The Daily Grind with Matt Clarke

Just Another Morning

Written by Matt Clarke | May 1, 2026

The first thing I did was make a list. Before I started reading, I could feel my mind was already full, and nothing new was going in until I created some space. So I wrote down all of the things that were spinning in my head that I needed help with or had to make decisions about. Starting the process with "Lord help me with...", I then started writing down everything that had blocked my mental plumbing. I followed that up with a quick prayer asking God to allow me to hear what I needed to as I stepped into my morning reading.

That process alone didn't fix or take away anything, but it did take captive those anxious thoughts so that I could process them from a healthy mindset and focus on what I was doing in the moment. It allowed me to think about whose advice I wanted to seek in some of those situations, remembering that the Bible says in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. It also revealed one or two things that I hadn't been thinking about that I needed to. These were the louder things that were simply in the way, causing me to have forgotten them, and now they were back in focus.

Doing that first gave me the space needed to organize my thoughts, slow down my mind, and start the day with the ability to choose what would guide me- The Holy Spirit, not my anxious thoughts.

Then God gave me the gift of a smile. An unexpected text message hit my phone. It was a picture of my son Ethan sitting on a box, totally gassed after a morning workout. It made me smile because I have been in the gym where it was taken and remember feeling the same way. Also, because I was proud of him for getting up and getting at it, even when I knew he was traveling for work. Simply receiving that text lightened my heart and injected me with an energetic joy.

"Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty." (Proverbs 25:25)

Never underestimate the impact you can have through random acts of sharing good things with other people. Many times, we think that we don't want to be a bother or that they wouldn't appreciate it. I say don't make that choice for them. Let them decide. If you have something good or fun to share, do it! You may be just the refreshing drink someone needs in the moment.

With a clear mind and a smile on my face, I can now move into the day, better than I started. That is the power of an intentional morning. Clear the mental plumbing so things can flow more freely. Fill the heart with joy so light can guide you, not darkness. And care for the body that will carry you and give you energy and confidence throughout the day. Thanks for the reminder, Ethan. If you can get up, do it. Why can't I?
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