The Summer Sizzle Continues….
Ruthie Gray is someone that you will easily fall in love with. Her spunk, easy going, quick to love attitude, is contagious! You will love her tips here of how to start building a consistent prayer life.
Other Summer Sizzle Postings:
What Christian Bloggers wish you knew. – Valerie Murray
6 Characteristics to build Christian Friendships. – Dawn Klinge
Check out 4 ways that will help you build a consistent prayer life. #prayerwarrior Share on X
With the debut of the new movie, “War Room”, I have noticed a heightened awareness towards the power of prayer.
Here are some simple, yet effective ways I’ve found as a mom to find time for a consistent prayer life.
Don’t believe the LIE
We moms have a way of charging through our day lickity split from the moment our feet hit the floor.
Come on, admit it – how many times have you thought to yourself,
“I don’t have time for prayer!”
In the book, “Lies Women Believe”, Nancy Leigh DeMoss names this as one of the forty lies we women believe.
Out of a survey of Christian women, 48% of them admitted to believing this lie.
“If he (Satan) can get us to do a great many things ‘for God’ without consciously seeking the will of God through His Word and prayer, we may stir up a lot of religious dust, but we won’t do Satan’s kingdom any real damage.”
Sound familiar?
It’s not a magic formula for a perfect day, mom.
However, time spent in prayer reminds us of God’s constant presence, causing us to draw on His strength for whatever pops up during the course of the day.
Here’s a testimony from one mom in the book:
“When I spend time in the Word and prayer, my daily life seems to flow along smoothly – even with THREE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. But then I get complacent and think what a wonder woman I am and stop making it a priority. Before I know it, my life is in chaos. I am screaming at my kids and on the verge of child abuse, trying to figure out how I ended up like this. And what can I do to fix it? Unfortunately, it takes me a while to realize I can’t – that I need God!
The lies of Satan creep in so subtly, and if I’m not in the Word, I start believing them.”
I remember feeling this way when my kids were small.
You’re short on sleep, it’s hard to catch a break without having kids right on top of you – how in the world can you fit in prayer time?
I have a good friend – a mom of three young kids. She texted me one day asking what to do about finding time to spend in prayer.
I told her to beat the kids up.
NOT LITERALLY. Don’t go all CPS on me now.
The truth is, for most of us, we are at our best in the morning.
Think about it. When do you do your best thinking – be it office work, the bills, or perhaps studying for school?
Whenever that best time is for you, that’s the time you need to seek the Lord also.
If you are truly a night owl, go for it.
I don’t understand you – but go for it.
There are many references to morning prayer in the Bible. Jesus rose early to pray. The Psalmist in chapter 63:1 said:
“Early will I seek Thee”.
But, He also says this in verse 6:
“When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.”
The entire chapter is about earnestly seeking after God. And the truth of the matter is, we should be in an attitude of prayer ALL day, no matter what we’re doing.
But there needs to be a time set apart for you and God, free from the distractions.
Only you can figure out that time. If you can have your devotions at night after the kids have gone to bed and still stay awake and that’s what works for you, DO IT.
Me? I’ll stick with mornings.
I know you’re tired. I know you need that sleep to cope with the day.
But you need God more.
How to begin?
1)Decide when
Get your time firmly in your mind. Again, I recommend mornings, because as a mom, your day usually gets away from you with all the to-do lists and never-ending laundry/dishes/taxiing.
2)Set an alarm
Just do it. Even if you choose 10:30 at night, an alarm will remind you that it’s time.
3)Start with 10 minutes
Mom – even if it’s only 10 minutes of concentrated time and that’s all you can do in this season of life, commit to it. I think you’ll find that the more consistent you are, the more you will look forward to and even yearn for that time!
4)Start a simple list of people for which to pray
(check out this prayer journal idea).
Get some post-it notes. Place them in strategic spots around the house. As you become aware of a need, jot it down.
At the end of the day, gather up the post-it notes and write them in a notebook.
The next day, pray for those requests during your 10 minutes. If there are too many requests, pray for who you can, draw a line, write the date, and pick up with the rest the next day.
-Keep up with the post-it notes every day.
Before you know it, you will have a prayer ministry!
I didn’t know I could make a difference!
When you pray for others, you find yourself remembering to ask about their needs.
And you will be so very blessed with their surprised and pleased reaction that you remembered them in prayer!
This is a simple way to minister to others, mom. You have your ministry – your kids are your main service to the Lord, and never forget that.
But, if you desire more of an impact in other’s lives, but don’t know how or if you even have time – start with prayer.
When you pray for others, it leads you to minister to them in little ways, such as a text, phone call, card, or even a meal. As you pray, God lays concern on your heart for that sister. And He will lead you to the simple ways to minister.
*{Also, God will give you discernment, if you ask, as to how many areas to get involved. Be wise – you can’t possibly do everything.}
“He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
Did you get that? NOTHING.
A day that begins with prayer and continues in an attitude of prayer is a day of abiding in Christ.
And abiding in Christ brings forth fruit.
Oswald Chambers said,
“The purpose of prayer is to reveal the presence of God equally present all the time in every condition.”
Think of it! You have the privilege of God’s very presence at all times throughout your day!
In fact, He invites YOUR presence.
God! The very thought that the God of the universe desires my presence gives me chills.
Why would I reject that?
If at first you don’t succeed – forgive yourself
Don’t beat yourself up (even if you didn’t beat the kids up). Just don’t go there.
As a perfectionistic mom, I let this beat me down so much that many times instead of failing, I didn’t even try!
I regret that.
I didn’t give myself enough grace, and so I slipped down, down, down into a pit of un-abiding.
Then, I’d get back up off the floor and try again.
And fail.
I distanced myself from the Lord. I didn’t pray during the day because I HAD MISSED DEVOTIONS THAT MORNING.
You know what I have to say about that now? Dumb.
Don’t be like “that me”. (Yes, I am referring to the Rob Lowe line in the DirecTV commercials.)
Keep the direct line open. God still loves you, He knows your desire, and He knows your human frailties.
Keep trying. Just keep praying throughout the day.
Just keep swimming.
“My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9, MSG
How about it mom? Are you ready to deepen your prayer life? If you have other ideas of how to make this work – share!
Such a powerful post, Carmen! I love your point about getting your time with God however (and whenever) you can. And that post-it idea – genius!! I make notes to keep track of blog post ideas – why not do that with prayer requests and inspiration? Love it!
Hello my name is linda, I thank u kind ladies for helping me with ur letter about prayer. Thank u so much I am going to try ur suggestions and I was feeling quilty not reading the Bible but ever now and then but I am going to dit down and make a an about that to. But I love the lord i pray all the time all throught the day. But I an going to dobadk ya said even reading my Bible at certain time setting my alarm clock. Thank u kind ladies for helping me with ur kind world God bless u all.l
in a nutshell “AMAZING”! I always maintain a journal to keep the notes of my time. If I miss a prayer somehow I write it too. This way I try to be consistent in prayer life.
I also keep a journal of my prayers. I love looking back on those prayers and seeing all the faithfulness God has given to me and my family.
Super-encouraging, Carmen. Thank you for this! I have twin 3 year olds and I’ve struggled since they were born to get back to a routine prayer time. Still working on it, but I think I have to resort to setting the alarm at 5:30 b/c there is just no other time! But thank you for encouraging me to do that, even if it’s just 10 minutes. I remember doing this back in high school and I survived, lol. I know He’ll bless that time and make up for the lack of sleep. Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
It is so hard with little ones but I have also learned it is harder to be a mamma without having time with God, so waking up early or going to bed a bit later, or giving up TV for 30 minutes a day is well worth it for sure!
“Whenever that best time is for you, that’s the time you need to seek the Lord also.” I used to feel bad that I waited to have my quiet time in the afternoon instead of first thing in the morning. But I finally realized that’s fine! Everyone has to do what works for them. No guilt. 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement here.
I use to have the same feeling. I am a night owl. I love the when the house is still. It calms me and sets me in the mood for prayer and reading my word but I read so many times that we should start our day with Jesus, and yes we should with an attitude of knowing He is with us each of every morning. I even pray as I get up out of bed and walk to my sink to brush my teeth, it just a natural reaction for me when I wake up but I wasn’t sitting to read first thing in the morning and I would feel guilty but I thank God for the revelation that I can seek Him anytime. He is there in the morning, afternoon, and night to receive me with open arms.
Love this 💕 I like that my app has streaks now. (Amazing the little things can motivate.)
I’ve been trying most recently to do morning and night because I feel like I spend so much time doing everything else, I can carve it a little more time for God. (Not always successfully may I add)
Great words for moms of littles. I can remember thinking I don’t have time to pray then too. The truth is we may not have time, but we can make time. Thanks!
Amen….so very true!!