morning routine. I am a Catholic mother. I struggle with the difficulties of Catholic motherhood just like every other mother. Often I get tired of disciplining and creating a home in which my family will love, even if I know the importance of that to me and to my family life. And I am always tired of being tired if you know what I mean. 

I need a recharge to keep my haven going. That recharge is my morning routine. And not just any morning routine. One that involves a large amount of prayer, reflection, and more prayer.

Prayer is a Christian mother’s strongest weapon against the evils of the world. Not to mention a great guidance when we are feeling a loss. We can teach our children about God all we want, but it is ultimately up to them whether they follow him or not.

In any respect, creating a bit of time for yourself and your own spiritual journey is well worth it in the lifelong journey of being a mother.

How to Create a Morning Routine

It is fairly easy to create a morning routine. What it will most definitely require is discipline to keep it going on those mornings where you don’t want to get out of bed.

I have cheated a few mornings myself; it happens. Don’t beat yourself up and simply get up the next day and start again. God will be pleased to have you back. His mercies are new EVERY MORNING!

Now that I’ve convinced you that you need one, are you ready to create a simple prayerful morning routine?? Let’s do this!

Before You Dig In…

I want you to ask yourself these questions before you start thinking about all the great things you could do during a great morning schedule. 

• What is my overall goal by spending time in prayer each morning?
• What prayers or meditation exercises are my favorites?

• How much time can I carve out in the morning to dedicate to a simple ritual?

• Can I allow myself to really get into the routine and not get frustrated if something doesn’t work perfectly?

Think about them for a minute or two or jot them down somewhere. It will help you get an overall picture of what kind of prayer routine you are really trying to create.

Now we can start the process.

Step 1 – Gather

Here is where you’ll gather all of those great Christian books you’ve been wanting to read, whether is Mere Christianity or The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

• Write down a list of what materials you might like to have during your morning time
• Categorize them into the ones that seem most important or will have the biggest impact on your current spiritual situation
• Gather and buy those materials if necessary or just put them all in the same pile to peruse later
• You may also gather online materials, prayer journals, nice highlighters and pens, prayer cards, your Rosary, or any other religious-based item that will help you during your time of prayer

Sound like a plan? This is the easy part, trust me.

Step 2 – Combine

Once you have gathered materials or created a list of what you would like to include in your morning routine, pick 3 or 4 of those things and combine them.

Some tips:

• Try to create an order that flows naturally. I.e. you might pray first, then read, and then finish up your time praying again or saying a special devotion.
• Don’t pick too many items to take on at once. If you do a certain routine for a while and then feel like adding more, feel free to do so.
• Pick actions that speak most to your heart and where your relationship with God is at the moment. If you feel like a beginner, start from your beginning, whatever that looks like.

Example Morning Routine

My morning routine goes something like this:

• Wake up at 5 am (some mornings it’s more like 5:30 or 6, depending on the kind of night we’ve had) (5 min)

• Prepare a cup of red raspberry tea (5 min)

• Start by saying the Daily Offering Prayer to Mary (2 min)

• I then proceed with the Dynamic Catholic Prayer Process (10-15 min)

• For the gratitude section, I write 3-5 things in my planner that I’m thankful for

• Some mornings I make time to read the Daily Readings from USCCB (5-10 min)
• I read through the readings, Psalm, and Gospel, spending the most time on the Gospel. I read it twice, focus and meditate on words that stick out to me. (kind of like Lectio Divina)

Feel free to use mine as a starter, tweak it or change it completely. It’s up to you!

Step 3 – Take Action

Start putting your plan into place. Get up at the time you said you would. Commit to using those prayer materials for at least a week before changing them.

Stick with your morning routine for a month; by then it should have become a habit, and one I know you will not regret starting.

As I mentioned earlier, if you miss a morning, be easy on yourself. Sleep in that day and have the discipline and courage to start again the next day. Many people fall off the horse, it’s the people who get back up again who are going to make a difference.

If your husband or significant other likes morning routines, perhaps you can invite them to join you halfway through to pray together. That will make a smarter morning and a stronger relationship with both your spouse and God.

It’s a win/win, my friend!

Related Articles: 

10 Ways Saying the Rosary Will Change Your Life

The One Mistake You Are Making When You Pray

Turn Suffering Into Salvation

All I Have is His

What My Husband Deserves

8 Ways to Not Find Happiness

Thrive in Your Morning Routine

Here are some additional tips to help you thrive in your new morning routine!

• Choose a spot in which you feel comfortable and you cannot be interrupted

• Allow for at least 15 minutes to do the morning prayer routine

• Schedule out your tasks for at least the first couple of weeks until the routine becomes more natural

• Have all your materials ready in your prayer spot

• Wake early enough to get a full prayer time in if possible

• Put your beverages (i.e. coffee, tea) on a timer if you can, or start them when you wake and take a short break in the middle of your prayer time for your sipping pleasure.

• Leave your phone in another room, unless you are using it to facilitate your prayer time.

• Use the offered workbook below to create and customize your own morning routine.

The Key to a Prayerful Morning Routine

Now you’ve got it all. The materials, the process, the drive. The key is to really go in with an open heart and allow God to change you through the process.

No matter how tired you are in the morning, you can be blessed by spending time with God. When I first started, I was super excited about completing the Bible study I was in at the moment. I used my time to read Scripture and fill out my workbook. When that study was over I decided to create my own.

Some mornings I get up later than I should. On weekends I often forget. But I honestly can say that using prayer in the morning has really been a humbling and powerful experience. Sure, I don’t always see the results right away. And I don’t always feel spiritual or grace-filled (that is a rare occasion). But I know it is working; I know that the fruits that I have seen in my life are there and growing.

I am more patient, more forgiving and more loving than I used to be. Will I always be growing those virtues? I hope so.

And my morning routine has been part of a perfect first step to sainthood.

Dear friends, let us all strive to enter the gates of Heaven and revel in the glory of our amazing God.