Snapshots: How Busy Mothers Make Time for the Word
Thoughts from several moms in our church on how to maximize their time in the Word.
Ashley Durso
Making time to be in God’s Word as a mom is certainly not a “one size fits all” type of topic. So none of these are a must-do or the best way to do it. But the non-negotiable in all this is, Momma, you need to be in God’s Word! That being said, read through these and see which ones seem like doable and helpful tips for you to try out in your day to day and fight to make it happen.
One of the easiest ways to get God’s Word in front of your eyes throughout the entire day, is having verses up in your house. No matter the format, get God’s Word tucked into those nooks and crannies of your home. I have been surprised at how much having these verses around has truly helped me in the moments when the selfish or impatient thoughts begin creeping in. To look up at those verses on the wall or by the sink and be remind- ed that my life is hidden with Christ in God, I can indeed fill my mind with the things that are above (Col. 3), and put others in- terests ahead of my own, following Christ’s perfect example of sacrificial humility (Phil.2) is astounding! It’s like placing actual weapons on our house walls to pull down and help us fight the battles against our own worst enemy – sin – when it inevitably interrupts our days.
An early morning hour of quiet time reading and studying God’s Word and writing my prayers down in my prayer journal are absolutely a favorite thing of mine. However, over phases and stages of motherhood thus far I have realized this is not always a guarantee, am I right, mommas?! I am so thankful that even in the last few years God has graciously reminded me that He is not limited to those early morning hours. As much as I still prefer and desire that time each morning, He faithfully reminds me to not be so attached to the time of day or length of time I get to spend studying His Word each day, but He has made me increas- ingly more aware of the tiniest moments I do have to sneak in looking at and listening to God’s Word. A few helpful listens for the car, the laundry folding times, or the dishes washing times have been: the Dwell app and the ESV app on my phone, or just getting God’s Word playing in the background of my day. A few other podcasts I have found helpful to keep my mind on things that are above: Journeywomen, Femina, and Risen Motherhood.
Hymns and music playing in the background of our days at home is another surprisingly helpful way to reorient your thoughts to things that are above. When the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” comes on in the background right as you were about to complain, you are reoriented to God’s faithfulness to provide for you. When the phrase “yet not I but through Christ in me” is sung in the background, I am reminded that I can, through Christ in me, be patient in that discipline moment that has just arisen with the kiddos, and He allows me to stop and think wisely about my words in that moment. When the line “to God all praise and glory’ is sung as I do the four hundredth dish in the sink that day, I am reminded that even that dish washing is to the glory and praise of God, who I am a daughter of and now have the privilege of serving in all that I do, and suddenly I am enjoying that I get to do 399 more dishes in the sink for the glory of God with an attitude of thankfulness.
Memorizing large portions of scripture has been a game changer in truly meditating on scripture throughout the day. It is hard work to memorize. You have to be practicing to have it memorized and suddenly you start to realize it is helping push out the worries that can so often sneak into our mommy minds during our days. Get at least one other person to memorize with you, have deadlines for when you will have certain portions memorized (feels scary but the accountability is so helpful), and enjoy the hard work. You can even practice saying the verse to your kiddos, and/or memorize it with them.
Reading good books, specifically before bed, helps quiet and calm my heart and mind too. Even just a quick ten minutes chips away at a book.
Cheryl van Velzer
Routine is an important part of getting time in the Word. For me and my kids. The early hours of the morning are the best time for me to get time in the Bible. The kids are not allowed to come out of their rooms until 6:30am. I try to wake up by 5:30am to give me time to start the day off in fellowship with the Lord. Social media and other distractions aren’t allowed for me before 6:30am either. Of course, there are times when that ideal morn- ing time doesn’t happen, or when it happens but it’s just hard to focus (like when that hour is spent in training the child to stay in his/her room). For those crazier days in life when there’s a new baby or sickness or other things, I try to listen to the word on my phone while I’m getting ready for the day, or take advantage of the children’s nap time to do some study. I also use a scripture memory app to get a little in here and there throughout the day. The important thing is to prioritize the Word in your daily routine and your kids’ daily routines.
Rachelle Bogle
In different seasons of life, my time to study God’s Word has changed over the years. When the kids were young and took naps during the afternoon, I would save nap time to read my Bi- ble and work on study materials. They were early risers during that time, so I didn’t have mornings available. Now that the kids are older and sleep in more, I use the early mornings to spend time with the Lord, reading, studying and praying.
The most important lesson I’ve learned that has impacted my study time, no matter what season I’m in, is the act of being in- tentional. I have found that I must be intentional about making God’s Word a priority in my life. I cannot expect to find time as the day goes on because that rarely happens. I must set that time aside as I plan out my day and week. Some days I may only have 15-20 minutes, and that’s okay. I also use walks or laundry time as a way to listen to podcasts or sermons.
I have also learned that if I have limited time, my time is best spent by doing actual verse by verse studies of the Bible, taking one book of the Bible at a time. I have grown more in my under- standing of the Bible and the Lord by doing Bible studies rather than topical book studies.
To stay on track with my studies and prayer time, I highly rec- ommend having some accountability. I actually love having an accountability partner, someone I can touch base with weekly or bi weekly. God has given us special gifts of friendship in the body of the local church. It is so important, for so many reasons, to utilize these special friendships for our growth in Him.
Kim Roberts
When my kids were small, I would use naptime for devotions. When naps stopped, this turned into a time designated for them to read books and play quietly. To train them I would have them look at books while sitting next to me as I read my bible, start- ing with five to 10 minutes and extending to 30 minutes. As they became used to this I would have them read books in their room for “room time” and play quietly with a special toy saved for that time.
As they got older, and our days became fuller, I found it nec- essary to get up before them in the mornings to spend time in the word and pray. But early mornings can be hard. On the days that don’t go as planned I don’t feel guilty about putting on a TV show for the kids so I can have a quiet moment with the Lord. And in really busy seasons I schedule an appointment in my dai- ly planner when I know I will have time to spend in the word.
With children, we can count on interruptions, sleep depriva- tion, and constant demands. There can be weary seasons. Trust God’s sovereignty in these things. He is making us dependent on Him. During those times when devotions are sparse and the desire to study isn’t strong, we can be tempted to think that God is ashamed of us. But as believers there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Christ has already made us right with God. He de- sires relationship and wants us to come to Him no matter how long it’s been or how bad we’ve failed.
I have to continually remind myself that quiet time isn’t about me, it’s about God. It’s not necessary to always read devotional- ly or study deep and have a profound application so that I feel satisfied I had a successful quiet time. Simply reading the word and asking God to help us understand His story from Genesis to Revelation is equally important and brings Him glory. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”- John Piper
Jaime Grasmick
Every mother feels the exhaustion of motherhood. There is quite a demand on our time, our thoughts, our emotions, our whole being. Our three boys are each 18 months apart and I re- ally struggled with my time in the Word, thinking “God knows I’m in a crazy season.” And while He definitely knows all things, I used that as an excuse to be lazy in my discipline of His Word. But the challenges of two toddlers and a newborn brought me to my knees and set things right- I needed to be in the Word! There is no way I can be a God honoring mother without roots digging deep into the rich soil of His Word!
I love getting into the Bible in the morning. It seems the most fruitful time for me and sets the tone for the day. For the past few years, I have been making my way through the Word from beginning to end. I take a passage of Scripture and fill my journal with observations and key thoughts. I sometimes write prayers to the Lord- it could be adoration, confession, thanksgiving, or supplication. There are days that I am able to get through a chap- ter or two. There are other days that I only look at a few verses and need to meditate on just that through the day. This depends on the genre and the content of the book. Another factor is the going-ons of the day. If I’m in a rush, I will dig into New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp. I’ve even grabbed this devotional as we’ve run out the door and the kids and I can read it in the car.
My time in God’s Word can look different from day to day. Once a month I go through a Psalm with a friend, so I’ll spend time preparing for that, and during women’s Bible study season, I’ll study a book of the Bible with the church. On days that I’m able to get outside and walk, I love to listen to a sermon on the passage I’m studying, or to one of my favorite podcasts. But I find myself longing to jump back in to studying and journaling as I make my way through the Word. When I’ve struggled with be- ing consistent, I’ve asked friends to keep me accountable. We’ve snapped pictures and texted them to one another, or just sent a quick text of something that blessed us in God’s Word. Leaning on one another has strengthened my resolve to be in the Word, and has encouraged God-fearing friendships.
A few tips that have been helpful for me:
When the kids were little I trained them not to get up before 7:00am. This helped me to take charge of the day, and to protect my time in the Word. If I know they may be up by 7:00, I know I need to be up at 6:00 to get an hour with the Lord. This even sets the tone for the day with the kids realizing they need to submit to the order of our day as opposed to getting up whenever they choose and the day revolving around their wants.
Light a candle while you’re in the Word and teach the kiddos not to interrupt if they see the candle burning. In- stead, the kids wake up and see you with the candle on and they know you’re in the Word. This means come give Mama a hug, but wait just a bit while I finish the most im- portant part of my day. The kids learn to respect this time, and you don’t have to say a word.