There was a season in my life, back in college, when the first thing I’d reach for in the morning was a cigarette. Still under the covers, before my feet hit the floor, I’d light up. That was the height of addiction. I couldn’t even get out of bed before I needed that first smoke.
Fast forward a few years, and the forty-year-old version of me had broken free from that. I was no longer reaching for a hard pack of Camels on the nightstand. I’d found freedom, setting old habits aside. But here’s the challenge… I traded it for something else.
The “cleaned-up,” more professional version of me wasn’t lighting cigarettes anymore. But the addiction had just shifted. Now, when the alarm went off, I was still reaching for the nightstand. This time, thought, I was reaching to light up my phone. Emails. Text messages. News. Social media. Still under the covers. Still lighting up.
For some of you, this sounds familiar. So, where am I going with this?
When we reach for our phones first, we’re often stepping into a mindset of control. We’re trying to manage everything ourselves, staying ahead, staying informed, staying in charge. But when we start with God, we’re surrendering that illusion of control. We’re acknowledging that He’s already gone before us and is working in ways we can’t yet see. Giving God the first part of our day is a declaration of trust. We’re saying, “You’ve got this, Lord. I don’t have to carry it all.”
Here’s the challenge: What if, instead of grabbing our phones first thing, we grabbed our Bibles? What if, before diving into the texts, emails, and headlines, we slowed down enough to hear what God had for us that day? What if we connected with the One who holds the day in His hands, before handing control of it over to the world?
I get it. This is hard. As I’ve shared, I’ve spent the majority of my life grabbing the wrong things from the nightstand to start my day. But I can also tell you that when I shifted things, leaving the phone behind and reaching for the Word, everything started to change.
What have I learned? The emails and text messages are a lot easier to navigate when I start from the right foundation. And it’s much easier to keep the news and social media noise in its proper place when I begin my day grounded. That’s really, at the end of the day, what this is all about… starting our days connected to the One who is in complete control, anchored to God’s promises for our lives. It’s about keeping our idols at bay and focusing our attention where it belongs.
Starting with God re-centers everything. It resets our priorities and aligns our hearts with His. The chaos of the day doesn’t disappear, but it comes into focus through a different lens, one shaped by faith, not fear. When we give God control over our days, we stop reacting and start responding. We step into the day led by peace instead of pressure, and with purpose instead of distraction.
Men, join me in this challenge. For the next 30 days, pick up your Bible instead of your phone. Start your day in the Word and in prayer. Watch what happens when you give God the first fruits of your day and how He shows up when you do.
by John Gamades