So here are five everyday tasks you can reclaim today!

So here are five everyday tasks you can reclaim today! 1. Waking Up Ahhh, we all know that early morning fog—the slowness of our tired brains, and the hesitance to leave the warm haven of our sheets. As we find the courage to crawl out of bed, we can anticipate the good, purposeful things that God has prepared for us to do each day (Ephesians 2:10). They might not be big or earth-shattering—they may not change the world. They might look mundane—just a small piece of a big work God is doing in your life or someone else’s. But if we follow the Spirit’s leading, they’ll be exactly the things God wants us to do! As you wake up, ask God to help you see and find life in the simple opportunities he’ll set before you today. 2. Morning Coffee (or Tea) Instead of simply grabbing a trusty mug as we rush to the next thing we have to do, our morning coffee or tea ritual can become something more. Even when we don’t have time to contemplatively sip every drop while journaling life’s deepest musings, we can take an extra 120 seconds to taste the flavors and smell its familiar aroma. Taking the time to pause, we can consider what it might look like for God to be the strength of our heart and our portion for the day ahead of us (Psalm 73:26). As you sip, ask God to quiet your heart, heal you from the crazy of yesterday, and instill new strength for today. 3. Catching up on News Consuming the news is no joke—it can be a heavy, weighty occasion. So let’s take a deep breath before diving in, recognizing the gift of being so globally connected, and its corresponding burden. May the Lord help us to know what news to pay attention to, what requires a response from us, and how to respond with grace and love. Most importantly, may we take in every bit of news coupled with the assurance that our God can handle it—nothing surprises him (Isaiah 45:6-7). Before you read the latest happenings, ask God for wisdom, guidance, and discernment. 4. Sending a Text or Email Considering we can type something up and shoot it off in a matter of seconds, it’s easy to plow past the opportunity that lies within almost instant communication. But these words—as short or digital as they might be—are a touchpoint between our lives and someone else’s. Let’s choose gracious words that consider the person they’re for, are typed thoughtfully, and go the extra mile when the Holy Spirit prompts (Proverbs 16:24). Before you type, ask the Holy Spirit to help you consider how typed words can be healing words to others! 5. Listening to Music Music is packed with messages and emotions, and at the very least, it represents a sect of the culture we’re living in (for good or for bad). Some music might lead us to recognize how God is at work in the world, and some might expose realities of brokenness and pain. Either way, there’s plenty to be heard and understood both about the artist behind the music, and the culture it speaks to (Proverbs 1:5). We can experience the expressive art of music and let God teach us through it. As you listen for the message in music, consider how God meets you in your own joy, pain, or restlessness.