Happy 2023! If you're like me, you love the new year and live for a fresh start. I've been a bit of a goals junkie since I was kid. Lately, been watching reels about goals and morning routines and wondering what I can do to be “better.” The Lord convicted me about it and gave me these words.

I hope they help you, inspire a sigh of relief, and remind you that you're held by grace and renewed by mercy every day.

A few years ago I asked a priest friend to tell me about his morning routine. Because at one time, I figured this was the most important thing I needed to know about the life of someone I admire.

Recently Jesus reminded me of that moment and helped me realize that they don’t really talk about morning routines in heaven. They speak more about virtue, truth and beauty.

I can have a perfect morning routine and still not grow in love.

I can run a fast mile and not be familiar with what it means to have faith.

I can drink a green smoothie every day and not be ignited by Hope.

I can conquer a to-do list before 10 am and still not be transformed by joy.

I can rise before the sun and still not be resurrected by grace.

I think discipline is important. I know excellence matters. I think growth is a mark of intimacy with Christ. But the pursuit of Him has to come first. The routine alone isn’t going to do it. We can’t boil sanctification down to a few steps before the sun comes up.

If I master an “ideal morning routine”, it will be the fruit of following God. It will not be because of trendy tik toks or my own might — and it won’t be the most important thing about me.

I want to pursue God more than I pursue daily checklist perfection. I want to care more about a life of abundance than a life of lists that won’t necessarily get me there.

I want to start asking more interesting questions than, “What’s your morning routine?” I want to get curious about what God is doing in people instead.

We can’t life hack your way to intimacy with God and the green smoothies help, but they are not the thing that will save us.

Maybe what we can achieve every morning doesn’t matter so much - maybe what matters is that everyday we're stay awake to what God is doing.