4 Practical Ways To Grow in Godliness As A Busy Mom
Do you feel stuck trying to make daily steps toward your spiritual growth as a busy mom? Here you can take 4 practical steps to grow in Godliness while also being a busy mom.
As a mom of 5 children 11 and under, I know firsthand how things don’t always go exactly as planned. Most days, I drink coffee that has been reheated four times, use dry shampoo like it is my lifeline and forget to eat. There are so many nights I slip into bed exhausted and think to myself, “You didn’t even pray today, Ash.”
Ephesians 2: 8-9 reminds us that God’s saving grace is not something we can earn by our works. Nevertheless, there are certain spiritual disciplines that we can practice which help us to have a deeper relationship with Christ.
What are spiritual disciplines?
The spiritual disciplines are crucial in helping us grow in godliness. The Bible talks about many ways to grow in godliness: worship, fasting, meditation, stewardship, and solitude. However, studying the Bible and praying daily can help us transform our spiritual health in a season of life that seems impossible to add another thing to our daily tasks.
While I know God understands all the struggles of mom life, being human and has more grace and mercy than we can even fathom… we need to work hard to keep Jesus a priority in every season.
Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus stepping away on numerous occasions from all the demands and busyness of his day to pray without distraction. Mark 1:35 states, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (ESV).
Let this verse be a reminder to us, that even in one of the busiest seasons of life we have ever been in, we need to seek God in intentional prayer.
I long for a deeper relationship with Him but feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of being a wife, a mom, and an entrepreneur. I have learned that pulling out my devotional and Bible at the dining room table and trying to consume His word with toddlers crawling into my lap, spilled coffee, and diaper change intermissions are better than nothing at all.
King David wrote in Psalms 119:11, “ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (ESV) Even through the moments of chaotic motherhood, our mighty God can’t still speak to us. His living and breathing words can truly speak to the ever-changing needs we have as his children.
4 Practical Ways To Grow
While I have the best intentions every day, I still falter in my spiritual disciplines but here is what I have found to be helpful.
Get up before your children, even for only a few minutes, to spend time reading your Bible and praying in solitude. Grounding yourself first thing in the world can truly change the trajectory of your day.
Pray when you can. In the car, in the shower, or any time something comes to mind I pray. Growing up in godliness requires communication like any other relationship. So pray where you can and when you can. Start here to work your way to your prayer closet.
Listen to the Bible app while you drive. As moms we are always shuffling kids from one place to the next, this is a great way to get the word in.
Work to set boundaries with your children regarding your designated prayer or Bible study time. This will take time but your children seeing you reading the word daily will set a wonderful example for them.
Find some toys they can only play with during your study/prayer time so they are preoccupied for a short time, or maybe they color at the table with you while you study. Get creative but be firm about it being your time with God.
These suggestions are great short-term solutions but we must work to establish dedicated prayer time. Maybe 2023 will finally be the year you create your prayer closet. In the Gospels, Jesus can be seen removing himself from all distractions to spend focused and intentional time with God. We must strive to do the same.
In closing, I encourage you to consider a few things in your current season of life.
First, what do you get done daily without fail? These things are usually a direct reflection of our greatest affections.
Secondly, acknowledge the limitations we have through each season of life.
Lastly, I encourage you to ask yourself what can you do today to be more intimate with God than in previous days.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley is a wife, mother of 5, blogger, and entrepreneur who is focused on raising her children with God at the center. She has a passion for helping others cope and navigate life’s hardships with hope and grace. She has continued to grow her faith through recent trials and believes in the power of testimony in sharing God's grace and mercy. Her husband is in seminary school and they are both very excited to see the purpose God has for their marriage in His kingdom. She enjoys connecting with other Christians, running/spinning and spending time with her family. For more of her writing go to www.themomofhope.com where she writes about faith, miscarriage and other hardships, and parenting all through a lens of hope.