Evaluating The Miracle Morning Routine

Another day dawns, and I find I’m excited for the day to begin. I have a lot on my calendar for the day, but they are mostly tasks I enjoy. So, I get out of bed – not crawling as in the past – and go about my morning routine. I have adapted my morning routine from The Miracle Morning I wrote about previously. It’s been a while, so I thought it would be a good time to evaluate how this is working for me – and maybe give you some ideas too!

I’ll be honest – when I wrote the last post I had read only part of the book by Hal Elrod; but I have since finished it (it’s not long, I just dawdled)! It is exactly what I thought: a motivational book to get people to leave behind the mediocrity they live with and pursue something greater by focusing on personal development first thing in the morning. It is not anything new to me. I have been practicing parts of The Miracle Morning routine for years – without giving them a name.

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The Routine

The Miracle Morning routine – remembered by the acronym SAVERS – is a good way to start your day. Taking time at the beginning of each day to work on personal development, a person will naturally become more focused and energized for the remaining tasks of the day is the premise of The Miracle Morning.

The routine of The Miracle Morning was created by author and motivational speaker Hal Elrod from multiple sources. To learn more about The Miracle Morning and adapting parts of it for believers, read this article. Below each of the six aspects of The Miracle Morning are summarized. Then I share how I am applying those in my life along with some tips for you.

The Six Elements of The Miracle Morning

Before diving in, a quick review may help. The Miracle Morning consists of six routine practices done daily to help each person become more mature. These six practices are easily remembered with the acronym SAVERS:

• Silence
• Affirmations
• Visualization
• Exercise
• Reading
• Scribing (or journaling)

Silence

Synonyms used for this practice include meditation, centering, self-examination, and reflection, For Christians, a more appropriate form of “silence” would be confession, repentance, prayer, and worship. Instead of focusing on yourself, the focus is on your Savior.

Affirmations

Affirmations are common in pop culture and mean the practice of stating something you either believe to be true or believe will become true. Examples include such statements as “I am strong,” “I am wise,” and “I am destined to succeed.” Synonyms include declaring, professing, and claiming.

For Christians, any affirmations must align with biblical principles. For example, “I am strong” is more accurately stated, “I am strong by the strength of the Holy Spirit within me.”

Visualization

Visualization is imagining what you desire your future to look like. The idea is to see what you want in the future and then to be motivated to work hard to make that happen. Synonyms include imagine, envision, and dream. For believers, this can be a helpful tool, but it is important to remember the admonition found in James 4:15, “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'” In other words, dream, imagine, plan, and work, but always make sure God is on the throne of your heart, not your dreams.

Exercise

Exercise is good for you. Getting it in early in the day means you’re more likely to do it. Believers should care for their bodies because they contain priceless “treasure[s] in jars of clay” (2 Cor. 4:7). There’s nothing super spiritual or supernatural about exercise – it’s just good stewardship.

Read

In The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod suggests reading a chapter or two of a self-improvement book every day. For believers, a better choice would be a chapter or two of Scripture every day. For beginners, I’d recommend one Psalm and one chapter of Proverbs. For the ambitious, add one chapter of a gospel or epistle.

Scribe (or journal)

Journaling is a time-tested tradition that has been used by believers, theologians, academics, rulers, and deep-thinkers of every kind for centuries. Taking time to write in a journal every morning, even if it’s only one or two sentences, is a great practice to start. If you’re confused about how to start, write a few sentences about what you read in the Bible.

How Does The Miracle Morning Work in Real Life?

I first read The Miracle Morning several years ago. I love the ideas contained in it but I haven’t been strict with following the plan. With that said, below are some of my thoughts I the six practices and how they fit in my life (or didn’t!). Since we’re all different, I’m also including a few suggestions to help you implement this routine in your life. I think the basic structure is great and could have a huge impact on your life if you are diligent in all areas.

Silence – or rather Prayer

My “silence” is my prayer time and it is indispensable to my day and my life. Which doesn’t mean I’m perfect about praying every morning. Let’s face it, sometimes life is crazy. But as much as possible, I spend time in prayer every morning. And if life is crazy, I find the time for prayer throughout the day and just before bed.

Silence – or prayer for believers – is as essential as oxygen. To borrow a phrase, “Just Do It!”

Affirmations – or Preaching to Myself!

I went through a difficult time in my life a couple of years ago when I’d cry myself to sleep almost every night repeating, “I am fully loved and accepted in Christ.” That is a biblically sound affirmation that I clung to for months. Since that time, I have not been great about affirmations, but I am better than I’ve ever been. I generally take time after reading my Bible to pray back some portion of what I read to the Lord. And often, that prayer turns into a biblical affirmation. A few examples of this are below.

• My life is hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3).
• I can do all that Christ has called me to do because He enables me to do it (Philippians 4:13).
• Nothing will happen to me today that is outside of the control of my Father (Psalm 125:2).
• The Lord hears and answers my prayers (Philippians 4:6-7).
• No matter how hard life is, I know the best is yet to be (Romans 8:18).
• I am called only to be faithful; the results of my faithfulness are up to the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Visualization – aka Wall Art

This is the one part of The Miracle Morning routine that I’ve never adopted, although I have tried. For whatever reason, this practice doesn’t hit me in the heart. However, the walls of my home are covered with what I consider to be motivational visuals.

For example, I have two maps on the walls, one a map of the world and one a map of the United States. Each map has pins indicating places I’ve traveled with my husband. Travel is important to me and something I hope to continue to do for many years. Every time I walk past those maps I’m motivated to continue working diligently on my business, even if some months are discouraging.

If you’re like me and want to cover your walls with “visualization” that will mean something to you, here are a few suggestions:

• Bible verses in calligraphy
• Goal-oriented quotations with appropriate photographs
• Photos of places you’ve been that have been important in you becoming who you are
• Framed certificates or diplomas
• Photos of your children
• A whiteboard where you record major milestones toward specific goals, such as tallying every book read, recording your (decreasing) weight at the beginning of each month, or coloring a savings “thermometer” as you save for a down payment on a home.

Exercise – a Daily Walk

I have worked hard to make this a habit – although the “daily” part is a work in progress. But on the days I have my morning walk – which is usually also my prayer and worship time – the rest of the day is so much better! Aside from reading my Bible and praying, this practice is the one I’d miss the most if I was forced to give it up. If you don’t like to walk, multiple other options exist. Find what suits you and do it. As a complete non-athlete who has almost zero coordination, I still highly recommend exercise! If I can do it, anyone can!* (*physical limitations excepted)

Read

Reading is a natural fit for me. I read and love to read. I also enjoy audiobooks. But making reading a regular part of my morning routine goes beyond just enjoying a good book.

I read the Bible – and so should you. I also occasionally read from a devotional. I love this one by Lysa TerKeust. And I regularly read Christian nonfiction. I just finished this book by Mark Batterson, am almost done with this one by Max Lucado, and have already decided to start this one by Erwin Lutzer next.

Most of the nonfiction books I read I share in my weekly newsletter or on my nonfiction recommendations page (which is always a work in progress). And, while I enjoy fiction, my morning is reserved for nonfiction. It’s been a life-changing habit for me.

Scribe – aka Journaling

As a writer, this is also a natural fit for me. But I haven’t always been great about journaling. Life just seems to get too busy sometimes. But I’m getting better at it. I love journaling about my Bible reading and prayer. And I love, love, love, to look back at old journals to see how I’ve grown and changed!

Just three thoughts on journaling (or scribing, as Hal Elrond would say):

• Don’t try to write a novel. Writing a few sentences is better than writing nothing.
• Don’t judge or silence yourself. Write what you think and feel. Be honest with yourself and with God. It’s healing and empowering!
• Write with a pen and paper – not with a keyboard or device. There is an actual physiological connection between you writing things out by hand and your brain. It’s healthy in ways we don’t even understand yet. Go old school: buy a journal, grab a pen, and write one sentence tomorrow morning. Who knows where that will lead?

The Bottom Line?

Go for it! These six practices add up to a great routine for growing mentally, physically, and spiritually strong. There’s almost no risk and a lot to be gained. If it seems too overwhelming, choose one practice to start with, then add the others in gradually. Just don’t stop at one!