Isaiah 50:4, 5  
“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, 
so that I know how to comfort the weary. 
Morning by morning he wakens me 
and opens my understanding to his will. 
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, 
and I have listened. 
I have not rebelled or turned away.” (NLT)

Isaiah 50:4
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, 
to know the word that sustains the weary. 
He wakens me morning by morning, 
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.” (NIV)

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Keeping first things first, our first pursuit morning by morning leads us into more and more of God’s goodness, grace, mercy, and kindness, or away from it. 

Here’s a good pattern for morning’s first moments:

1. Begin the day with prayer. This is a simple prayer of praise to God for who he is, a moment of thanksgiving for another day. It centers our focus on ultimate reality before we begin experiencing and managing the issues of our daily lives.
2. Follow this with, at least for me, a full glass of water, a first cup of coffee, and a healthy snack. This clears the mind and empowers it to focus. 
3. Read the words God has preserved for us to teach us how to live and to show us the way we should go. Choose a daily Bible reading plan for this purpose.
4. Write a response to what God says. Begin it with two words: I will. 
5. Remind yourself of a few sentence prayers that might come in handy during the day. Try on these for size: 
* Jesus, make my heart like yours.
* I belong to you.
* Give me a pure heart and clean hands.
* Open my eyes to the opportunities and responsibilities of this day.
* Give me ears to hear what you are saying to me. 
* Transform my heart and mind. 
* Guard my thoughts and guide my words.
* Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
6. Enjoy committing a Bible verse to memory. Here are few to consider:
* Psalm 51:10
* Psalm 25:4
* John 2:5
* John 3:30
* Galatians 2:20
* Galatians 5:16
* Galatians 5:22-25
* Ephesians 2:10
* Ephesians 3:20, 21
* Ephesians 4:29
* Philippians 4:6, 7

Beginning your day this way empowers you to know more of God’s heart and mind. It gives you words to say to those who need help, hope, encouragement, and instruction. It provides direction for honoring God and serving others. It makes us more like Jesus. 

This is also a good way to end the day. 
1. Praise God for who he is.
2. Thank him for what he made possible during the day.
3. Write at least one point of gratitude from the day in a journal.
4. Repeat the appropriate sentence prayers.
5. Recite an appropriate Bible verse you are committing to memory. 
6. Lie down and rest in peace, knowing God will keep you safe (Psalm 4:8).

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I will start my day with praise and thanksgiving and end it in the same manner. 

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Our Father, you created rhythms of morning and evening. You give us words of truth and life for those bookends and every page of every book and manual between. You give life, empower service, and provide rest from which we are strengthened to strengthen others. Show us how to maximize our life rhythms so that we become the persons you always dreamed we would be. Amen.