5 Ways to Spend Time With God When You’re A Busy Mom
Grabbing my freshly brewed coffee, I pour a generous serving of creamer in and swirl it with a spoon. I’m just settling into my favorite orange chair in the living room, ready to dive into my Bible, when my 8-year-old pads into the room, hair tousled and freckled face flushed with sleep.
Sighing inwardly, I pat the chair next to me and scoot over so she can slide in.
Guess I’ll have to get to this later, I think, closing my Bible and setting it on the table beside me.
As busy moms, it can be challenging to find time to ourselves in order to read God’s word.
But what if we don’t need to be alone?
What if it doesn’t need to be quiet?
What if our rhythm looks a little different than what we expected?
While I still like to spend time with the Lord every day, taking away my preconceived notions of what it “should” look like has helped me spend more time actually doing it.
If you’ve ever struggled—as I have—with an early-morning routine, here are a few other ideas to help you create your own rhythm:
Go for a walk. // This is a great way to habitually spend time quietly in prayer or listening to God’s Word. Sometimes, I’ll listen to an audio version of the Bible (I love the YouVersion app for this) or an inspirational podcast. Other times, I’ll have a verse in mind—usually one I’ve memorized or have written on a Post-It note—that I’ll meditate on as I walk.
Write out a verse. // You don’t have to spend hours looking at your Bible in order to meditate on His Word. Write a verse on paper, on your mirror, or even in chalk as you play outside with your kids. Once I’ve memorized a Scripture, I’ll often spend time thinking through a specific passage while I wash the dishes or clean up the house.
Do your quiet time during less-likely times of the day, like bedtime or lunchtime. // Are there pockets of time when you do have a few minutes to yourself? When my kids are eating lunch, they’re quiet (all that chewing!) and occupied enough that I’ve got a few uninterrupted minutes alone. If you’re a night owl, try reading your Bible at bedtime—you can even read it on your phone if you’re worried about disturbing sleeping family members.
Spend time with God and your family at the same time. // Listen to praise and worship songs while you do daily tasks around the house. Try incorporating a family devotion during mealtime. Let your kids see you interact with God’s Word instead of simply putting it away when they enter the room.
Give yourself grace. // When I had three children under the age of 5, morning quiet time with God seemed like an unattainable goal. Now that my youngest is 5, I often have time to myself before my daughters awaken or I need to start other tasks for the day. What seemed impossible just a few short years ago no longer is.
If young children or a busy workload make alone time with God a challenge, remember that He isn’t grading you on your efforts—He just wants to spend time with you. As His beloved child, He welcomes you with open arms in the same way I welcomed my 8-year-old and invited her to sit beside me. His love and mercy are unfailing.
“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”
Isaiah 55:3 (NLT)
Do you have an unusual rhythm or time of day when you spend time with God? What does it look like?
A career in journalism set Kristin Demery up to publish her own stories of living this wild, precious life. She now is an author of five truth-telling books, including the latest 100 Days of Kindness, and part of a trio of writers collectively known as The Ruth Experience. Kristin served as a newspaper and magazine editor and her work has been featured in a variety of publications, including USA Today. She still works behind-the-scenes as an editor for others while writing her own series on kindness, friendship, and living with intention. Find more from Kristin at theruthexperience.com.