Inside: Do you struggle with spending daily time in the Word? This one tip will help you finally have a consistent quiet time with God. 

There is [almost] nothing that will keep me from making it back home for nap-time. 

I have left playdates early, excused myself from story-time at the library when it ran too long, and said “no” to fun activities that would put us home too late in the afternoon. 

Are you as much of a nap-time stickler as I am?

If you are anything like me then it’s not just because we know how important nap-time is for our kids, but also because we are always ready for the 1.5 hours of quiet. 

Nap-time is the little appointment with myself I will do almost anything to keep. 

But for some reason I don’t have the same determination when it comes to my time with God.

Life-changing advice: What I needed to finally have a consistent quiet time with God.

I first heard this piece of advice at a retreat I attended before heading off to college - a little golden nugget that has forever changed the way I frame my quiet time:

“If you want to spend time with God, to grow in Him and learn from Him then you have to spend time with Him. And the only way you are going to do that consistently is if you schedule it. Schedule an hour everyday in your calendar as if it were a class or appointment. And when something else tries to get in the way of that, you have to tell it ‘no.’, because you already have a commitment written down.”

I am paraphrasing here (it’s been 12 years!), but that little charge has forever changed how I plan and schedule my time with God. 

If We Valued Time With God, We Would Schedule It

We have to stop making excuses for not spending time with our Father. 

It doesn’t matter how crazy and moody and chaotic the first part of the morning is, if I have a play date scheduled I make it work - and I am almost never late. 

The last 1.5 hours might have been filled with whining, tantrums, piles of crusty dishes, and dirty pajamas strung about the house. But by golly if I look up and see that we are supposed to be leaving in 15 minutes to make it to a playdate - somehow I magically get serious, wrangle the kids, get the house cleaned, and everyone bucked in the car lickedy-split. 

Because time with other moms is important to me, and coming home to a clean house is a must for my sanity. 

I value those two things and will figure out how to make them both work - no matter how the morning looks, mood wise.  

If you and I truly value our relationship with our Creator, and are thankful for the overwhelming grace and mercy that He has shown us through Christ, we would prioritize our time with Him.  We would be diligent in having a consistent quiet time with God.

We must put as much energy into making sure it happens as we do in making sure we get to playdates with good friends. 

If we valued the truth of Scripture we would read it consistently

A few years ago, while lying sick in bed (and thoroughly enjoying a day home from work), I stumbled across a blog of an old acquaintance back from my middle school days. 

She was a stay at home mom (I was not at the time), and her blog chronicled her days at home with her two kids - nothing fancy, just interesting and engaging. 

And I read probably 15 of her posts back-to-back that day. 

And then went back for weeks after that (maybe months, or years??) waiting for a fresh post to appear on the homepage. 

I sure wish I anticipated reading the Bible like I anxiously waited to read that blog. 

If we truly value the Word and Truth of Scripture, we should make and prioritize the time to read it. 

If you have to miss your “appointment”, make it up

You peek at your calendar and see dinner at a friend's house is scheduled for tonight! But then your baby wakes up sick. So what do you do? You reschedule. You call and set up another time to get together. 

If something major comes up during the “appointment” that you have already made with God, then decide right then to find another time in the day to “reschedule” it. 

Hint: before bed always works - you’re about to go to bed so there shouldn’t be anything else that will get in the way...). 

It is more important than ever that we moms stay in the Word

“Do animals know that God is in their heart?” my three year old asked me last week. 

“Yes they do, bud. They know.” I replied, a little taken aback by the question. 

Later on, though, I questioned my answer. And still am not sure I gave the best response (does that answer make it seem like animals and humans have the same, equal relationship with God? Was my response true??). 

But lately his never ending questions about God, heaven, hell, Jesus, and death have made me realize: I, maybe more than ever, need to be in the Word because I am teaching my kids what it says.

And if I am not in it myself, I will not be able to guide them well. 

So mama, let’s vow to each other that we will schedule time to be in prayer and in Scripture daily. Let’s do it to honor God, learn more about His character, and equip ourselves to teach and train our kids. 

Grab your planner, and make an appointment with God every day this week.  

As if it were a playdate with a friend, or your yearly appointment with the OB-GYN, “pen” in your appointment with God.  Then keep your word, and meet with Him. 

• If you and I value our relationship with God, we will schedule time together. 
• If we value the truth of Scripture, we will read it consistently.
• If we take our “appointment” with Him seriously, we will reschedule it when necessary.

Go on mama! Make a date with God, and be there when you say you are going to be. 

I’m rooting for you!