I have always wanted to be THAT GIRL. You know, the one who gets up before the sun, opens her worn Bible for an hour, then works out for an hour—all before the kids are up for school. But the truth is, I’m not that girl, nor will I ever be.
I can remember creating this ideal as a teenager in my beloved youth group. This is how I imagined myself as an adult, even though I have struggled with discipline my whole life. Somewhere in my 30s, I got set free. I was set free from a ghost that haunted me. I was set free from what I thought I should be doing as a follower of Christ, and I was reminded that what God wants, above all else, is my love (Matt. 22: 37).
Now, my morning routine consists of at least three non-negotiables.
1. Bible before Phone.
This is not original to me, and I can’t remember where I first heard it. But I’m telling you, the sentiment behind this statement has changed everything for me. When I wake up in the morning, I am tempted, as many of us are, to check email, scroll Instagram, or respond to texts BEFORE MY FEET TOUCH THE FLOOR. But I made a commitment to myself that I will put the Word of God first. The ironic thing about this commitment is that I usually use my phone to access God’s Word in the mornings. As I begin my morning rituals, I often listen to the Word of God while my coffee brews. One of my favorite ways to do this is by using the podcast Let’s Read the Gospels with Annie F. Downs.
Again, the purpose of this is not to check a box but to center my mind on the things of God at the beginning of the day. This action reminds my heart that what God says is most important and that having my thoughts set on him is my priority. You may prefer sitting down with your Bible and reading with your eyes—that is wonderful, and I do that sometimes too. But Tara-Leigh Cobble reminded me when I interviewed her on my podcast that for thousands of years, people consumed the Bible audibly, and it counts.
2. Water.
The benefits of drinking water are endless. Honestly, though, this is not something I naturally do. With the craze of the Stanley Stainless® Steel mugs, you may have seen some pretty funny Gen-X influencers talking on social media about how none of us drank water growing up. It is absolutely true. I have no memory of pulling a glass from the cabinet and filling it with ice and tap water. Bottled water didn’t become popular until the mid-90s. But, as we have become more aware of how good it is for our bodies to drink water, I have embraced it.
My water consumption in the morning usually begins with a bit of prep the night before. I plan to drink 100 ounces of water a day. Because that’s no easy goal for me, I measure every drop I drink, so the night before, I fill my 40-ounce reusable cup with ice and water. It’s waiting on me in the kitchen in the morning so I can easily chug at least 10 ounces before my coffee.
3. Sunshine.
I learned last year that getting outside in the morning sunlight is one of the best things I can do for my mental health. Recently Andrew D. Huberman of the popular Huberman Lab podcast posted on Instagram® that sunlight was one of the 9 pillars of mental and physical health. For me, this can look like standing on the porch for three to five minutes and stretching in the sunlight, or it’s my usual three-mile walk. Even when it’s cloudy, there is still enough of the sun to get that serotonin flowing in my brain, and it puts me in a better mood.
Being kind to my morning self leads to a more productive and enjoyable day. These are three things I do every morning that are beneficial for my mental, physical, and spiritual health. I think back to the days when I hit the snooze alarm or rolled out of bed a hot mess and I wish I’d gotten a handle on this sooner. Not because we get extra points from God, but because this marriage of the mind, body, and spirit is the way He designed us to function best. He made our bodies, and He loves it when we take care of them.
ABOUT ANGIE ELKINS
Angie grew up in a Christian family in the Memphis, Tennessee, area. Early in life, she developed a love for music and the local church. After graduating from Union University, she attended Southwestern Seminary to pursue a Masters in Music. While at Southwestern, she met her husband Robert. They married in 1996 and have three children: Jack, Audrey, and Foster. In the last twenty-five years, Angie has been leading worship all over the country and writing music for the local church.
In 2017, she started her podcast, and in 2023 launched Let It Shine, a podcast about sanctification over self-help. Angie is the manager of the Lifeway Podcast Network, where she works with amazing shows like MARKED and The Glass House with Ben and Lynley Mandrell. Angie’s favorite things are taking morning walks in her neighborhood, Walt Disney World, and trips with her girlfriends. Angie lives in Orlando, Florida, where her husband serves as the worship pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando.
