As a stay at home mom who loves Jesus, have you ever wondered why it’s so difficult to find the time to spend with Him? Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed and even resentful toward your duties as a mom cuz you can’t get seem to get the time to pray or read your Bible?
In other words…Jesus, you gave me these kids. I want to spend time with you but they interrupt my every attempt…Help!
If this is you my friend, I want to encourage you today. This was my life for years. But with the help of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God I’ve learned some tips for navigating these waters, and I want to share them with you!
My husband was (and is) a minister, so pre-kids, I was used to going places and being able to pray, receive teaching, spend time in the Presence of the Lord, etc. and be refreshed.
But after my first daughter got old enough to spread her own little wings, I found myself chasing her around and unable to enjoy these times as I used to.
And not only that, but juggling my personal time with the Lord at home became a challenge. And as we continued to add precious babies into our family, that challenge grew. And a growing desperate, often resentful, feeling would leave me so frustrated at times I would actually cry.
The truth is, mom, that there really is no better ground for growing dynamically in the Spirit than exactly what you’re doing right now as a stay at home or work from home mom. Why? Because I truly believe nothing stretches you, causes you to pray, forces you to get creative, and challenges your character as much as raising your own little ones.
And you want to know something else I’ve learned? God sees your desire for Him, and He will satisfy your longing to be with Him and know Him more. He will make up for what you miss!
I’ve been able to witness some of the healthiest growth in my own life during these years as I’ve stayed home and raised my babies. I’ve been able to see fruit that I know has been a product of my own sowing combined with the work of the Lord in my life. That’s why today, I want to share with you 5 ways you can grow dynamically as a stay at home mom.
This short list is very easy to implement, and you can start today!
Tip #1: Develop a continual conversation with the Holy Spirit
The number one way to develop your relationship with the Lord is to actually talk to Him. Develop an ongoing dialogue with Him and include Him in your day-to-day thought processes.
In other words, you don’t just have to wait til you have a long period of quiet time to pray. Outside of your quiet time, bring the Lord into your daily life. Walk with Him. You don’t have to process any difficult thought pattern or situation apart from Him. He is your helper, and wants to help you with everything you face as a stay at home mom.
I thoroughly enjoy reading parenting books and gleaning wisdom from other moms who have gone before me. But the truth is that neither of these compares to the wisdom, guidance, and customized supernatural help that has come from God Himself as I’ve sought Him.
So if you don’t already, practice developing a lifestyle of prayer. Pray in the Spirit throughout the day. Talk to Him when you’re driving, washing dishes, doing laundry, showering, etc. Before you know it, this continual conversation will cause a deeper tenderness in your heart and will sensitize you to His voice.
“Be unceasing and persistent in prayer.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (AMP)
Tip #2: Play teachings (or the audio Bible) throughout the day
One of my favorite ways to grow in the knowledge of God is to play teachings from my favorite preachers/teachers throughout the day. I’ll normally put them on after breakfast and while I’m cooking, either on our TV or my phone.
I can’t even begin to tell you how dynamically this has affected my soul. Listening to the Word this way has been one of the keys that has helped me walk out of some very difficult times, even in the midst of the busyness of home life.
The best part about it is that my kids are able to hear these teachings as well, and they even ask questions about things that they hear. It’s a great opportunity to teach them about the Lord as well!
Tip #3: Make time in the evening for personal reading and study
When your kids go down, you finally get to do the things you want to do without interruption.
Maybe you like to watch movies. Maybe you like to surf the internet for hours. Or maybe you just like to scroll through Facebook or Pinterest. But this time, my friend, is a golden opportunity to sow the Word into your heart and mind.
We want and need to be acquainted with our Father’s will. The times that we live in are morally dark, and the lines everywhere are being blurred. But the Word of God is as sharp as a double-edged sword, and makes the lines clear between what’s right and what’s wrong. That’s why we need to be intentional and self-disciplined about spending time studying and meditating on Scripture.
I highly recommend creating some time for personal study as part of your night routine. Aside from prayer and worship, nothing will give you as great a return as reading and meditating!
Tip #4: Direct your attention to the Lord first thing in the morning
If you find yourself continually waking up after your children are awake, it’s time for a morning routine! Because it’s so much better to wake up and be ready for your children than to wake up having to hit the ground running!
Before checking emails, Facebook, texts, or whatever else you’d look at in the morning, direct your attention to God. Make him your focus first thing in the morning by even just saying, “Good morning, Lord.”
I’ve found that training myself to do this changes the course of my day and serves to deepen my relationship with God. It sets the stage for my perspective to be focused on Him throughout the day, and day by day, tenderizes my heart toward Him and my family.
Tip #5: Decide to do the Word
In other words, let’s be rid of excuses. We don’t implant His Word in our hearts just to check it off our list. We pray, read, and meditate so that we can actually do what the Bible says.
But have you ever been determined to obey God’s Word and instead found yourself doing the opposite? Of course you have. We all have. What’s important to understand is that we don’t have to try in our own strength to walk out righteousness. We have the help of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us!
The awesome thing about being a stay at home mom is that you get a thousand chances a day to practice walking out the Word by the way you respond to and handle situations. And with a yielded heart, the guidance of the Word, and the Lord as your Helper, you’re on a sure path to a life of love!
Titus 2:11-12
“11 For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age.”
Romans 8:13
“For if you are living according to the flesh, you f]must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
I hope you’ve found these tips helpful as you seek to grow in the Lord as a stay at home mom. Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Comment below!
Related Posts:
Why Every Mama Needs to Prioritize Prayer
Connect: The #1 Thing a Mom Can Do
The Holy Spirit: Every Mom’s Personal Helper
Growing in Love Toward Your Children
7 Principles for Influential Motherhood Workbook
I wanted to thank you for this advice for spiritual growth. I’m glad you mentioned it’s important to set time aside for personal study and make yourself more self-disciplined about it. This sounds very important especially if it can get you into good habits that could really help your spirituality in the future.