As a mom it can be so hard to find time to read the Bible and really study it. In my experience, I’ve had to prioritize the Scriptures over other tasks at home. I get so caught up in day-to-day jobs like washing the dishes, cleaning up toys, checking sale papers, doing laundry, etc. that I forget to read my Bible. Then I come to the end of the day and realize I haven’t picked up my Bible at all. I would feel bad and promise to do better the next day, but it would happen all over again.
I recognize that reading the Word everyday is an important task. The Bible makes it clear that it is a book you need to know and that by knowing it you know your heavenly Father. Reading the Bible, being immersed in Scripture helps to keep us from sin and keep our eyes focused on God (see Psalm 119:11-16, 2 Timothy 2:15, Proverbs 4:23, Philippians 4:8).
And, I always remind myself that the Bible is THE book that God wrote to and for us. So why would I not want to read it?
That’s why I’ve tried a few different things to help prioritize Bible reading as a mom and I wanted to share them with you.
1. Change Your Mindset
The first step for me was to change my mindset about making time to read the Bible.
As I said, I often focused on the cleaning/washing that needed to be done for the day, that was my top priority. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to read the Word if I focused on all the tasks at hand. Instead, I had to let the dishes and cleaning wait. God has called us to know Him by knowing His Word, so we must be reading it (2 Timothy 2:15). It has to take first spot! Cleaning and other chores are important and should be done, but they can wait until after you’ve spent time with the Words of your Savior.
This was a huge shift for me! I tend to be task-oriented and I absolutely LOVE crossing off to-do lists. The more tasks I can get done in the day, the better.
So, taking a few minutes to read my Bible every day has been difficult! But, I’ve found it to be worthwhile.
When I take time to start my day with God’s Word, I find that I am more in tune with Him throughout the day. More prayerful and attentive to my attitude. And, I’ve also found the extra strength and motivation to finish up those tasks at the end of the day like washing dishes and picking up after my daughter has gone to bed.
2. Schedule It In
I always schedule play dates, so why not schedule time with the Lord?
Look at your normal daily schedule and find specific times where you can read the Bible.
I feel like nap time is an obvious choice. But, if your child is no longer napping, try to find toys or activities for them to do so that you can read. Independent play is important anyway, so this is a good opportunity for them to practice. My daughter still naps, so I use her first nap of the day as my time to read, pray, and memorize Scripture.
I would really encourage you to not wait until the end of the day to read your Bible. Even if you are a night owl, it’s hard to remember what you’ve read the night before for the whole next day.
Reading in the morning or afternoon makes it much easier to remember what you’ve read and keep it in your heart. And I don’t think there’s a divine amount of time to spend in the Word each day, try starting with 15 minutes and work your way up to a longer period of time.
Be Flexible
What about when your schedule goes awry? Try to make it up later in the day. But if it still doesn’t happen, give yourself grace. Also, try to listen to a sermon or podcast (recommendations below).
Even when I think I’ve made a good habit of reading my Bible, there are still days where it doesn’t happen. Don’t let those days discourage you. Keep trying and soon you will create a habit of it.
3. Have a Bible Study Plan
Even before I was a mom I found it helpful to have some sort of plan when it came to reading the Bible. I tried several different methods and I think most can be helpful. It depends on your style and the amount of time you have. I am really enjoying this one at present.
Another easy “plan” is just reading 5 chapters of the New Testament everyday. You will end up reading the whole New Testament in about two months. Start with the first five chapters of Matthew and proceed.
Maybe you’d rather try to read through the Bible in a year or read ten chapters a day, those are good methods too. Just have some sort of plan for your time in the Word.
As a busy mom, you may only get 15 minutes to read, so you don’t want those 15 minutes to go by without having read. There are lots of plans you can find online here. I would recommend printing it and sticking it in your Bible so that it is easily accessible and you don’t need your computer or phone (let’s avoid those distractions).
4. Listen
During my pregnancy, I was at a friend’s baby shower when someone shared that as a mom you have to use all the time you’re given wisely. She went on to say that she always tried to have worship music playing or a sermon in the background of her day. I remember thinking that was a wonderful idea.
The reality is that as moms we won’t have hours to sit and study God’s Word, there’s just too much to do. So, we’ve got to use our time wisely. For me, this means that I keep sermons, biblical podcasts, and worship music on my phone. When we’re driving in the car, I usually listen to a podcast (I really like this one!). When I’m washing dishes, a sermon. Folding laundry, worship music.
There’s also an app called Bibleis that reads the Bible out loud for you. Remember that God’s Word never returns void, so He can use those biblical podcasts and sermons in your life for His glory.
Listening to the Bible was hard for me to implement too! For some reason I always want to listen to laid back music like Jack Johnson… Not that other music is bad, I think it’s great too, but I feel like I needed to train my mind to be attentive to podcasts or sermons so that I can actually enjoy them. But as I have been listening to more podcasts (this is another favorite) and catching up on sermons from my church, I’ve found that, again, I am more in tune with my Savior, focusing on things above.
And being a heavenly minded mom has helped me not be anxious about things on earth.
A note:
And, let me just say, I do realize that listening is not technically reading your Bible. But I think it is still helpful because you are interacting with God’s Word, just in a different form. They definitely do not replace reading and studying the actual Bible in your hand, but they do help use our time wisely.
Those are the four things that have really helped me prioritize my Bible reading.
In figuring out how to study God’s Word as a mom, I have been reminded of my sinful heart and need for a Savior. I deeply need time in God’s Word to reorient my thoughts and heart to Him. I need those podcasts and sermons to reign in my willful spirit throughout the day. And I need that worship music to remind me of God’s glory. I’ve realized I can’t do it on my own and it is God’s Word that really changes my heart. So that’s my motivation.
For even more practical tips, check out this Instagram post.
Related Posts:
How to Memorize Scripture
Best Christian Books to Read Everyday!
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What is the Gospel?
9 Comments
You are a very bright person!
Thank you so much! <3