It’s time for Let’s Discuss It Wednesday. Today’s reader questions is this:
My answer:
I discuss this in my book some, so if you’ve read it, please forgive the repeat.
Now I am naturally a morning person, so this didn’t become a real struggle for me until baby number one came along. Mornings became hard after being up every two hours all night. I’d try to squeeze devotions in, but the quality of the devotions quickly sped downhill.
And I felt guilty. I’d try to make up for it, but I soon realized I was coming to God out of guilt and not love. I was doing it because it’s been drilled into us that devotions are best in the morning and if you don’t do them in the morning, then you are not being the best Christian you can be.
Then it dawned on me that God desires that I come to Him out of love and a deep desire to know Him better. He wants to get as much from my devotion time as what I do.
Now I have my devotions in the afternoon or evening. I have much more time in the evening and I think of it as my landing place where I can rest, study, and hear God speaking through His Word.
And I enjoy it.
So I feel that each person needs to look at their own life with its unique quirks and schedules, and then find the time in your day when you know you would best enjoy meeting alone with God. Then stick with it.
However, it is a little harder to get quiet prayer time in when you’re surrounded by children in the evening. Having a delegated prayer time sometime during the day may be what suits you best.
When going through Lowell’s accident I developed a habit of praying constantly. While washing, ironing, showering, mowing…it seemed I was in a perpetual conversation with God. And quite honestly, I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through that time without it.
I know this won’t be your typical answer and I hope some others have some good advice. I also wanted to add that for moms of little tykes, remember you are in one of the busiest, selfless seasons of your life right now. Some days it feels like your time will never be at your complete disposal. Somebody always needs something and you’re constantly serving others.
Be patient. It does get better! There will come a time when all of your children are potty trained, they can all feed themselves, and can all get their own pajamas on. You will someday find you have an hour to sit and read or study the Word of God.
Your answers:
Now let’s hear your answers and advice on the subject of morning devotions. What has worked for you and what hasn’t?
Thank you!
Linking to Growing Home, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers, and Women Living Well.
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Amy says
I think that has worked for me most was doing it first thing. I wake up, reach out for my bible and read it. And I have kept at doing it in the mornings simply as that is the quietest time so I can think without 5 children interrupting! It has been hard to adjust but I have. I would like to add that it isn’t always the longest of reads/prays but it does happen every day. I have found that God has helped me and blessed even the short times and I know that they will get longer as the children get older.
I also like to remember that it might only be 20 mins a day but in a week that is 140 mins and in a month 560 mins (I hope my maths is right!) so it really adds up.
Kendra Graber says
I love this idea! That is one I may have to try out myself. Thank you!
Michelle-ozark crafter says
I have a devotional on the computer I read in the morning. Just a short one and then later in the day I have a couple more in depth I read. I am not a morning person at all.
Kendra Graber says
If it’s not to much to ask, what is your devotional you use?
Beth Cover says
Thanks Kendra! Awesome answer and it means even more when you are not a morning person. Maybe I can make this work for me. I’m always energized by time in God’s word. Love ya! Beth
Erica Huntington says
I try *really* hard to always read first thing… after I’ve at least washed my face. 🙂 I want to read His Word first thing, before I’ve had a chance to encounter too many additional struggles, you know? Some evenings when I finally get to the Word, I think, “Wow, sure wish I would have read that first thing to remind myself of all day!” 🙂 I also have a spiral-bound index card book with an ongoing collection verses that are really speaking to me so that if I am having a particularly rough day I can quickly reach for it and meditate on 1-2 verses at a time. Like you said though, it’s all about seeking His face all day, every day. Delighting in His glory.