She remembers the day when she could get up, pour coffee, grab her Bible and head out to some comfy, solitary place to read, journal and pray. Now this busy mom’s alarm clock is a baby, a toddler and her school-aged children. Their faces, their needs, their cries all come first. There’s only apple juice, baby bottles, Cheerios and burned toast first thing after getting up. Oh, the coffee is made, but has been sitting on the burner for far too long. Her time in God’s Word is a desire in her heart, but how will it happen when there are so many other demands on a young mom’s plate? What is a young mom to do to grow spiritually?
Your demands as a woman might be different, but you’re busier than you’ve ever been, and find it difficult to cultivate time in God’s Word that is meaty and meaningful. What is a busy woman to do to grow spiritually?
I believe there are several practical ways for every woman to spend time in God’s Word when life is busy.
Place devotional books, books of God’s Promises, or other short reads in places where you can stop for a minute and read something from God’s Word. Put those kinds of books in a basket in the bathroom (if you’re fortunate enough to be in there alone!), in the laundry area, or in the car. Read something that will encourage your heart for that minute or two.
Listen to podcasts of preaching or other biblical broadcasts while you’re nursing the baby, folding clothes, making dinner, riding in the car, etc.
Listen to Scripture on your phone. In the same times I listed in #2, when you can’t sit down and open your Bible, you can still listen to someone else read it! I love the You Version.
Read the Proverb for the day. It probably only takes about five minutes to read a chapter. Highlight the verse(s) that jump out and speak to your heart and needs.
Don’t fill your mind with television and other “junk!” Use every opportunity to fill your heart and mind with God’s Word instead!
Write one verse that you want to memorize on a 3×5 card . Tuck that card into your pocket and keep it with you all day. Pull it out and refresh your heart with the next sentence, and the next and the next. In a couple of day’s time, you’ll have it memorized! Scripture in your heart can feed you all day long!
As your life slows down, begin to add in more and more of the kind of Quiet time that will really nurture your heart. These strategies are for a season, but not forever. Eventually you’ll be able to be back in a regular routine of study, journaling and prayer, but in the meantime, you can still be fruitful and growing!
Don’t allow the busy times to make you stagnant. This (busyness), too, shall pass – but you’ll never recapture what you could have gleaned if you don’t grab the spiritual nuggets when you can!
Are you a busy woman like I described? Which of these tools will you try?
Isn’t it a comfort to know that God cares about what happens in our houses? He created the family, and He has a plan for how we care for this ministry! Listen to what He specifically says about the home in the Titus 2 passage…
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
I love how the KJV translates it; as “keepers at home.” This is a woman who is devoted to her home, who has a heart for it. She’s actively engaged and makes it a high priority in her life.
But all too often, home is a place where we come in to get ready to go out to the next event.
This summer when our city was having the fair, our small group from church was scheduled to have our monthly dinner together. My husband suggested that we fix “Fair food” for our meal. We all jumped on that idea like… mustard on a corn dog!
I was anxious to try my hand at making at home!
As it turns out, they were very easy to make and we loved them!
This is lesson *9 in Adorned, by Nancy Wolgemuth. You can listen to this post here on Refresh Her podcast. There is far more detail on the podcasts than what you read here.
We use locks, safes, fences, banks, and fresh, new passwords to keep our valuables secure. But what do we do to keep our purity secure? Have we given it as much thought? Do we set up protective measures so that it won’t be stolen?
It seems so trite today to post a recipe as I normally do on Monday. The major devastation that the South Atlantic States, plus Tennessee have suffered this week has been heart-wrenching. The power of Helene has wiped out beautiful little towns, major bridges, Interstate roadways and homes. We’ve all seen images of the loss of electricity and water and the dramatic and sudden changes that have touched so many. It’s heartbreaking.
So rather than posting a recipe today, I’m writing this post to help myself (and hopefully you) to think truth. How are we to respond when we see such devastation and loss? What are we to think when everything is changing even moment by moment?
RefreshHer 