Ten Tips to Read Your Bible as a Busy Mom
After my first baby was born, I remember the struggle I had to find time to read my Bible as a busy mom. It was a season of constantly shifting routines with drastic changes in how I was personally managing my time. Somewhere amidst those changes it became difficult to “squeeze in” my Bible reading. I knew I desperately needed God’s Word to keep me grounded, to find wisdom and help, and to provide strength and hope for each day among a host of other benefits.
Refuse spiritual starvation as the norm
I asked for advice from older women who had walked this road before, but the responses I received were very disheartening.
“This may just be a season where Bible reading doesn’t happen, its ok, give yourself grace.”
“Just write some verses on post-its around your house and read those when you have a chance.”
“Sometimes it just isn’t possible when you have babies.”
“I just keep my Bible open on the counter and read a verse here and there throughout the day.”
Here I was, embarking on the daunting and all-important journey of raising a human being, while basically being told to expect and embrace spiritual starvation during that “season”.
Fortunately, I knew that I couldn’t raise a child without God’s help. I knew that God’s help would primarily come through His Word. And I was too stubborn to give up without a fight.
Ten Tips to read your Bible as a busy Mom
Here are some things I learned in that season that I want to pass along to you:
Recognize this is a hill worth dying on
You truly need God’s Word. The world, the flesh and the devil will do everything to keep you out of your Bible. It will be a brutal battle, but, like all battles, God wins! There will be new mercies each day, renewed strength, and grace for each failure. Press on. Do not settle for less than what is satisfying, and have faith that God will give you this desire of your heart because his will is that we feast on his Word! Check out this article for some of the benefits that will come to your home when you read the Bible as a busy mom.
Find a good Bible reading plan
When you are emotionally and/or physically weary, or if you’ve neglected the Bible for a while, it is hard to know where to start. The Bible is big, and a plan will help you. Sure, there will be days when you simply run to a favorite passage but a plan will help you feast on the entirety of God’s Word. I highly recommend the Bible Reading Challenge from Christ Church in Moscow, ID. I like this plan because it starts in September and follows the school year, and in the Summer they have a separate plan called #sampepagesummer for reading just the New Testament and the Psalms. There is an active Facebook Group related to their plan and a lot of resources on YouTube to assist you. They also have a nice printable that will fit into your Bible to keep you on track or you can use the YouVersion Bible app.
Approach the Bible like food
Another reason I like the Bible Reading Challenge linked above is that they use this food imagery. And it isn’t made up out of thin air: Jesus is the bread of life! (John 6:35) Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Deuteronomy 8:3) Your words are sweeter than honey. (Psalm 119:103) This metaphor is all over scripture. If you miss breakfast you don’t just quit eating – you pick up the habit again the next chance you get, right? If you don’t have time for a full meal you’ll grab a quick snack on your way out the door – but a feast is better than a snack! Feasts are also meant to be shared, so invite your friends and neighbors to join you and enjoy this life-giving food that you have found together.
Get up early to Read your Bible as a Busy Mom
I know, I know – this may seem like an impossibility. This requires things like i) going to bed early, ii) putting your little ones on a sleep schedule (read Babywise!), iii) having clear boundaries for your older children when they wake up early (we allow them to play in their room until mom or dad comes and gets them), iv) setting around 13 alarm clocks, and finally v) choosing a place in your home where you are least likely to be interrupted.
Early can mean different things to different families. Honestly, there have been seasons in life in which I was up at 4:30 to ensure I had time in the Word and in prayer before I started the day. It isn’t my typical schedule, but for a season, to ensure I was getting nourishment, it was well worth it. It was admittedly very difficult but I found those seasons to be such a blessing from the Lord.
Have a plan B to read the Bible as a busy mom
If you oversleep are you simply going to fast from the Bible all day? No! Have a plan B for getting it done such as:
a. Teach your children to have a Quiet Time or an Alone Time and use that time for yourself in the Word. I have a whole article devoted to this topic with free printable resources for you!
b. Try wearing soundproof headphones and tell everyone that you are not to be disturbed unless a hospital trip is warranted.
c. Put the baby in a pack and play next to you and read the Bible out loud to her!
I personally don’t think an audio Bible is ideal but as a Plan B go ahead, listen to the Bible -the YouVersion App works well for this.
Explore privacy options
Some women may be able to read amidst the tornado of childhood around them. I am not one of them. While I do think there is value in letting my kids see me read my Bible, I have a hard time concentrating when they are around. Have some good location ideas such as a walk-in closet, basement corner, sitting in the car, or a room with a lock on the door! Also, seek to eliminate distractions in those places! I recommend printing off a paper reading plan rather than using your phone because you’ll be tempted to browse social media instead of feasting on the scriptures.
Walk and Pray
The best seasons of prayer for me have been when I do this. After reading, go for a walk and pray! This helps me to focus and I tend to pray about more things than when I am sitting in my chair with one eye on my looming to-do list. Plus, I can do this while pushing a stroller!
Work with your husband to find time to read the Bible as a busy mom and dad
We have had seasons where we tag team in the morning. One of us reads while the other works on getting the kids fed and ready and then we switch. Aside from the tag teaming idea the other parent can also serve as protection for that time. Kids tend to gravitate toward mommy and it has helped when my husband actively prevents them from interrupting me while I read my Bible.
Expect challenges with changes
With every new child, with every routine change, and with every season your Bible reading will be challenged. The thinking that “When I reach XYZ season this will get easier” is a lie! It will always be a challenge. You have an enemy whose mission it is to prevent you from feasting on the Word. No matter the season, there is an excuse to not read looming close by. So, as you prepare for a new baby, get ready with a plan to make sure Bible reading is part of your daily routine. When Winter approaches, consider how to combat the temptations to sleep in later. When a busy stretch approaches, refuse to compromise, and prioritize the Word in your life!
Accountability to read your Bible as a busy mom
Find a friend and talk daily about what you are reading. It helps to use the same plan. If chatting on the phone isn’t going to happen for you, then one option is to make a little competition out of it via text messaging. For a while, my husband would text with a friend. Each day they would award points to each other for reading their Bible, exercising, and a few other things. At the end of the month the loser bought the winner a beer causing them to not only pursue diligence throughout the month, but also deepened their relationship through consistent fellowship. My friends don’t really drink beer but a coffee or lunch is a great option.
CONCLUSION
I hope these tips are helpful for you. If you’ve never read the Bible I encourage you to start. There is nothing that will impact your roles as a wife, mother, homemaker, etc. more than a steady diet of Bible in your life. Please share in the comments if you have additional tips that work for you! Also, share this with another mom who may need some encouragement!
Wonderful, practical wisdom! Thank you!
Thanks Mindy!
This is a great post. I love thinking about reading in the scripture as a feast! Thank you for writing this Ruth