As we walk with Christ daily, we can often find ourselves becoming overwhelmed with life. The pressure can take its toll and keep us from being able to give any time to God. A lot of moms think that they must dedicate an hour or more daily to be able to keep and maintain a relationship with God. He just wants your time. Even if that time only allows for about 10-30 minutes a day. Show God your efforts and He will show you his greatness. Here are 8 ways that helped me utilize my time with God.
1) BIBLE APP PLANS
Many of us now have access to an app store of some kind. If you have not already, open up the Google Play or Apple store in your phone and check out your options. Type in “Bible,” and choose which one fits your lifestyle and your day-to-day needs. I personally use the YouVersion Bible App and have never looked back. I tried a few others prior to discovering YouVersion but have yet to find anything that offers me the ability to choose multiple plans at time and a thought-provoking verse of the day. Nothing has stimulated me more into the word of God than it has. I have days where I might be busy or just flat out not feeling well and I can open my app and find short stories that give me a quick read. I can read the story, read the verse of the day, then say my daily prayer to God. All should take at least 5-10 minutes depending on how much you decide to read and how long you decide to pray.
2) VERSE OF THE DAY IN BIBLE APPS
When you open a Bible app, the first thing that you might see will be the Verse of The Day. Aside from Bible plans, you can get a good fulfilling message just from reading the good ole Verse of the Day. When you have a lot going on and are unable to commit to a Bible plan, they can be good for a quick read that can stimulate you to reflect on it throughout the day until you get home and are able to delve deeper into the word of God. For example, if the verse was “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 [New King James Version]), you could use it to reflect on any struggles you may be dealing with. It will help you to remember where your help comes from and give you the encouragement you need to tackle the day.
3) WRITE DOWN YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES AND REFLECT AND PRAY ON THEM DAILY.
As you open your Bible app of choice or whenever you read the word and come across a verse that you like, write it down. Purchase a separate notebook or make it apart of your daily journal entry. This will allow you to go back to that verse and reflect on it later. You can never get enough of God’s word. This method, if organized properly, can also help you to quickly reference back to scripture if you happen to be in a situation where you need to find a verse on a whim.
4) DAILY DEVOTIONAL BOOKS
If you are not a tech savvy person or just prefer an enjoyable book to read, Daily Devotional Books for women are a great way to make time for God. They allow for a quick read while giving you plenty to meditate on. Most will have the same format as a devotional online. They usually start with a motivational story or insert, followed by a verse or two for you to read. Some may even come with a space for you to write your thoughts down. One of my favorites and the one I am currently using is a devotional journal from a company called DaySpring. It is titled Be Still and Know Psalm 46:10. It typically has 1-2 paragraphs and is concise. Great for busy days and days where you may not be feeling well and do not have the energy to read a lot.
5) PRAYER JOURNAL
When you have a moment free from kids, take the time to make a prayer journal and refer to it when you have a busy day. It will give you something to read and pray for when your thoughts are racing a mile a minute and you need a quick pick me up. You can either write out random prayers or customize it into categories that may help you find a specific prayer quickly. For example, you could have a section for encouraging prayers, a section for healing or waiting on the Lord. You could go deeper and have sections for heavier topics like suicidal thoughts, lustful desires, jealousy, and more.
6) PRAYER WALL/ROOM
My sister-in-law put me onto the idea of making a prayer wall. If you have seen the movie War Room, you may know what I am referring to. This activity may require you to set aside some free time for yourself in order for you to complete it. Write your “thank you’s to God,” your prayers for family members and friends on pieces of paper. You can use colorful paper, embroidered paper, or plain paper that you can decorate. Find verses that fit each person’s situation, then write a corresponding prayer per each issue or praise report. For example, if praying for your mom to recover from an illness you could find verses for healing such as Psalms 30:2 O Lord, my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Then, take that verse or any others you want to add and use it as the reference point to create a prayer such as
“Father God, you are mighty and gracious, your mercy abounds to no end. I place my mother humbly in your care and ask that you make a way for her to be healed. You said in your word that if we cry out to You, You will hear us and heal us from our afflictions. So, I am crying out to You Lord. Heal not just her body but also her mind. I know nothing is impossible with You. I trust you and I love you. In Jesus name, Amen.”
When you are finished, find a wall, a corner, a room, a desk, chair or whatever you can find that’s big enough to hold all of the things that you are in need of prayer for. Tape them onto it and now you have made yourself a prayer wall. Extremely helpful for quick morning and/or evening prayers when busy days abound you.
7) STICKY NOTES/AFFIRMATIONS
This was another idea given to me by a sister of mine. Write down affirmations and things that you want to speak over your life down on sticky note pads. Place them somewhere in your home where you will be able to see them often. You can place them all together or in separate areas of your home. Whenever you see one and it speaks to you, pray about it. Examples include but are not limited to, I WILL BE A BOSS/CEO, I AM AN OUTGOING PERSON, I WILL NO LONGER LET FEAR/ANXIETY TAKE OVER MY LIFE, I AM LOVED, or I FEEL LOVED, I AM WANTED, I AM STRONG. I AM A GREAT MOM, or I WILL BE A GREAT MOM, I AM AN AMAZING WIFE, I WILL READ MY BIBLE DAILY. Use them to give short and quick prayers throughout the day. Take a few minutes to breathe and bask in His presence.
8) PLAY MUSIC (REFLECT AND WRITE)
Download your favorite music source such as YouTube, Spotify, Tidal, or Pandora. Find songs that speak to your heart and take one, two, or even three to listen to daily. Let the words of that song permeate you soul and allow the Holy Spirit to move through your thoughts. Ask God to reveal to you what He wants you to meditate or learn about today. Stop, breathe, and listen to what He may tell you. Some days you may get a response and other days you may not. Either way, ask the Lord to reveal to you what He is speaking to you in that moment. REFLECT AND WRITE ON WHAT YOU HEAR.
Each activity when finished should take you anywhere from a few minutes to about 15 minutes daily. Of course, if you have more time, pray longer or more times during the day. Take your time. Cast your cares on Him and allow yourself to make the room for Him. You will not regret it.
Confessions of a P.E.A.C.H. 