I wrote about my 2025 goals in Post #6. fMy irst goal for this year was a spiritual growth goal: continue my morning prayer ritual. This ritual currently consists of four steps, but it started back in January 2025 when I started the Ascension Press’s Podcast “Bible in a Year” with Father Mike Schmitz. I know not everyone has the luxury of forty-five minutes to have a morning routine. I am so grateful that I have the time in this season for this ritual that brings me so much peace.
I had always wanted to read the Bible all the way through. I have tried and failed many times. All year, I really struggled getting into the habit of listening every day. I kept moving forward, but I was not happy with my progress. In October, I decided to try something new. I began to link the habit of drinking my morning coffee to listening to the next episode of the podcast. The first thing I do when I wake up is make myself a cup of coffee and head straight to what I now refer to as my “prayer chair.” It’s an old recliner that is in the corner of our bedroom looking out into our backyard. Then, while I drank my coffee, I listen to the next episode with my Bible open on my lap. My Bible is the Catholic Notetaking Bible created as a collaboration between Blessed is She and Our Sunday Visitor. You can buy it on Amazon here. It gives me lots of space to make notes as I follow along with the podcast.
Since October, I have been doing this pretty consistently. I should finish the podcast (and Bible) right before Advent begins this year.
In addition to my time in Scripture, I also write in a prayer journal. I have actually started doing this before I read my Bible because it helps me get all my anxieties out on the page, so I can focus on my time with the Lord. I am currently using this journal from Mary Square.
This brand has lots of great journals you can see here. The particular one I am using is called a “prayer journal.” I don’t think they make these anymore. Last time I checked, you can buy them at DaySpring. The inside is pictured below. It has a section for worries, praises, prayers, and God’s promises which I use for Bible verses I’m memorizing.
I love to be able to look back at the things I wrote down and see how God has worked in my life. I also have always wanted to be someone who memorizes Scripture, and this has made that easy for me! In May, I focused on Proverbs 23:18:
The first part of June, I focused on Matthew 5:9:
The second part of June, I memorized Isaiah 43:19:
After my prayer journaling and Scripture, I read a chapter in Stormie Omartian’s book The Power of a Praying Wife.
This book was recommended to me by my Aunt, and I love it, It has thirty-one chapter, so you read one chapter a day. Then, you restart at the beginning each month. This helps me insure that I pray intentionally for my husband every day.
Finally, I write in my One Line a Day Journal.
I’ve wanted to be a journaler since I was in middle school. This journal has been the only one I can commit, too. I purchased it in 2022, but it wasn’t until I connected it to my morning ritual at the beginning of 2025 that I really made a habit of it. Now I have every day of 2025 filled out so far, and we’re halfway through the year!
This morning ritual allows me to start off the day in a way that I love. I helps me feel grounded. If I miss a day or two, I just jump back in. I don’t make myself “catch up” on anything other than my One Line a Day journal because I will feel too overwhelmed and put it off. This attempt at being what my therapist calls “consistently inconsistent” allows me to form habits that I do way more often than I don’t do them without the stress or guilt of missing a few days here or there.
Do you have a morning routine that works well for you? Comment or email me at elisabeth@mission-today.com to tell me about the things you like to do to start your day off!
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