Time With God? Let’s Be Realistic.

I’ll never forget the day I was pregnant with our fourth and carrying our third up the stairs.  I carried him gingerly, desperately trying to keep him from waking up so he could nap and I could spend some time with God. I felt so frustrated. I’d lost my temper repeatedly and I knew why.

Time with God_ Let’s Be Realistic.

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I was starving spiritually. It had been so long since I’d consistently had time in the Word. I cried out,

“Father, please help me! I want to spend time with you! I need to spend time with you!”

Then I prayed, “If you’ll just remind me to have devotions at a time I can actually do it, I won’t say no.”

You know what? I broke that promise. I’ve said no sometimes. I’ve failed. But Him? I had no right to demand anything of Him. No standing to bargain with Him. I’m all sinner. But, He’s all grace. The kind of grace that has always reminded me.

Ever since then, almost as soon as I open my eyes, I think of His word.  And here’s a little peek into my life.  I’ve put my Bible in the master bathroom! That’s where I think of reading, so I grab it and refocus my heart and mind on my Savior.

What does that have to do with being a mother of boys? Everything. If you’re like us, you want nothing more than to see your children walk with Christ.

Discipleship means teaching the disciple to be like the teacher. That’s us. That’s scary. We can’t disciple our children to walk with Christ if we’re not on that path ourselves.We can’t give them living water when we’re dying of thirst.

I know it’s hard.

Many of you are in that intense time of lots of littles when you’re having a great day if everyone is dressed and fed by the time dad gets home from work. I remember! Maybe you can try what I did–ask the Lord for help and put your Bible in the bathroom. It’s a little embarrassing, but it works.

The Word says, “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench…” He understands all you’re doing. He understands how tired you are. Here’s the part we need to remember,

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

Rest for our souls. That’s what moms need first.

I’d love for you to pray with me: Father, I’d be so grateful if you’d remind me to spend time in the Word with you at a time that I can do it. Please help me to always say yes when you do. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Related Resource:
Our book, Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys, is all about taking the Biblical principles of parenting and making them practical and doable. It’s the book we couldn’t find in raising our own six boys.

Melanie Winter

Much love,

Melanie