“If the time at which you woke up is the time at which or near which you should get up, then without delay say, ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,’ while doing the sign of the Cross.
And then, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Right after this, or at the same time, immediately get out of bed.”
Metropolitan Gregory of St Petersburg, How to Live a Holy Life, pg 10.
Reflection:
What Metropolitan Gregory suggests is a small action, to begin our day with this simple prayer and the sign of the Cross. Notice how putting God on our mind and in our hearts is the first task of the day. We begin our day with Him, giving thanks for a new day, a fresh start.
This habit helps us to fulfill our Lord’s greatest commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’(1) When we direct our thoughts and orient our hearts toward Christ from the moment we wake up, it shapes our entire day around our relationship with God.
When we begin our day like this, our life changes. It allows Christ to enter our hearts from the first moment we are awake and: “Loneliness disappears. You are peaceful, joyous, full...You become a different person...This is what preoccupies me. I try to find ways to love Christ.”(2) One of our daily tasks as Orthodox Christians is to find ways to love Christ, this becomes easier when we begin our day with Him.
The Metropolitan suggests for us to physically get out of bed immediately upon saying the prayer and doing the sign of the Cross, so that we do not lay in bed and let our minds wander. It opens our hearts so that Christ may dwell freely within us and guide us throughout our decisions as the day goes on. This way we begin our day with this connection to God and purpose, which motivates us and provides the rest of our day with structure: constantly finding ways to love God and neighbor.(3)
References:
2) St Porphyrios, Wounded By Love, pg 99.
3) Matthew 22:37-40 To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor as yourself, letting this guide our words, deeds, and thoughts - always.
