Motherhood brings an overwhelming mix of joy, exhaustion, and a profound sense of responsibility. Amidst the sleepless nights and endless diaper changes, finding time for oneself can seem nearly impossible, let alone indulging in quiet moments of Bible reading. Yet, for me, carving out a few minutes each day to read the Bible brings me to a source of strength and guidance, giving me a renewed sense of purpose as a mother. This can be true for you too when you take a few minutes to read your Bible each day. Here are my 5 steps to get into the habit of daily reading.
1. Read in the Morning
The first step that I’ve found helpful in my own life is making sure I read my Bible in the morning. Please note my delicate phrasing… I did not say, “First thing in the morning.” I mean, sure, read it first thing if you can. But I have not been successful at that in the last year or so and I had to change my perspective.
As long as you read in the morning, you can still think about what you read throughout the day. If you wait all day and read your Bible at nighttime, you won’t be meditating on it after you read because you’ll be sleeping. So, maybe you don’t roll right out of bed and open your Bible (by “you” I mean “me.”:)) But reading at some point in the morning will allow you time to meditate and think about what you read throughout the day.
2. Embrace the Chaos
But we know that welcoming children into your life can turn your world upside down. The demands of round-the-clock care can leave little room for personal pursuits. There’s always going to be something to do, somewhere to be, and someone to take care of. However, you will find some fleeting moments when your baby naps or rests, use them!
Those 5 minutes while your baby is nursing? That’s enough time to read a chapter of the Bible. Your children are having quiet time after lunch? Open it up and read. Your newborn just went to sleep and you were able to lay them down? Read a Psalm before you lay down for your own nap.
In the busy-ness of our days as moms we can lose sight of what’s important. Nurturing your soul with Words from Scripture is very important! So look for those little times where you can slip it in, even in the chaos.
3. Be Flexible
Children are not always predictable, nor are your days mothering them. That makes it important to approach your Bible reading with extreme flexibility, especially in those really early weeks and months. Rather than setting rigid expectations of reading 10 chapters a day, embrace a more adaptable approach. Maybe it is only a few verses each day in those blips of time when nursing or your children are asleep. Maybe it’s a whole chapter via an audio Bible as you drive to the grocery store or wash dishes. Maybe it’s only ons Psalm that you assign to your homeschooler to read aloud to you.
In these seasons where we have so many demands on us as mothers we have to be gracious with ourselves and not demand more and more Bible reading because of it. So read every day, no matter how long.
Isaiah 40:11 says, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those the nursing ewes.” That verse shows that God knows what we face each day of our motherhood. He’s gracious and kind and not holding us to some standard of reading 10+ chapters of our Bible each day, so we should live in light of that.
4. Make Your Bible Available
Sometimes the obstacle to reading our Bible is not our lack of time or memory. It can simply be that your Bible is upstairs and you’re downstairs or your Bible is too big to hold while you nurse. To remedy this problem, I use a small NASB Bible that I keep downstairs in my nursing basket. This way, it’s closeby when I sit down to nurse or read or be with my children in the living room. And it’s small enough for me to hold with one hand. I highly recommend having a small Bible like this to use in this way. I get easily distracted using my phone for Bible reading, so having this small one by me has really helped me read it more.
5. Make Mom Friends
Find the moms in your church and connect with them. Sharing your journey and challenges can create a supportive community that understands the unique struggles and joys you experience. Having camaraderie with other moms will strengthen you for the challenges you face. Maybe you could even try to read the same portion of Scripture throughout the year or ask a mom friend to text you about Bible reading once a week. Figure out what works for you in your friendships and do it.
If you need to find a church to go to, I recommend starting with this search engine.
6. Apply What You Read
As you read the Bible, consider how its teachings can be applied to your role as a mother. The wisdom and guidance found within its pages can provide insights into patience, love, and nurturing, helping you navigate the incredible journey of raising a child so take a few minutes after reading to think about what you’ve read and apply it to your life. Ask simple questions like, “What does this passage say about God?” And then use those answers to apply what you’re reading to your life today.
Conclusion:
We know that committing our ways to the Lord is a lot of hard work. Reading your Bible every day as a busy mom is a lot of hard work! But I hope that these steps I’ve shared from my own experience will help you out. What step or tip would you add to this list that I’ve made? Leave a comment and let me know.
Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
