20 Morning Bible Verses to Start the Day

There is no better time than in the morning, to set your mind on God as you prepare to face the day’s activities. These morning Bible verses to start the day will help you get off on the right foot.

morning Bible verses to start your day off right

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I’ll say it right now: I am decidedly NOT a morning person.

Sure, mornings are a fresh start to a new day, and all that jazz. But I’m just not one of those people who leaps out of bed early every morning, ready to tackle the day. I’m slow as molasses, even on a good day.

Are you like that too? If you are, we should definitely be friends!

But even if you’re one of those people who are blessed with the ability to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 5am, mornings can still be hard. The snooze button calls, and then when you do get up, there’s a daunting array of to-do’s, events, and other demands waiting for you.

What you need, is some great morning Bible verses to start your day off right. Scriptures that will help you begin your day with God, remember who you are in Christ (loved, redeemed, made new!), and just start on a positive note.

Proverbs 3:5-6 art

20 Morning Bible Verses to Start the Day

Over the years, I’ve discovered that mornings really are the best time to be with God in prayer. Yes, even for an anti-morning person like me! So, I’m beginning this list of 20 morning Bible verses to start the day, with Scriptures that make great prayers… followed by Scriptures to lift you up, and just to worship God in all His glory.

Quick Links:
Verses 1-9: Scriptures to Pray
Verses 10-16: Scriptures to Lift You Up
Verses 17-20: Scriptures to Worship and Thank God

Scriptures to Pray

Even if you only have five minutes (or less!), you can still pray these powerful Scriptures. I’ve started off this section with Mark 1:35, in which Jesus gets up early to pray. I’m sure he did that, because he knew it was one of the few times he could find complete solitutude, before the sun came up and people were following him everywhere. And isn’t it similar in our lives? Morning, like it or not, is the most reliable moment of quiet before the day’s activities take over.

Some of these powerful morning declarations are easy to pray word-for-word. And others, like Proverbs 3:5-6 (which is my fave verse), you can make into a great prayer with a few wording adjustments. For example: “Lord, help me to trust you completely today, and to recognize that only you can see the whole picture of what is going on. Remind me to seek your guidance in every situation, and as I follow you, I trust that you will help me stay on the right path.”

1) Mark 1:35 (NLT)
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

2) Psalm 5:3 (NIV)
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

3) Psalm 86:5-7 (NIV)
You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.

4) Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

5) Psalm 88:13 (NIV)
But I cry to you for help, LORD;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.

6) Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

7) Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

8) Isaiah 33:2 (NIV)
LORD, be gracious to us;
we long for you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.

9) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always

Scriptures to Lift You Up

Do you need some Bible verses to brighten your day? We all have those mornings…the ones where we dread the day’s activities, we woke up with aches and pains, or just feel not 100%. For those days, we need the most uplifting morning Bible verses to start the day. These are just what the doctor ordered… 😉

10) Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

11) Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

12) Psalm 118:24 (NLT)
This is the day the LORD has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

13) Proverbs 4:18 (NIV)
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

14) Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.

15) Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

16) Romans 8:31-32 (NIV)
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

beautiful lotus flowers

Scriptures to Worship and Thank God

Lastly, sometimes the best thing we can do in the morning is just worship God for who He is. Especially when I’m have a crummy morning (worrying about things, lamenting that I woke up with a headache, etc.), it helps to just stop and worship. It never fails to improve my perspective and lift my mood! (I listen to K-LOVE radio (via their app) every morning for that very reason.)

So, these final four morning Bible verses to start the day are simply about praising God. On those days when you might otherwise worry yourself silly, use these inspirational morning Bible verses to focus on God’s goodness instead.

17) Psalm 57:7-10 (NIV)
My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

18) Psalm 59:16 (NIV)
But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.

19) Psalm 65:8 (NIV)
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.

20) Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.

Try putting a few of these verses on a post-it note or index card, and keep it next to your bed. That way, when you wake up, you have no excuse not to reach for them! Just something so simple, as strategically-placed Bible verses that make you smile, can make a big difference in how you start your day. This is why I love creating hand-lettered Scripture art, to make it easy for you to surround yourself with the truth of God’s Word each day.

I hope you enjoyed these morning Bible verses to start the day! Tell me: Which verse is your favorite, and how are you going to place it strategically so you’ll see it every morning?

10 thoughts on “20 Morning Bible Verses to Start the Day”

  1. Barbara this is SO beautiful! I love how you gathered all these beautiful verses here. For most of my life, I was more a night person. But the past few years I’ve been getting up between 5 and 6 am and its been really nice and peaceful.

    I love each and every verse here. The Lamentations 3:22-23 verse really stands out to me: “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

    This verse was the inspiration for my ‘fresh grace for today’ blog. Many blessings to you sweet sister … ❤

    1. Barbara Austin

      Aww, thanks Donna! I am encouraged that you’re able to appreciate early mornings now. I hope someday, maybe I will too. For now, anything before 7am is much too early.

      I agree, Lamentations 3:22-23 is pretty awesome. That “His compassions never fail” is so comforting.

  2. This is so useful. Thank you for pulling these together and for the suggestions on how to use them. Praying Bible verses and the best way to start the day!

  3. Thank you, sister.
    You have increased my awareness of our Father in the morning. I have been wanting for years to think of Him first and thanks be to God and you, I am!!!
    Keep ministering and receiving. He has so much for you!
    God bless you!! 💞

  4. Being a morning person. Life is full of choices. I choose every morning to have a good and be happy. My coffee pot is on a timer and ready when I rise. I put on the gas logs in the fireplace open my Bible and read. In Romans Christ says
    I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently WILL find me. Perfect start to every day. How could you not be
    Happy and ready to tackle your day.

    1. Hi Malcolm! Spiritually, yes I try to embrace the morning as best I can… I listen to Christian worship music, do my Bible study and pray, and whatever else helps me focus on God and think more positively. Physically however, I feel very lousy upon waking up. It takes my body and brain several hours to perk up… even as a child, I was never able to just leap out of bed with tons of energy. I don’t know why God made me that way, but He did, I suppose that’s my cross to bear. It reminds me of when Jesus said “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) For me, mornings are a fight against the weakness of my body; lots of times my body wins, but I try not to let it.

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