Living in the season of littles is hard. It can be difficult to get the time to do things that we NEED to do, let alone the things that we want to. While time with Jesus is something that we NEED as mommas, I would like to challenge your thinking today, lets change how we think about having time with Jesus.
Our society has placed a great burden on Christian mothers. For stay at home mothers we are expected to have the house clean, the children clean and polite, homeschooling, making nutritious meals, the things done, and to have time with Jesus; for those who work outside the home the expectations seem to be to go to work and then come home and do those same things, yes, your family might help with the chores, but there are still things that they don’t do that you have to, AND have time with Jesus.
In Dear Mama Who Wants to be Mary, we talked about accepting our Martha Season. There is nothing wrong with being busy and being a Martha, rather the problem is our attitude.
Here is some encouragement for you, the spiritually hungry momma, who is struggling with getting everything that NEEDS to be done, done. This is from mommas who have been in your shoes, mommas who are in your shoes- this season of babies, toddlers, exhaustion, cleaning, doing so much we feel like we don’t even have the time to sit for a few minutes by ourselves let alone get what our soul desperately craves.
Read it, take it to heart, share it with other mommas who need it. Be encouraged, dear momma, and take in these small moments where your soul can be satisfied with Jesus.
Encouragement for the Spiritually Hungry Mom From Mommas Who Have Been There
“It doesn’t matter when it happens. You can have quiet time with Jesus in the midst of screaming children. He’s there. Play praise music, read a Bible story to the little ones, read them what you’re reading yourself, they’re never too young for scripture. And don’t get down on yourself if, at the end of the day, it seems you had no time at all. It’s just a season, Jesus sees your heart and knows your efforts. 
❤ also, children will benefit seeing mom dutifully sit down and spend quiet time if you can find a time for it.” Kayla N. ~The Accidental Nomad Life
“We would play worship music in the home throughout the day.
I worked to have a nap time that was synced between the kids. And once they out grow a nap I plan to have a “resting” time where they play quietly in their room so I can have alone time.
I also did a lot of reading while the kids played by me. I would just bring my coffee and Bible to the living room, and would read while they had free play. This season definitely requires creativity and grace grace grace. ❤” Amaris B. ~Crumbs and Glamour
“To pray for the child I’m nursing about his future. And to pray for the child I was tucking in. God gave me songs at night too, when I had to be up with my babies. Another thing that helped was to have my Bible, journal, and pen in the same basket as the wet wipes and pampers. Also to have more than one changing basket/place with reading in each.
We also quoted familiar verses with the little ones at bedtime sometimes … Their first memory work” Arla G.
“Some things that have helped me: To just for sure read my daily verse on my Bible app, and write a verse on my chalkboard door, or post a verse somewhere about the house to ponder on. Also, when my husband is dedicated to praying for me, it makes all the difference in my day. Those have been my coping methods during baby stage. Also, sometimes I do a Bible search on a subject at the computer because when I’m reading and drinking coffee on the chair I usually get bounced or sat on! 
😊 Oh and during the darkest of my postpartum nights up with baby, God gave me words from old hymns. I don’t know why I knew the words then because I don’t think I know them now but I prayed and sung those in my head a lot that one winter. The verse, the Lord gently leads those that are with young, is true!” Amy B.
“I would pray for her. Also, asking her husband for time to head to church (even if a service isn’t on) to light a candle and have some time alone with God is another suggestion. Even finding an empty room at a gym can create the quiet needed to feel connected. To be honest, I pray as I go to sleep, in the car, at yoga, in the shower. Whenever I find I can think linearly.” Alana R. ~Parenting from the Heart
“I would say that having time with Jesus doesn’t have to be solitary and quiet. It can be with the little ones gathered around her ( and this could be a wonderful example for those watching little ones! ). It can be during little snippets all throughout the day. It can be as she listens to an audio version of the Bible as she cooks or does laundry or showers. There are so many ways to get God’s word into our hearts and lives without it having to be quiet and first thing in the morning by ourselves.” Rebekah H. ~Hargraves Home and Hearth
Are you are spiritually hungry mom? Here are words of encouragement from mommas who have been there. #momlife #christianmom #faith #encouragement Click To Tweet
Spiritually hungry momma, take this advice from these mommas who have been in your shoes- Simplify your spiritual life, and teach your children what it means to have a daily personal relationship with Jesus Christ, rather than just having a chore to check off the list. Be encouraged momma, you are not alone!
If you know a momma who is in the season of littles, share this with her. Encourage her. Pray for her. Give her some coffee and watch her littles so she can take a break. Send her this post. Pour out the love of Christ on her.
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Aw I honestly think this is a great read for any woman. I don’t have kids, well puppies, but I still enjoyed the read. Going to forward it along to my sister. Thank you for sharing <3
Lisa Elaine
Aww, thanks, Elaine!! I hope that your sister finds this encouraging!!
Great tips here! I have done a lot of these too. It is so true it takes creativity. Thanks for sharing this.
– Grace Filled Bloggers visitor
You’re welcome! Thanks for coming by, Meghan!!
Thanks for compiling these words of encouragement! This is definitely where I am right now, too 🙂
Spending time in the Word is hard when you have babies and toddlers at home. My youngest is about to turn 3, and I’m finally feeling a little more freedom. I have begun trying to take 20-30 minutes in the morning to study the Bible, and write my prayer requests on a list that I can reference throughout the day. I am not a morning person – I just don’t function well first thing of a morning – so I’ve been doing this after I drop my oldest off at school and my younger two are busy playing. I actually just wrote a post about this which included resources that I’ve found to be helpful with Bible study and scripture memory!
Yes, that is one of the biggest things that I wish the Christian community would back off on a little bit, that our quiet time must be in the morning, it just doesn’t work for some people. I loved your post, there were so many great resources listed! I find it a little “funny” that we both had the same type of post this past week, I know God is going to use these to encourage many women!
Love this! These ladies gave some awesome tips and ways to spend much needed time with God. Once all of my girls were out of diapers, I had to start getting up early to spend quiet time with God. That 20 minutes or so every morning makes a world of difference on my day.
It does get easier once the babies are bigger, doesn’t it! Right now, I am between babies and I am able to get up before my littles, but I know when, if we are blessed again, I get pregnant again, we will have to be using these tips to get in quiet time later during the day, when I am actually awake. Pregnancy makes me soooo tired!!
I found that motherhood can drive your towards or away from your spirituality. Some women just seem to drown in being overwhelmed. For myself, being a mom brought me closer to God.
Yes, motherhood can be overwhelming at times! Like you, being overwhelmed and in such a needy place is what brought me closer to God, I realized that without Him I couldn’t do anything; I couldn’t be a good wife, a good mother, friend, etc. unless I was laying it all down and allowing Him to work through me in my weakness. Thanks for coming by, Rebecca!
Thank you so much for this! I love that all the ways of growing closer to God are different. It’s helpful to be reminded that growing spiritually can happen in a variety of ways.
Even though my kids aren’t toddlers anymore, it’s still hard to make the time to slow down and spend with God. Each season presents new challenges, and reevaluating and renewing our priorities is so important! Thanks for this!
I am so happy I read this! Great encouragement.
I love the encouragement here! What a great idea for a post! I keep thinking of susAna Wesley & how she covered her head with a towel when in quiet time!
Thanks for reminding me of that story! Now that you mention it, I remembered reading about that in high school. Thanks for coming by, Angela!!
I work outside the home and sometimes it is a never ending battle of things that I have to do. But in the end God helps me with what I need to get done in a day and He also teaches me that as long as I try my best that is what matters. No one is perfect and we always feel we fall short in some way shape or form.
So true, Sophia!! Thanks for coming by and sharing that!
I wake up early in the morning to drink my coffee and having my time with God. I love starting my day on the right foot! My kids and I not only listen to Christian music during the day, but we pray throughout the day together.
That’s great!! I love getting in my hot coffee and quiet time before my littles wake up!
What a lovely way to share this message with mothers in this season of life…it’s like Titus 2 come to life, all of these moms sharing wisdom and encouragement. Love it! Having littles is such a draining and physically exhausting time. But in struggling to reconcile this season with still seeking spiritual growth, we find new ways to connect and grow. I think it’s a huge time of maturing and growing in our faith. Or at least it can be.
Thanks for pointing that out, Susan!! I hadn’t even thought of it being like Titus 2! Yes, I think if we accept the season that we are in, God can use it for His honor and glory.
I completely agree with what you said about praising him even when the kids are running around. After I started doing that, I noticed that my kids begin to do it too, so not only was I getting my praise and my spiritual time but I was teaching my kids a special lesson. This is such a great post, I’m painting this one!
I adore posts that include lots of different voices with different pieces of advice. Thank you for sharing!
Spending time with God looks different during baby seasons, and that’s okay! I read the Bible on my Kindle because it’s easier for me to juggle while nursing.
That’s a great tip!! I tried to use some different apps but they just didn’t work for me, I’m very much a paper book person. I’m glad that you were able to find something that allowed you to get your devotional time in, Laura!
I loved all of this advice! What great idea and encouragement!
Love that you are encouraging mamas!!! (I’m the mom of Kayla N!)
Your intro reminded me of a post I wrote about Martha from a study I led. Here is the link, hoping to encourage you all more. 🙂
http://kathyschwanke.com/2014/11/12/when-it-comes-to-serving-is-your-heart-striving-or-still/
Hi Kathy, Did you get to read the post that Kayla just shared here? We’re on a minimalistic journey, so I love how she shared that decluttering and becoming more minimalist can bring glory to God.
Thanks for sharing your post with me! I did find it encouraging!