With Mother’s Day upon us, we take time to recognize and celebrate how much moms love, provide, and care for their families. A mother’s work and responsibilities aren’t always glamorous, but caring for her family is truly a significant ministry. Oftentimes, moms are so busy taking care of others that they have little time for themselves, and unfortunately, they don’t always find the time they need with God. Most moms can relate to those seasons in life when finding time to read the Bible seems nearly impossible. The truth is that knowing Scripture is vital to our faith!
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Fellow moms, we need this time with God, and we need to read Scripture. The Bible shows us the right path to take, reveals God’s truth and wisdom, teaches us to live like Jesus, and prompts us to love our family and those around us. To the moms who are trying their best to practice their faith and take care of everyone, here are nine tips for when you feel you just have no time to read the Bible.
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1. Subscribe to a Daily Devotional or Verse of the Day
Having a daily verse or devotional sent to you automatically each day is a great way to find a quick moment to read Scripture. Most of these subscriptions are fast reads that help busy Christians on the go keep their minds on Christ. They are truly perfect for moms who are juggling a lot of responsibilities.
Bible Study Tools offers a verse of the day you can subscribe to via their website or app. There are also a variety of Bible reading plans and topical devotionals and studies that last anywhere from a few days to a year. Subscribing to a daily verse is an easy way to read Scripture, whether you’re at home or out running errands.
2. Listen to an Audio Bible
Moms, we spend a lot of time doing a variety of tasks for our family, home, church, and career. You can listen to an Audio Bible on the go. Whether you are driving, exercising, cleaning, or doing another important job, an audio Bible is the perfect way to get into God’s word each day. The Daily Audio Bible offers daily passages that you can listen to while you manage your daily responsibilities.
3. Add Bible Reading to Your Child’s Bedtime Routine
Moms, we spend a lot of time with our kiddos! Try adding time reading the Bible together as a family to your child’s bedtime routine. This is a creative way to give yourself a chance to read the Bible. This will help you stay in God’s word, and it teaches your little one to develop an important spiritual discipline by keeping the Bible part of their daily life, too.
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4. Read While Your Child Naps
Nap time is precious to moms, no doubt, and there’s surely a long list of things to get done while your little one is napping. However, spending even 5-10 minutes of your child’s nap time to read the Bible will pay off in big ways for your relationship with Jesus. Reading the Bible is an important habit that builds our faith and draws us closer to God.
5. Read the Bible during Your Lunch Break
This one is for the moms who work outside of the home. One of the ways that you can incorporate time reading Scripture is to use your lunch break. Whether your lunch break is 20 minutes or an hour, pick a psalm or chapter in the Gospels to read. It’ll likely take only a couple minutes of your time, but will have a huge impact on the rest of your day. When we get into God’s word, we feel at peace, can handle conflicts better, and are reminded that God gives us strength and wisdom as we work.
6. Recruit Your Husband or Friend as an Accountability Partner
Being part of a Bible study, or simply getting your husband or friend on board to help you read Scripture, can help you stay motivated to find a handful of minutes each day to read the Bible. You can check in with your accountability partner with a quick text, the two of you can share ideas, motivate one another, and suggest verses or passages to read. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we can help each other grow in our faith.
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7. Prayerfully Consider What You Can Let Go
Moms feel compelled to help everyone and anyone! It is in our nature to love, nurture, and pitch in where we can. But sometimes, we overcommit. When you want to make Bible-reading a priority in your life, but can’t seem to find the time, it might be time to prayerfully consider what you need to let go of to make more time for God and His word in your life. God wants us to know the Bible, and certainly He will help you find ways to read each day. This means you may have to give something up or adjust your schedule. Whatever these adjustments look like for you, you will not regret making the necessary changes to read more Scripture. Pray for God’s help and He will show you the way.
8. Put Scripture around Your Home
It can be beneficial to print out a passage, verse, or psalm and put it around your house. When you are brushing your teeth or getting ready in the morning, read the passage that’s posted on your mirror. When you are making lunches or cooking, read the verse on your fridge or microwave door. Before you sit down to watch TV, read the verse that is on your coffee table. Before bed, read the psalm that you’ve placed on your nightstand. This will only take a couple minutes from your day, but it is a great way to incorporate Scripture reading into your daily life.
9. Start Small, but Start Somewhere
And finally, just start somewhere! Practicing our faith doesn’t have to happen in leaps and bounds. Sometimes, faithful living is taking one small faithful step forward. Start by setting a timer for 60 seconds while you read the Bible or pick one chapter to read each day. Perhaps make it your new routine when you pick up your phone in the morning to open your verse of the day or read a psalm. Prayerfully and creatively figure out how to start and just take that small step of faith. God will show up and help you along the way as you prioritize reading the Bible.
May you be encouraged as you start your journey toward spending more time with God and getting into His word. Finding time to read Scripture may take letting go of something or rearranging your schedule. Prioritizing time in God’s word may mean you create new routines for yourself and your family. Whatever it takes, start by doing something small to read or listen to the Bible each day. Pray that God will help you develop this new spiritual discipline. Remember, with God all things are possible (see Matthew 19:26), even finding time in your busy schedule to read the Bible!
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