So I had this brilliant idea.
I was so desperate to spend some alone time with God that I actually set my alarm for o-dark-thirty (I told you I was desperate).
Even though I’m not particularly known for being a “morning person”, I was willing to go to any lengths to have a few special minutes.
Alone.
With God.
So I tiptoed over to the couch and picked up my Bible and turned on one little light (only a tiny one, mind you!).
Can you tell me just how it is that a child can hear the “click” of a light switch?
Because I wasn’t alone any longer.
We were snuggling and it was sweet.
But I didn’t necessarily set my alarm for the early morning hours so that I could get some extra snuggling in, if you know what I mean?
Rats! Foiled again.
You see, my challenge is that I happen to be a very busy lady. I’ve got tons of stuff going on and people – especially my young people – seem to keep demanding my attention. Taking up my time. Filling up my day.
Really, you too?
Well, since it seems I’m not the only one, I’ve compiled 4 creative ways that busy moms – people like you and me – can do to help us spend that much-needed, wonderful, renewing time in the Word of God.
4 Creative Ways for Busy Moms to Get Into The Word
1) Kitchen Sink Study: If you find yourself spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen? You can tack up Bible verses on the window sill, or at a similar convenient location. Meditate on them. Memorize them. Drink it in. Ask God to speak to you while you’re prepping, cooking, or cleaning.
2) Blanket Bible Study: When my children were younger, after lunchtime I lay out a blanket for each and had them play quietly while I read to myself from a nearby chair. The “older” ones (ages 6 and 8) got to have children’s Bibles of their own, while the younger ones (ages 3 and 5) had small toys to play with. The baby napped (hopefully!). It took a little training, but this became a truly delightful time for us all.
3) Rise-N-Shine Study: This is probably my most painful one. Since I’m really NOT a morning person, it requires a huge amount of effort for me to get up while it’s still dark outside. But what a great way to start the day – even if I do find myself with unexpected “company” sometimes. Precious Words read in those early morning hours.
4) After-Lights-Out Study: This one is for the opposite end of the day. Once I got my nursing infant down for the evening, I tucked myself in with my Bible. Either my husband took the other children, or we put them down at a fairly decent hour. Even though I was tired, that time in the Word often gave me a “second wind” and a renewed perspective.
Over the years, I’ve tried one or more of these and I’ve always been so very glad that I made the effort.
The busier I am? The more stressed I am? The more tired I am? The more I need the Word of God to sustain me.
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)
So dear busy mom, if you’re struggling to find the time to read your Bible and to talk quietly with the Savior? Then I hope this encourages you.
While finding this “kind of time” is one of our biggest challenges, it’s more than worth the effort – don’t you think?
Do you have any other “creative ways” to suggest? I hope you’ll share them with us!
In His grace,
Lisa
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Time spent with the LORD, with my mind stayed upon Him, literally transforms my parenting. Instantly. Without fail, I find myself more patient and more inclined toward laugh after a washing in His word. So, I aim to schedule a babysitter for a couple hours each day. That’s my special luxury and it pays dividends far into every other aspect of our home.
Some days i feel a craving for gods word so bad. But having a husband that is an over the road truck driver alone time is impossible. So what i do to get through my day is find my favorite preacher on sound cloud or youtbue while im doing the dishes and folding laundry. The i listen to christian music while im doing things with the kids. They love belting out those songs with me. Then when we are finishing up dinner i get out my bible app and use the verse of the day. Read it to my kids and talk about what it means .
Those are good, creative ways as well! Thanks for sharing with us!
I have a 24 day bible study book I’ve been trying to make my way through for three weeks. All I have completed is day 1. I too believe that either getting up early or staying up late is the best way… still I am allowing other distractions to get in the way.
I keep saying I am gonna post verses…I got to get it done. My Children are almost grown and I did much better when they were little. I think I have filled my life with too much responsibility. When the girls were younger, I spent 30 min or more in the school car line and got so much quality time with the Father. Sometimes I wish they did sports because I could study while waiting for them at practice. Well, I guess I will just have too say no to others more and yes to my own time with God. BTW I love the read aloud for nap time idea.
Great ideas! What I would add is that when I put my daughter to sleep for naps or at night and I am rocking her/walking around the room with her, I look at scripture I have posted on then wall. Then I practice memorizing it, walk to the other side of the room, walk back, check it, repeat. Good way to meditate on it once I have it memorized also.
Awesome ideas! I can completely relate to this post as I have 3 little ones that are 6, 3 and 8 months so finding time is hard. I love waking early in the morning but with an infant who wakes often at night to nurse I’m far to exhausted to get up earlier than I already have too. I just found “scripture stickies” which I can stick anywhere in the house to remind myself of Gods awesome word!
Scripture “stickies” are a great solution, especially when you have several little ones and a nursing infant, Jada!
Have done and still do all of these at some point of another. I find when I am feeling stressed to the max, it’s because I haven’t made this quiet time to study the Word. Lately I’ve enjoyed sitting out on the porch swing after my morning runs while studying. Something about the birds chirping and sun shining that brings me closer to God.
I too, have a porch swing and find it’s my favorite place to curl up during the warmer months. What a blessing to have such an “oasis” to enjoy the quiet and God’s Word!
I love your suggestions! I’m lucky to not have young children at home anymore in that I can spend 30-60 minutes most anytime of day. It’s still a struggle sometimes because we get distracted or engaged in other things. Finding time with God is not only a priority it can also be a personal challenge, a worthwhile one at that!
What you say is so true, Shannon, distractions are not only found in small children. Even though our kids are getting older, I find that there are other ways that I get derailed from my time with the Lord and I still have to re-set that time as a top priority.
Beautiful suggestions here Ms. Lisa. I am a morning person. I get up, every morning, with the sun which comes up here about 4:30 am. I write down my thoughts to God and then I read a chapter or two. By 6am I start to get my husbands stuff ready for his day and by 7am I hear my children calling me.
This is my life, some days it’s better then others, but every night when I close my eyes, around 10:30-11:30, I thank God that I talked with Him first, because I know without Him I could not have make it.
Peace to you.
That is just wonderful! I don’t think I could get up quite that early, but I know those quiet, refilling moments are precious.
I love these ideas. While I am not a morning person either, I do try and attempt to get up before my kids do at least one morning a week. Getting in the word on a daily basis has always been a struggle for me. I’d always placed things above it and then my studying or time with the Lord never got done, so I would just say,”I’m so busy.” But we’re all busy. These past 3 years, I’ve been more intentional about it. I get it done usually while my kids were working on school work and then the baby was napping and before I ever got on the computer. I set out my Bible study on my desk downstairs every night, so I see it first thing and it is a constant reminder to dig in. I read a Psalm at lunch with my kids. A story or two in the kids bible after we’ve read a chapter in whatever book I’m reading to them (Charlotte’s Web at the moment) we keep downstairs and then my husband reads the Bible to me before we go to sleep. We’re almost done with 2 Kings, Praise the Lord. I’m really hoping that book ends on a good note, hopefully with Josiah really being the King I hope he sounds like. But ya never know…haha! (Obviously, my first time reading it). My point is, I try and be as intentional as I can, otherwise I just will not make the time. I love the idea about keeping verses around you. I’ve started doing that over the last few weeks as I work on the I am Loved bible study by Sally Clarkson and Angela Perritt. I keep post its on my bathroom mirror so I can read over them while I get ready for my day.
Wow-I’m a talker. So sorry! Desperate for like-minded female companionship I guess. 🙂
Oh, I just really enjoyed getting this little peak into your day and how different families do it. I can totally relate to most of what you’ve share here, Chelsia! I was going to mention Good Morning Girls as well, as that’s a resource that I greatly appreciate too. I believe God honors our attempts to seek Him – even when they’re sometimes sporadic and piecemeal at best. He knows – better than anyone – how busy we are! Blessings on your sweet home!
P.S. We’re in 1 Kings – so a book behind you 🙂
I’ve started reading my Bible in the morning while I nurse my son before our day begins. It’s been a good time so far to get into the word and do it first thing. I would usually wind down at night with the Bible but found I comprehend very little. This way has been great. I keep my Bible beside my rocker and break it open while he enjoys his breakfast, or for that matter anytime he nurses throughout the day.
That’s a good way to go about it – keeping your Bible by your rocker – especially when you have a nursing baby! That way your sure to see it and have easy access to open and meditate/read while you’re enjoying your little one. Blessings! ~ Lisa
It is so worth the effort it takes to cultivate and nurture that relationship with our Savior because I believe it helps us be better wives and mommies. I’m not a morning person, either, so the nighttime routine works best for me. When I am working in the kitchen, that is my prayer and Bible verse memorization time. Great post!
It IS worth it, for sure. When I let too much time go by and neglect that time and relationship, then I find it costs not only me, but our entire family, as I get snappish and feeling empty. I’m so thankful His mercies are new every morning!
I have You Version on my phone too. It keeps up with where I am at in my Bible reading plan. I like that it will also read it out loud. I prefer having quiet time to read and listen to the Word of God but on those occasions that I just can’t find that quiet time I still can get something in. Occasionally I do get behind on my reading but then I get myself back on track and start reading again.
It’s helpful to hear these other options and this is one I’d like to look into! Thanks for sharing this new-to-me one, Anastacia.
Great ideas! Just re-read them to make them happen 🙂 Personally, I love reading and somehow I teach my kids love books too. Then when they ask me to read to them their favorite books, I’ll bring my favorite book, too (my bible) and we make turns. I normally started first. I read a chapter or couple verses and them I read to them the books they choose (animal’s book for my daughter and trucks or cars books for my son!)
That is such a fun way to pass on to your kids your own love for the Bible – love it, Karina!
I have the You Version App on my Kindle, and IPhone. I select the ‘read to me’ option, so while I cook or clean, the Bible is being read to me. It helps me continue to connect with God, throughout the day.
Here’s to modern technology! I’ve not heard of that, but I’m definitely going to check it out. I forgot to mention that I used to listen to the Bible read-outloud while I went for my daily walk – combining two favorites. 🙂
I have the Bible app on my phone and read aloud to my nursling when she’s getting to sleep for naps and bedtime. It helps her fall asleep, and it helps me reach God! We’re going through the whole Bible, but if I need it I’ll go off into Psalms or jump ahead into the New Testament.
What a beautiful way to love your little one and both be filled with the Word of God, Kristy!