A few weeks back I shared with you about how poorly the start to my day had become. How a lack of forgiveness had slowly spread to the point where anger, resentment and anxiety had filled my first few thoughts each morning. This vicious beginning immediately put me on a pathway towards unhappiness and a generally bad attitude.
I was not fun to be around, I was constantly negative, I was judgmental in my heart and head and I wasn’t productive. Not a good place to be.
The more I dove into what was wrong the more I realized that a lack of forgiveness was blocking me from living in freedom. This realization helped to turn the tide for me. (read more about this here)
As I began to put some recognition around this thought, I began to see the importance of starting my day off with an overload of positivity, vision and truth.
Instead of dwelling in the depressed state of my mind. I had to begin putting words of victory into the atmosphere that would propel me towards the future I desired.
So, I started with something basic. I began telling myself each morning, as soon as my mind would allow, that today was gonna be a great day.
I’d say it over and over and over again, most of the time during my morning shower. I’ve got this little window in my shower (yes I know that’s weird and no, people can’t see into it) and I would stare out that little window and repeat the saying over and over again.
It’s gonna be a great day. It’s gonna be a great day. It’s gonna be a great day.
That worked for a bit, but I needed more. So I thought to myself, ok, maybe I should start telling others about the great day I was HOPING to have.
So I did.
And that’s when I begin posting each morning on Facebook, “It’s gonna be a great day!!”
This worked really well. For a while. I loved the way I felt sharing with others and the feedback I experienced. Plus, I got tons of likes, which always feels good, right!?!
But I was still struggling by lunch time to stay positive.
And that’s when it hit me.
- If I desired to live a more peace-filled life, I had to begin casting a powerful vision of grace and peace over my day.
- If I desired to live a more forgiving life, I had to begin forgive people – OUT LOUD – each morning.
- If I desired to push through fear and overcome things that had held me back, I had to begin speaking faith, courage and confidence over myself each morning to get there.
The bible says this in Romans 12:2…
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
My sinful mind MUST be transformed. I need a fresh touch from God first thing in the morning or there’s no telling where I’ll go.
So, I sat down one day and wrote out exactly who I wanted to be, what I wanted to accomplish and how I was going to do it.
It’s called my Morning Mandate and here it is…
Lance’s Morning Mandate
Today is gonna be a great day!
Today God has given me EVERYTING I need, to be Exactly What HE wants ME to BE
Today I will LOVE Ally with everything in me, always putting her first & prioritizing our relationship and our future above all.
Today I will bring positivity, hope and encouragement to everyone I encounter. People will walk away from our time together, changed, inspired and motivated to chase their dreams.
Today, when I struggle and I know that I will, I will persevere. When I can’t seem to forgive someone, who has wronged me, I will remind myself of how much Jesus has forgiven me.
When I begin to think negatively I will look up and be reminded that God has placed me in this moment, during this specific time in history to make a difference! To change the WORLD! Any time wasted on negativity keeps me from fulfilling the mission he has given me.
Today when I feel all alone and that there is no one going through what I am going through, I will force myself to realize that there is NOTHING, not ANYTHING that I can experience on this earth that my Savior has not already experienced.
Today I am a winner. Today I am a fighter. Today I will outwork my competition.
No challenge, No change!
Today I will overcome all my challenges, I will step into those moments that scare me, I will dream so big that only God can receive the glory for my accomplishments.
Today I will push myself in all areas of life. I will make great decisions because God has given me wisdom. I am financially prudent, I am an incredible vision caster and I am child of the Most High God. Specifically created to make an impact for the kingdom.
Today is gonna be a great day!
—
Now, every morning I wake up, post on FB, “It’s gonna be a great day”, get in the shower and read my morning mandate OUT LOUD!
I have it lamented, taped to my wall (along with my word of the year) so it stares back at me like a prize fighter. I know that if I don’t read it, believe it and claim over my life, I’ll get knocked out every day!
My life is lived one day at a time and my Morning Mandate enables me to start each day with a positive step towards freedom.
I challenge YOU to write a morning mandate yourself today. Feel free to use mine as an outline or use these questions below to help you get started.
Once you get it done email it to me, I loved to read it! ([email protected])
I pray this exercise and new daily habit helps to propel you to living in the land of freedom each day!
With Hope,
-Lance
Questions to ask, to help you write your Morning Mandate:
- What do I really want to be today?
- What does the best version of me look like?
- How do I need God’s help to get there?
- What areas do I struggle in and what does scripture say about that?
- How can I make today absolutely awesome?
- What’s the best thing that could happen today?