I’ve always wanted to be that mom that has devotions with her family. Who sips a cup of tea while leisurely reading the Bible. Who takes part in Bible studies with other women at church. Who lifts up prayers all throughout the day, listening twice as much as she speaks.
I’ve always wanted to devote as much time to my faith as I do to other aspects of my life.
Instead, I was usually the mom who was yelling for everyone to be QUIET because I was reading the devotional, for GOODNESS SAKE! I was the one trying to squeeze in a chapter from Psalms on my phone while sitting on my bedroom floor in the dark, hoping the kids would think I was still asleep and not come in. My prayers were often spoken with less thanksgiving and more exasperation, demands thrown out by a harried mom. And sometimes, I’ll be honest, I never got to the listening part because I was like a praying narcoleptic.
I was at the point where I desperately wanted to be more like that mom who had her faith front and center in life, and less like the one I was, tossing things together in an ad hoc fashion that left me feeling dissatisfied and frustrated.
Have you ever tried to remember something, knowing it’s on the tip of your tongue, but just out of reach? That’s how I had begun to feel about my faith. As though my connection with God and the peace he offered was RIGHT THERE…but somehow, I couldn’t grab hold of it.
There was a time when His peace was so strong in my life, it was like a warm blanket insulating me from the pain and chaos that was consuming my days. Could I only make that connection when I cried out in desperation?
Why was it so hard for me to seek God’s love, guidance, and grace when things were going smoothly?
The difference between that mom I mentioned above who had it all together and the mom I’d become was that the former took the time to grow her faith.
God time. What I needed was to stop grabbing moments to squeeze in a prayer or a Bible reading, and instead make the time to pursue what I wanted.
If I want to get into shape, I make the time to eat right and work out. If I want to crotchet a baby blanket, I set aside the time to work on it or it will never get done. Why should time communing with God be any different?
Finding quiet time in my house is like trying to find your child’s other shoe when you’re already late- impossible until you open yourself up to other options (yes, those are my kids wearing flip flops to church in October). I don’t believe that God blessed me with five children so that I could use them as an excuse to not spend time with Him, so I’ve carefully culled a half hour, three times a day when all is (mostly) quiet.
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Morning
Every morning, before the kids are awake, I sit in the hallway of my bedroom that leads to my bathroom. Most of the time the baby is sitting there, too, playing with a basket full of her favorite toys. We try not to wake anyone up and enjoy the silence.
Since the hour is early and I’m barely conscious, I spend a few minutes working out and listening to my favorite podcast. Kat Lee is truly gifted in the area of encouragement and she sets my heart in a good place.
I start with a few morning devotions, currently this one and this one. I have an app on my phone that sends me another twice a day that I also read. I just started a new Hello Mornings bible study session. I love these because they come right to my email and have audio- super convenient.
Finally, I pray. I start with what I’m thankful for, offer up my struggles, and then try to listen. Since there is often a baby crawling around my lap at this point, I’m only halfway successful at it, but I’m satisfied and more ready to start the day.
Afternoon
With everyone either in school or napping, I read a few emails from faith-based sites that I’ve subscribed to. I’m a big fan of this one and this one. I also read Savor by Shauna Niequist. Then I pray. And listen.
Bedtime
I’m in the middle of a scripture writing challenge that I find really focuses me. I read my evening devotion from my app and another called Our Daily Bread. I’m reading the book of Psalms right now, one chapter at a time. They’re short but powerful, which is great this time of night when sleep is calling.
Finally, I pray. This is the quietest and most private time of my day so it’s when I have the most time to devote to my conversation with God. This is the time when I feel like that thing on the tip of my tongue that I’ve been trying to remember is finally right there, next to me, within reach.
This routine is fairly new, but already I can feel the difference. It’s a slow process, reaching for that connection, for that peace, but maybe it’s supposed to be. Struggles make you stronger. I know that my faith will grow if I put the time into pursuing it. And the journey is a reward in itself.
Have you struggled with finding time and focus to devote to your faith? Have you found the time to invest in this part of yourself? What are you doing to intentionally strengthen your connection to God and bask in His peace?
Need to turn inspiration into action? Ready, Set, Go!
- Find a time (or three) that you can set aside to focus on your relationship with God. In your car before work starts? Before the kids are up or during nap time? The quiet evening hours?
- Decide how you want to spend that time. Do you want to journal, study the Bible, read through it, pray, write scripture, read a Christ-centered book, listen to a podcast? Pick a few things that you’d enjoy and would guide your focus where you need it.
- Don’t give up. There will, of course, be inevitable times when your new routine is disrupted. Do what you can and come back the next day ready to do it again. Don’t let the urgent crowd out the important- your strengthening faith.
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