This is a true glimpse of what my personal prayer and devotional time looks like.
As a mom of 4, one of which is only 5 months old, breastfed and is super clingy, and I also homeschool, it’s very hard to find time during the day to sit and read scripture/devotional uninterrupted. Trust me, I’ve tried. And full transparency, it’s actually really upset me and put me in a mood when I haven’t had that for myself.
I remember just about 2-3 years ago, I had a successful morning routine: waking up at 5:30am so that I could pray and get into the Word and then write for a little bit before the kids woke up. And while I would love to have the stamina to wake up at the time again, I just don’t. Most nights I’m up nursing multiple times throughout and when my alarm rings at 6am, it gets snoozed or shut off. I end up waking up later in the morning, sometimes even after my older 3 are already awake. In this season of life, this is literally what my morning time looks like, pretty much every day.
As I’m writing this, it’s now 8:59am. My older three are still sleeping, and I’m sitting in my closet with my little one. I was up at 4am nursing. After falling back asleep, I woke up at 6:53am and I struggled with getting out of bed. I finally got up around 7:20ish and had about 30 minutes to myself to pray and read my devotional before baby woke up.
All this to say:
Mama, if you find yourself in a season where your personal morning time devotion is kinda rocky, it’s okay. This is just a season and it will get better.
I’d like to encourage you today with some things you can do to ensure you’re still getting into the Word every day, even in a season where your littles depend fully on you.
What to do when your morning time goes interrupted
1. Don’t try to do it all in the morning.
I used to try to fit everything in during that hour I had to myself (prayer, devotional, Bible study, journaling), Nowadays, I focus my morning on just prayer and devotional. With intentionally doing less, I’ve improved the quality of the small amount of time I do get.
2. Schedule intervals throughout the day where you can get in the Word.
7am – prayer, devotional, quick journaling session
12pm – sit down for Bible study while the kids are eating their lunch. If you can’t finish it completely, that’s fine, get back to it before bed or the next day! For moms of infants, work on studying when the baby naps.
After kids are put to bed, pray, read, study for a little bit.
3. Make it a family devotional.
If you didn’t get a chance to have that time on your own in the morning, sit with the kids during breakfast time and have it then. We also prioritize family devotional time. Obviously it’s not the same as when you do it on your own, but you’re still getting in the Word and that’s the most important thing.
4. Hit play in the Bible app!
This has worked for me countless of times. I think creating an audible option in the Bible app is the best invention ever. For those days where I didn’t get any time to myself to get in the Word, I’ve put my headphones on, and hit play in the Bible app to listen to the Word while I get things done.
I hope you find this article encouraging today. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has felt inadequate at times in my devotion after logging into social media and seeing pretty pictures and reels of what a morning time should like. Yes, that’s the goal but our realistic routine can be beautiful as well and I want you to really know that.
I wrote this completely unplanned after my 5 month old woke up and “interrupted” my morning time… but really, we got into the word together ♥️.
Let’s chat!