Reader,

Do you have a consistent morning routine?

If I had to guess: you are likely engaged in some combination of exercise, eating breakfast, showering, and getting ready for your day. All good and necessary things we should all be doing. You probably even have Bible reading, prayer, or quiet meditation on that list. Yes! Those spiritual practices are key to our growing relationship with God.

But what I’m referring to is this: a daily practice that helps you get clarity about the specific activities that will move your God-shaped dream forward.

Do you have a practice like this?

I’ve been mulling this over for the last few weeks. It all started with a conversation at the end of July with my friend and fellow creative business owner, Erin.

She shared about the impact of her new first-thing-in-the-morning routine and how much it’s helped her stay focused on her goals.

The next thing she said really caught my attention:

“I feel like your people would really resonate with having a structure to help them go after their dreams.”

She went on to confess that though she knows she needs and wants structure for her life and business, she hasn’t known how to implement it.

But a switch flipped for her when she started this daily practice.

Get This: she said a simple daily check-in took her from unfocused and unstructured to knowing every day how to actually concentrate on the thing she wants to accomplish.

Woah! Do we make things harder than they need to be? Um, yes! 🙋‍♀️

And do we also compare today’s availability to a former time when the demands on us looked very different? I wrestle with that too. So if you can relate, just know that you’re not alone.

But also, don’t let that stop you.

Start building a daily check-in into your life, like Erin did, and see what happens. You can add anything you want to your list, but fair warning: don’t make it complicated! I’ve started with just a half-sheet of paper and five (short!) sections to fill out each day.

I’m still settling into the practice, but I notice the difference when I remember to do it. It’s a matter of keeping it top of mind (and placed somewhere I can see it each morning, rather than letting it get buried on my messy desk.)

Still not sure how to begin?

Hit reply and tell me what’s in the way. I’d love to know, because I’m creating a printed journal for exactly this purpose.

Because finding your focus (so you can eliminate distractions) is one of the most important steps you can take to go after your God-shaped dream.

Without a clear path, it’s hard to arrive anywhere meaningful.

​Want to test out my journal? I plan to publish it in early September (gotta figure out Amazon KDP first!) I’d love for you to be one of the first to give it a whirl and see if you get the kind of results Erin got with hers.

​Click here to join the early interest list, and be the first to try it when it’s ready. ​

Above all, remember this: God’s mercies are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:23).

If this kind of routine is not for you or it doesn’t fit your life or current schedule, it’s okay. But don’t let that keep you stuck.

You have the Spirit of the holy God in you. Start to ask Him to help you find a different way to focus and find structure that WILL work for you. Because if He’s given you a dream, He means for you to pursue it.

As always, I am with you in the dream,

Merritt

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P.S. This week’s podcast episode with Julie Fowler is all about How One Small Step of Faith Sparked a Bigger Dream. Maybe a daily check-in is your next small step to God’s bigger vision! Listen and learn on Apple or Spotify.

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