Transform Your Mornings: 3 Ways to Start the Day with Jesus

Have you ever noticed how the way you start your morning can shape your whole day? It’s like setting the course for everything that follows. For me, beginning the day with Jesus isn’t just a habit—it’s an anchor. It reminds me of who I am, whose I am, and what really matters before the noise of the world starts creeping in.

If you’re longing for a way to weave Jesus into your mornings in a meaningful (and doable) way, here are three simple but powerful practices to help you start your day in His presence.

1. Worship While You Wash

Let’s be real—mornings can be rushed. Between brushing teeth, making coffee, and taking care of other people in our family, it can feel like there’s no time for anything else. But what if I told you that worship can fit seamlessly into your daily routine?

One of my favorite ways to bring Jesus into my morning is worshipping while I go about those everyday tasks. Imagine this: You’re washing your face or making breakfast, and in the background, worship music is playing, or maybe the gentle words of Scripture from an audio Bible fill the room. Suddenly, that ordinary moment becomes sacred.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or scheduled—just a heart posture of inviting Jesus into those simple moments. I’ve found that when I start my day singing along to a favorite worship song or soaking in the truth of God’s Word, everything feels different. There’s peace, joy, and a sense of connection that carries me through whatever the day brings.

2. Plan and Pray Using the 1-3-5 Rule

Have you ever looked at your to-do list and felt immediately overwhelmed? I know I have! It’s easy to feel like there’s too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it. But I’ve found that inviting Jesus into my planning changes everything.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” I love that reminder because it shifts the focus from doing all the things to doing the right things—the ones that matter most in God’s eyes.

One simple tool that’s helped me is the 1-3-5 Rule. It’s a way to plan your day intentionally without getting lost in overwhelm:

• 1 big task – the main thing you want to accomplish today.
• 3 medium tasks – important but not overwhelming.
• 5 small tasks – the little things that need to get done.

Before diving into this list, though, I pause and pray. I ask God to guide my priorities and submit my schedule to Him. Sometimes, that means holding my plans loosely because, let’s be honest—life doesn’t always go the way we expect. But when interruptions come, I can trust that God is at work, even in the detours.

3. Remember Truth

We all have those mornings when doubts creep in or when lies from the enemy try to whisper, “You’re not enough” or “You’re failing at this.” I’ve learned that the best way to fight those lies is to start my day grounded in truth.

One tool that has been a game-changer for me is my verse ring. It’s simple—just a collection of index cards on a ring. Each card holds a Bible verse or truth that God has spoken to my heart during quiet time. These are reminders of His promises, His faithfulness, and who He says I am.

Every morning, I flip through a few cards, letting God’s Word soak into my heart before I face the world. It’s incredible how much strength and peace it brings—especially on days when anxiety or discouragement threatens to take over. About once a week I add a new card to my ring and enjoy the growth, knowing it will be an important reminder to my future self.

You don’t need anything fancy to start your own verse ring. Just grab some index cards, write down verses that speak to you, and decorate them if you’d like. Over time, it becomes this beautiful, personal collection of God’s truths that you can return to anytime you need encouragement.

If you're subscribed to the Bible Journaling Idea kit, you'll have designed cards sent to you every month with a space to add your writing so it's super simple and fast to build a meaningful verse ring.In addition to the verse cards, you also get journal pages, stickers, tape, and weekly "Journaling with Gina" videos so you can follow along and DIY your Bible journaling along with me. It's both fun and rewarding. If you're not already signed up for that, you can get more information HERE.

Starting your day with Jesus doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as worshipping while you wash, planning and praying over your to-do list, or reminding yourself of God’s truth with a verse ring.

What matters most is inviting Him in. Because when we begin our day with Jesus, everything else—our plans, our challenges, even our interruptions—falls into place under His loving care.

So tomorrow morning, why not try one of these practices? You might be surprised how different your whole day feels when it starts with Him.