Beyond Self-Care: When Morning Watch Becomes Morning Share or

Dear Reader,

Just finished my morning watch, and I need to write this down while it's fresh. Today was different - not because of any amazing spiritual revelation, but because I finally understood something about the purpose of this quiet time.

Usually, I come to my morning watch with a mental checklist: read a chapter, pray through my list, maybe jot down a few thoughts. But today, while reading Corinthians and Ephesians, something shifted in my perspective. I realized I've been approaching even my personal devotional time with a self-focused mindset: What can I get out of this? How can I feel more spiritual? What insights can I gain?

But these verses spoke differently to me today. Even in my private time with God, shouldn't the heart behind it be about building others up? When I pray, am I only focused on my needs, or am I truly carrying others' burdens? When I read Scripture, am I just collecting knowledge, or am I receiving something that could encourage someone else later?

It's fascinating - the moment I shifted my morning watch from "what can I receive?" to "what can I receive to give to others?", everything felt more alive. My prayer time became less about rattling off requests and more about genuinely connecting with God about the people in my life. Even my Bible reading felt different - instead of just highlighting verses for myself, I found myself thinking, "This would really speak to Mark's situation" or "Sarah needs to hear this truth."

The irony? This change of focus actually made my morning watch more meaningful for me too. It's like what these verses say - when we're not fixated on our own spiritual growth, that's often when we grow the most.

Tomorrow's morning watch goal: Come before God not just as an individual seeking filling, but as a vessel that can pour out to others.

Until next time

Chaplain Mark
P.S. Need to remember: Even private devotion time can have a public purpose.