I’d like to share one of my favourite photos from my early days of motherhood.
I just love this photo—the love and awe on the faces of my two older sons as they watched me bath their new baby brother.
Somehow this photo reminds me of the pure love God has for us. He wants us to experience the depths of that love, but to do so, we need to spend time with Him.
I can hear some of you saying, Oh no! Not another thing I have to do! Please don’t let this be just another thing on your to do list. You’ll find that spending time with our Heavenly Father is the fuel that keeps you going throughout the day.
I feel that it’s important to acknowledge God in some way at the beginning of each day, even if it’s just a short, deliberate prayer as you gaze out of your bedroom window thanking God that His mercies are new every morning and committing the day (and your to do list!) to Him. Just as a walk, run or exercise session is so much better if we’re wearing suitable shoes and clothing, so our day goes so much better if we walk through it with God. You may like to also include a prayer of putting on the whole armour of God. (Ephesians 6: 10-18.)
I love the way God speaks to me through His Word and I’m amazed how relevant the Bible is to our life today. We do need to take time at least once a week for quality time reading the Bible, asking God to speak to us through it and responding in prayer to Him. There are many Bible Reading guides available. For example, the YouVersion Bible App has plans on various themes eg Anxiety, Faith. The NIV Study Bible App offers plans of various lengths. Alternatively, take a browse through the devotional books at your nearest Christian Bookstore or on line.
Over the years I’ve found it helpful to write in a journal during my time with God. This doesn’t have to be lengthy or perfectly written. There’s no set format —mine has varied considerably over the years. From time to time I look back over my journal and am reminded of lessons I have learnt, answers to prayer, things I’ve neglected to follow through with, and especially to be reminded of the fact that life with God is an exciting journey.
How do we find time to pray for all the things we’d like to? That’s a question that mums have been grappling with down through the ages. Susanna Wesley (1669 -1742), mother of the famous John and Charles Wesley—plus eight more children, has gone down in history as a praying Mum. She advised her children that when they saw her with her apron over her head, that meant that she was in prayer and couldn’t be disturbed. I haven’t used that method, but I do find extra times to pray as I put the washing on the line or take a morning walk etc. When I’m driving alone I like to sing a medley of my favourite praise worship songs. At one time, when I used the same route to work each day, as I travelled along a certain back street, I would pray for the pastoral staff and other leaders in our church. These are just some examples—I’m sure you can find more.
I am praying that God will lead you to find ways to keep close to Him and that you will experience the difference it makes walking with Him day by day.
Grandma Adele
P.S. I would highly recommend listening to Katherine’s excellent podcasts on Overwhelmened in The Refined Mother, especially part 2. https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/25h7H9GBULb
