These are great. I have the hardest time getting up in the morning though I know it is such a good practice. So I've come to accept that my good time is in the afternoon while my daughter is partaking of some room time. I read, journal, etc.
I've also enjoyed beginning a one-line-a-day journal this summer. I record one memorable thing each day - a quote from something I've read rather than an event. It's caused me to slow down and think and savor the goodness of words on a page. And in a year, I'll have a good word to read back over.
This is helpful, Ian! I find my "rise before responsibilities" often foiled by indecision. I can never decide whether to workout or read my Bible first. But often if I exercise first I will still read my Bible before work. But if I read before exercise (and then kids), the exercise seems to not happen. I wonder if others have this dilemma?
Ah, yes, you're hitting on something I struggle with too. One of my goals next year is to incorporate some exercise into this. I started experimenting this year but want to figure it out next year.
I find this quote from Marcus Aurelius helpful for thinking through this kind of stuff:
"Love the discipline you know, and let it support you."
I'll do what I know for now and come to love it. Only once I have a grasp on it for a long time, I'll work to make it better.
Same dilemma! I've usually done my prayer time first, then worked out. But I also have noticed an increasing resistance to wanting to work out, so I'm wondering if I should just "swallow the toad" and get it done first.
This was the perfect piece to read on NYE! I bought Be Thou My Vision for my morning time and am excited to have a new resource for my morning office in 2025. Thank you for sharing!
I love “rise before responsibilities.” My days are always better when I can sit with a coffee for 30 minutes quietly before doing anything else. Thanks for sharing!
I start my devotions by working through a hymnal and using Hymnary online to hear the music. Then I usually read A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie. I have the original edition from 1949, but several years ago someone updated the language, with Baillie's son's permission, a nice hardback with a ribbon marker! It has prayers for morning and evening for 31 days and for Sundays. It is a classic. He prays about things I would never think of and is so thoughtful and reverent. I highly recommend it.
Totally. I’m really not anti-movies (I promise!) but I think it’s more when we avoid our responsibilities (to others and ourselves!) by entertaining ourselves. But I think it’s entirely possible to watch movies or TV or whatever and it not be pure escapism that gets in the way of life.
This is probably the best thing I've read on spiritual disciplines in a long while!
Thank you Ian. Often, when reading about life giving practices, I feel like a failure before even trying them. With you article I feel excited to shoot for 75% with a few of them.
Also, as a pastor I was touched by the last one. I'm sure your pastor friends are super grateful to have that relationship with you where they can just be themselves, with no agenda. Thank you.
I also find that video games are better than TV. While I love movies and tv as an art form, you are largely passive during the experience - and you shouldn’t be surprised to see me turning on my comfort tv (LOTR, The Office, Avatar: The Last Airbender) - whereas in reading and video games you are engaging your attention, imagination, and problem solving in active, creative ways that do not leave you more tired than when you began like bingeing tv.
Yeah I completely agree. I don't watch a lot of movies, but when I do, they're almost always excellent. I don't want to give my time to something that does nothing for me. LOTR—and even The Office! (I've not seen Avatar: TLA)—hit a quality that is worth the time. Many, many, many more don't.
This was unlooked-for encouragement for me this evening. Thank you, Ian. I’m going to come back to this next week as I consider some adjustments for 2025.
There are great ideas and not too far off from what I’ve started to do. I implemented no tv Mondays because I want to get my week off to a good start and leave room for creativity, productivity or rest. It’s amazing what I was able to accomplish by blocking out tv for an extra 4 hours of my week.
Success with habits is never about a 100% report card. It’s about consistency. I think more people would develop stronger habit patterns if they gave themselves grace for not showing up 100% of the time.
These are great! I started "rising before responsibilities" (love that term for it) several years ago when I had a job that was really sucking the life out of me. Getting up early enough for breakfast, prayer, and some personal time made me feel less like the point of my day was my job.
I started praying the Daily Office a couple years ago (I use the ACNA's 2019 Book of Common Prayer and love it), and it's been revolutionary for me.
Spot on! Such a great encouragement. “Rise before responsibilities” is such a great way to frame what I’m doing in my mind. I also love your examples of using your senses to pray. Beautiful!
These are great practices! God is best heard when we're listening for him, and we listen best when it's quiet. I am getting back into my early mornings again and am very grateful for that time.
I found this incredibly helpful, thank you. As someone who isn’t religious, I still connected to everything you’re saying, and I just have different versions of the religion-based elements you discuss. Listening to the playlist you linked now, and it’s so lovely.
These are great. I have the hardest time getting up in the morning though I know it is such a good practice. So I've come to accept that my good time is in the afternoon while my daughter is partaking of some room time. I read, journal, etc.
I've also enjoyed beginning a one-line-a-day journal this summer. I record one memorable thing each day - a quote from something I've read rather than an event. It's caused me to slow down and think and savor the goodness of words on a page. And in a year, I'll have a good word to read back over.
This is helpful, Ian! I find my "rise before responsibilities" often foiled by indecision. I can never decide whether to workout or read my Bible first. But often if I exercise first I will still read my Bible before work. But if I read before exercise (and then kids), the exercise seems to not happen. I wonder if others have this dilemma?
Ah, yes, you're hitting on something I struggle with too. One of my goals next year is to incorporate some exercise into this. I started experimenting this year but want to figure it out next year.
I find this quote from Marcus Aurelius helpful for thinking through this kind of stuff:
"Love the discipline you know, and let it support you."
I'll do what I know for now and come to love it. Only once I have a grasp on it for a long time, I'll work to make it better.
Same dilemma! I've usually done my prayer time first, then worked out. But I also have noticed an increasing resistance to wanting to work out, so I'm wondering if I should just "swallow the toad" and get it done first.
This was the perfect piece to read on NYE! I bought Be Thou My Vision for my morning time and am excited to have a new resource for my morning office in 2025. Thank you for sharing!
I love that! BTMV is incredible. You're gonna love it.
I love “rise before responsibilities.” My days are always better when I can sit with a coffee for 30 minutes quietly before doing anything else. Thanks for sharing!
I start my devotions by working through a hymnal and using Hymnary online to hear the music. Then I usually read A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie. I have the original edition from 1949, but several years ago someone updated the language, with Baillie's son's permission, a nice hardback with a ribbon marker! It has prayers for morning and evening for 31 days and for Sundays. It is a classic. He prays about things I would never think of and is so thoughtful and reverent. I highly recommend it.
I love that!
I like #4 but I love stories. I like to read, but not all the time. Maybe I should slot in one or two movies per week.
Totally. I’m really not anti-movies (I promise!) but I think it’s more when we avoid our responsibilities (to others and ourselves!) by entertaining ourselves. But I think it’s entirely possible to watch movies or TV or whatever and it not be pure escapism that gets in the way of life.
This is probably the best thing I've read on spiritual disciplines in a long while!
Thank you Ian. Often, when reading about life giving practices, I feel like a failure before even trying them. With you article I feel excited to shoot for 75% with a few of them.
Also, as a pastor I was touched by the last one. I'm sure your pastor friends are super grateful to have that relationship with you where they can just be themselves, with no agenda. Thank you.
Wow, that’s really kind, Thomas. Thank you! So glad you found it helpful. I’m very thankful for my pastors!
I also find that video games are better than TV. While I love movies and tv as an art form, you are largely passive during the experience - and you shouldn’t be surprised to see me turning on my comfort tv (LOTR, The Office, Avatar: The Last Airbender) - whereas in reading and video games you are engaging your attention, imagination, and problem solving in active, creative ways that do not leave you more tired than when you began like bingeing tv.
Yeah I completely agree. I don't watch a lot of movies, but when I do, they're almost always excellent. I don't want to give my time to something that does nothing for me. LOTR—and even The Office! (I've not seen Avatar: TLA)—hit a quality that is worth the time. Many, many, many more don't.
I totally agree!
This was unlooked-for encouragement for me this evening. Thank you, Ian. I’m going to come back to this next week as I consider some adjustments for 2025.
I’m so glad, Sam!
There are great ideas and not too far off from what I’ve started to do. I implemented no tv Mondays because I want to get my week off to a good start and leave room for creativity, productivity or rest. It’s amazing what I was able to accomplish by blocking out tv for an extra 4 hours of my week.
Success with habits is never about a 100% report card. It’s about consistency. I think more people would develop stronger habit patterns if they gave themselves grace for not showing up 100% of the time.
It’s about trajectory way more than it’s about 100% success!
These are great! I started "rising before responsibilities" (love that term for it) several years ago when I had a job that was really sucking the life out of me. Getting up early enough for breakfast, prayer, and some personal time made me feel less like the point of my day was my job.
I started praying the Daily Office a couple years ago (I use the ACNA's 2019 Book of Common Prayer and love it), and it's been revolutionary for me.
Love this. We're on the same wave length!
Spot on! Such a great encouragement. “Rise before responsibilities” is such a great way to frame what I’m doing in my mind. I also love your examples of using your senses to pray. Beautiful!
These are great practices! God is best heard when we're listening for him, and we listen best when it's quiet. I am getting back into my early mornings again and am very grateful for that time.
Love this. Thanks for sharing!
🙏
I really like the candle idea is a more tactile way of reminding me what prayer actually is. I don’t think that’s weird at all :)
One prayer that has been really profitable to me is John Piper’s IOUS prayer:
Incline my heart to Your Word
Open my eyes to see its beauty
Unite my heart to fear Your Name
Satisfy me this morning with Your steadfast love
Also, Michael Reeves book, “Enjoy Your Prayer Life” was immensely helpful to me.
I found this incredibly helpful, thank you. As someone who isn’t religious, I still connected to everything you’re saying, and I just have different versions of the religion-based elements you discuss. Listening to the playlist you linked now, and it’s so lovely.
This is awesome, Lindsay. So happy to hear that.