IN THE MARGINS: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’

There’s a little prayer I’ve found myself whispering more and more lately—sometimes before my feet even hit the floor in the morning. It goes like this:

“Lord, get into my head before I do.”

That’s it. That’s the whole thing. Short, simple, but packed with meaning. And the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized just how badly I need that prayer every single day. Maybe you do too.

My Head Is a Noisy Place

Let me tell you something that may not surprise you: my head can be a mess first thing in the morning. Without even trying, I can wake up already halfway into a worry. Before I’ve even brushed my teeth, I’ve had a full mental board meeting about things that haven’t happened yet—and may never happen.

It’s like my brain is sprinting ahead of my spirit. Racing through a checklist. Dredging up yesterday’s regrets. Forecasting tomorrow’s fears. And let’s be honest—most of the time, the thoughts I wake up to aren’t exactly holy.

They’re often laced with insecurity, self-doubt, distraction, or just plain grumpiness.

So that prayer—“God, get into my head before I do”—it’s not just a request. It’s a lifeline. Because I know what happens when I’m left to my own devices.

Who Gets the First Word?

Have you ever noticed that whoever speaks first in a conversation tends to shape the direction of it?

Same thing happens in our minds. The first voice we hear in the morning often sets the tone for everything else.

That’s why this prayer matters. When I invite God to speak first, I’m choosing to let Him set the tone. To hand Him the microphone before my worries grab it. To give the Holy Spirit space to direct the flow before I start freestyling my way into anxiety or comparison or confusion.

Jesus put it this way:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

First. Not “after coffee.” Not “after scrolling.” Not “once the kids are at school and I’ve had a minute to breathe.”

First.

That’s not always easy. But it is always better.

A Brain Reset Button

Sometimes I wish my mind came with a “reset” button. Something I could hit to clear the clutter and reroute my thoughts. But here’s the good news: this prayer is that button.

When I say, “God, get into my head before I do,” I’m hitting reset. I’m giving Him permission to overwrite my default settings. I’m surrendering my mental playlist before it even starts.

Instead of waking up with thoughts like:

• “I didn’t do enough yesterday.”
• “I’m already behind.”
• “This day’s gonna be hard.”

…I want to wake up with thoughts like:

• “This is the day the Lord has made.”
• “His mercies are new this morning.”
• “God is with me, and that changes everything.”

But those thoughts don’t just happen by accident. They come when we invite God to speak first.

A Quiet Invasion

I love how God doesn’t usually shout His way in. He doesn’t kick the door down or elbow me out of the way. He waits for the invitation.

So when I pray that simple prayer, I’m opening the door. I’m giving Him the green light to come rearrange the furniture in my mind—shift the heavy stuff, dust off the lies, open the windows to truth and light.

He doesn’t barge in with shame. He enters with peace. And when God is the first one in my head, the rest of the day feels lighter—like someone else is helping carry the weight. Because He is.

Making It Practical

If this resonates with you, I want to challenge you: try this tomorrow morning.

Before your feet hit the floor, before your brain starts its automatic download of chaos, whisper this:

“Lord, get into my head before I do.”

And then take 30 seconds to be still.

You don’t have to launch into a long devotion (though that’s great too). Just breathe. Let Him speak. Maybe even repeat a verse like:

• “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)
• “Set your minds on things that are above.” (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

You’ll be amazed how something so simple can shift the entire course of your day.

You’re Not Crazy. You’re Human.

Let me just say this in case you’re being hard on yourself: if your mind is noisy, you’re not broken. You’re human.

And God’s not mad that your thoughts get tangled. He just wants to be invited into the tangle.

He’s not afraid of your mess. He’s not put off by your doubts. He’s not waiting for you to get your head on straight before He joins you. He wants to meet you right there—in the mess of morning, before you even know what kind of day it’ll be.

That’s the beauty of grace.

That’s the beauty of starting with Him.