Making Time For God
If you are like most women, you probably begin your day early, rushing to get your family fed, dressed, and out the door. You probably have a list of chores and errands that must be completed before supper time. After your evening meal, you might spend some time catching up on chores that went neglected during the day and bathing children. By the time your head hits the pillow you are sound asleep, only to wake up in a few hours to do it all over again.
So where does God fit in? You know you should spend more time praying, but you are already pressed for time. You think, ‘God understands. He knows how I struggle just to get the laundry done.’
Yes, God does know. He understands each and every struggle of your day. And He wishes you would tell Him about your day.
Have you ever thought that perhaps your daily struggles would lessen if you simply began your day in conversation with God? If you made a small commitment to rise a little earlier, you could ask God to take the cares of your day and make them His own.
When you first make that decision to spend the first moments of your day in prayer, it may be difficult to get up earlier. It may be difficult to stick to it. But I guarantee the rewards will out weigh the costs. You will begin to see incredible changes in your life. The blessings will abound and you will have an inner peace that you have never known.
To set aside the first part of your day and give it to God, set your alarm earlier than normal. Thirty minutes to an hour should allow you enough time to pray and read the Bible and/ or read an inspirational book.
The night before you begin, it would be nice to gather a few special “ingredients” for your devotional prayer time. For instance, you might want to choose a pretty basket and fill it with your Bible, a good ink pen, pretty note cards, a blank prayer journal, and any religious books you are reading. Choose a favorite spot in your house. The chair should be comfortable, but not so comfortable that you go back to sleep. You will need good lighting to read by. You might also wish to place candles on a nearby table to light during your time. A soft blanket for those cool morning hours is comforting as well.
You may be wondering if you could possibly spend an hour in prayer and devotion. After making this time a habit, I suspect you will find that an hour is not always long enough.
Pray for your husband, your children, your extended family, your church and church members, your neighbors, your enemies, your time, your day, your attitude. Once you begin praying earnestly each and every day, you will realize just how many people are in need of your prayers. Using the prayer journal can help you focus your prayers and revisit them often. Make notes of answered prayers and other thoughts about your day. You will treasure the words of love in years to come. What a sweet reminder of the care and concern you shared with the Lord in times of need, sorrow, and thankfulness.
After you have spent time in prayer, you may want to read the Bible or a religious book to increase your knowledge and your faith. You may want to read the Bible through in a year. You could read inspirational books to help you manage your time, your home, or family related issues. You may want to read books on your beliefs or doctrines. Whatever you choose to read, read with a prayerful heart, that God will open your heart to His words whether they come from the Bible or a faithful servant who has written as well thought out book. Ask God to inspire your days, fill you with His spirit and help you to be a blessing to everyone around you.
Before you get up to meet the day with a renewed spirit, you could write a short note to a friend or family member, or someone on your prayer list. Everyone enjoys getting a card or letter in the mail. It represents time spent thinking of the other person. It shows you care.
In the days to follow, you will find that your days become His and your problems don’t seem so big. You will begin to treasure that part of your day like none other. You will find yourself craving that time, needing those prayers. Make time for God today.
About the Author: Melissa Ringstaff is the Director and Founder of A Virtuous Woman, a non-profit ministry for women based on the Scriptures of Proverbs 31. She lives in the beautiful Appalachian mountains of Harlan, Kentucky with her husband and five children. You can contact Melissa online at avirtuouswoman.org or by email at: melissaringstaff@avirtuouswoman.org