I know that the enemy is out to interrupt my relationship with my Savior–and he is very sneaky and good at distracting us with good things–but God must be more important than anything in my life, including beautiful mommy-daughter time.
For years, I have made an effort to wake up well before my kids so I can have time to pray and read my Bible. It is not easy, and many mornings I just don’t want to. I am so tired, and the bed is so warm. That extra half hour of sleep is very tempting. But I have seen time and again that I am a better mom, a better wife, and a better person when I don’t hit snooze one more time. I am more aware of the nudge of the Holy Spirit throughout the day when I open my heart and mind to Him in the morning. I believe deeply in Matthew 6:33 (NIV), “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The previous verses reference what we will eat or drink or wear, but I have discovered that seeking His kingdom adds other things to my life as well–patience, hope, love, and joy.
When my daughter was in preschool, she would wake up about two minutes after I settled into my reading spot. My daughter has always been a talker, and she thought this was the best mommy-daughter time that she could ever imagine. Up before the boys in our family, she wanted girl time. I absolutely treasure that time with her, but that’s not what these mornings were for. I would be a better mom to her if I put Jesus first. She would be a better person if I showed her how to put Jesus first.
So, I told her she could sit with me, but she had to be quiet because this was my time with Jesus. She could sit and pray or just be with me, but she could not talk. It was not always seamless, and she was given plenty of reminders, but mostly, she would lay with her head in my lap, and I would run my fingers through her hair as I prayed. Or she would sit with a notebook and draw pictures or “write” her prayers as I read my Bible. Sometimes I would read Bible verses out loud, and she would listen. She now only vaguely remembers these times, but I believe they mattered deeply to her soul.
I know that the enemy is out to interrupt my relationship with my Savior–and he is very sneaky and good at distracting us with good things–but God must be more important than anything in my life, including beautiful mommy-daughter time. When I seek Him first, I see His blessings throughout the day with other opportunities for time with my kids.
Spiritual Quiet Time
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35, NIV). Early mornings are not easy; I know that from experience. But they are effective. Even if your little one curls up next to you as mine did, there is just something about a quiet house early in the morning. Maybe your work schedule doesn’t allow for early mornings. Perhaps your family has health needs that alter your schedule. I promise that early morning is not the only spiritual time.
We know that Jesus prayed at night (Luke 6:12), as did King David (Psalm 119:62). Don’t beat yourself up if it isn’t first thing in the morning, but you do need to prioritize this time. Make it work for you. Create a special spot in your home, like a prayer room, or use a prayer shawl. Tell your family when your special quiet time will be, and emphasize its importance. This not only models the behavior for them, but it also encourages them to respect your time. Talk to your kids about what you do during this quiet time so that they can structure their own quiet time. A prayer journal can be incredibly helpful to keep your mind focused on the Lord and not the tasks of the day. Ask your husband or a friend to keep you accountable for a consistent quiet time. Time with the Lord is the most important time we can spend, so let’s ensure we seek it out. It will be richly blessed.
Restful Quiet Time
In addition to finding space to seek the Lord, we need time to rest. When the kids are running around needing all the things, it isn’t easy to find that time. But guess what? Kids need rest, too! Make them take a break. Even older kids need rest time and alone time. They can read a book or draw a picture or just lie on their beds. If your children are out of school for the summer or homeschooled, or too young for school, they can have rest time built into their schedules.
Here’s the hard part–you need to rest while they are resting. Be intentional with this, momma–don’t squeeze in one quick task because it always leads to another. Technology is a no here. Lay on your bed or sit on the couch and read a book. Take 15-20 minutes to yourself so that you can recharge. It will pay dividends for you and the family. Jesus recognized that His disciples needed to do this very thing. “Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (Mark 6:31, NIV). You are not immune to this need just because you have too much to do. Take care of yourself.
Literal Quiet Time
I am sensitive to (cranky about) noise, and my house is full of children all day long who seem addicted to noise. I stick my air pods in with nothing playing, just to tamper down the sound a bit. Noise-canceling headphones might work for you. When the kids are outside or watching a movie or occupied in some other way, take a few deep breaths and thank God for a second of quiet.
Even if you enjoy lots of noise and excitement, quiet time is important. Silence is not only a good way to calm ourselves and keep our emotions in check, but it is also a place where God resides. In 1 King 19:11-13, Elijah heard the Lord not in the powerful wind or the earthquake or the fire, but in a gentle whisper. The Holy Spirit speaks to us quietly, and the best way to hear Him is to give ourselves the space to. Perhaps you can go to bed a few minutes early and lay in silence before falling asleep. Maybe you need to take a few deep breaths before getting out of the car to go to work. Sit outside and listen to only the sounds of nature. Every chance that you get to notice silence, take it. The Lord is there, and we don’t need to fill every second with the noise of this world. “Let them sit alone in silence, beneath the Lord’s demands” (Lamentations 3:28, NLT).
Find your quiet time, momma. It may not be much, but it is there. Every bit of it matters.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema
Megan Moore is a military spouse and mom of 3 (through birth and adoption). A speech-language pathologist by training, she now spends her time moving around the country every couple of years. She is passionate about special needs, adoption, and ice cream.
