If you are a homeschooling mama of little ones, how long do you spend reading either God’s Word or a devotional every day? (No condemnation or judgment… you may answer freely)
How Much Time Do You Spend In Bible or Devotional Reading?
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Never enough!
Try for half hour personal and half hour devotional family worship. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t 🙂 More consistency would be great. When I am reading or studying a particular doctrine or theme I may spend a lot more time ~ but that is not happening too much just at the moment 🙁 What about you? Is this a survey?
Hi Ruby,
I’m sure we would all say the same – it’s never enough! Unless one is studying full time or researching to write. 😉
I’m fairly sporadic. Like you, when I have something specific to study then I barely come up for air… but then there will be another season when life is full-on and I barely do much more than a cursory reading of the Scriptures. Consistency, consistency, consistency.
I have found, however, that I have LOTS more time now that the children are older. I barely had time to brush my hair when the children were little… let alone immerse myself in the Scriptures.
Survey? What you talkin’ about, Ruby? What makes you ask that? You’re a clever lady. That’s all I will say… for now 😉
Depends. I almost always have a study I am reading in depth but lighter *devotional* stuff ~ almost never. Private devotions can also be a bit hit & miss depending on how crazy my house is at any given time. I aim for at least an hour in prayer most days + bible reading. Sometimes I manage that; sometimes I don’t ~ & sometimes it’s something in between.
Thanks Ganeida,
Tehee, a visit to your blog tells me that you’re not really the light and fluffy kind of reader 😉
What about when your children were younger? How did you get on then?
lol Same. Prayer on the fly more often that not but I have always been a reader & even if I couldn’t implement what I learnt back in the days I have kept it on the back burner of my mind till now.
What I wish I had done is teach my children how to sit quiet & still but it was one of those things I’d had no training in how to do so failed to train my children. It makes it easier to hold a small child in your arms & pray if they understand *quiet/peace/still*. I think mums of littlies need to grasp what they can when they can but too often we feel if we can’t give a solid 1/2 hour or 20 minutes it’s not worth doing but 20 lots of 5 minutes starts adding up into quite a lot so the trick is to think about it all differently & apply more of Brother Lawrence’s *practing the presence of God* from moment to moment rather than trying for an unmanagebly large chunk. Does that make sense?
Makes perfect sense to me. Being an only child I was not quite used to volume of noise that having four and five children can create. It didn’t take me long to realise that I needed to train them in the art of being quiet. There is a time to run amok, screaming in wild delight and there is a time to be quiet.
I love the deeper times of study that having older children affords me but I did manage to survive and thrive on a few minutes each day… developing an attitude of practising the presence of God. What a great book. I blogged a little about my time in that book here:
Part one and part two.
That was such a revelation to me too….Practising the Presence is essential……….I think arrow prayers, like good old Colin sings about are for busy mums!!! We do not have chunks JUST opportunities………….my spiritual life is not ALONE……..I always had a kid on lap, a husband next to me in bed, or a dog by my feet, or a prayer around the table before tea…it was hardly EVER alone. Practising was essential!
Ain’t that the truth! Moments not chunks 🙂
Years ago when I had 3 under 7years, I made an inner vow to TOUCH every page in the Bible every year ( am such a tactile learner) …………since then I have attempted to read the bible every year……..sometimes a quiet time was virtually impossible BUT I was a reader and a fast one! So I embraced my gift and read using the old Marilyn Hickey daily reading plan (very easy)
“3 of the old and 2 of the new, you will read your Bible the whole way through!!!”
I can truly say now it has paid off…………I have failed and many years it took me two years (or more) especially in baby years when they were born and I was breastfeeding up late etc ( I now have 6, the youngest is 6) …….but in general I read and read…….
I kept a record of each date I finished the old and new at the beginning of each book on the title page……my Bible has become my devotional book, I bought a wide margin bible so I was not juggling two books and 6 kids in church and took notes when I could (I always dated them and wrote who preached it) I also noted underlined and wrote my own inspiration and sermon ideas in these wide margins…..so essentially I could preach anywhere at anytime coz all my notes and revelations were there in one book….
Very handy in the Philippines where we had the 5 minute rule, we were required to be ready to preach with 5 min notice!!!
I have never never never been legalistic or dogmatic……it was a work in progress, and I will never probably arrive until i get to heaven……but it was such a valuable deposit into my spiritual life when I had small ones…….it was like my spiritual superannuation plan………I did NOT have hours, days to intercede and worship and pray, BUT I did have 20 min to read………I have vegemite smears, toddler scribbles, rips, torn pages and the book of Ephesians is nearly loose BUT I see them as “trophies” to ten years of a commitment.
I can not say i am a theological giant, but I have an awareness and general “feel” about His nature, His ways, and love for us.
I have a doctrine I call it my Nike Doctrine it is simply JUST DO IT…………Just read, the superannuation plan works for the day when you do NOT have little ones rattling around, being a distraction, and demanding every second of the day……………..THE DAY WILL COME assure you……..
I never thought it would but it does. In my opinion those days are harder spiritually rather than physically (as in baby days) and you will need your extra spiritual time to pray your kids through the hurdles of this life and their future! These are the praying days when your kids start to make independent decisions and choices! I feel we need to bathe them in prayer at this stage………..
Bible reading in baby days hold you in good stead and provide a great base or skeleton you can build on as your kids grow, you do not need to do the basics…..you KNOW the Word, you KNOW how God thinks, you KNOW the principles they are already IN you!
Well that is my journey and experience………OF COURSE this will not be everyone’s walk we are all different and have different bents but we must see the baby years as a deposit into the latter years!!! How we do may be different but it leads to the same place!!!!!
Love and hugs
Cathy
Mate…….that sounds like I have it all together…………..Bahhhhh Haaaah Haaaaah if you knew me, you would see the faults…………I am so hopeless without Him, I throw myself on the mercy seat………..ALL THE TIME…….also all “THAT” stuff above took 20 years!!!! With much failing, much struggle, much hardship!!!
My heart is to give others a boost which I never had, practical keys to a hard stage of life…….I hope that comes through!!
Cath
Well, cathy, I *do* know you IRL and whilst I know you don’t have it all together- you are one LOVELY lady 🙂
Thanks for sharing with me 🙂
Shucks I wuv you too!!!!
Devotional??? What’s that??? LOL
I have one baby so I hardly have an excuse. I just don’t do well with formal devotionals, never have. I know I’m supposed to and I’ve heard all the arguments, I know other christians would judge me for it, but in fairness to me, that dosen’t mean my life is free of the word of God. I follow dozens of blogs, most by christian homeschooling large families. Every single day at least one of them, almost always more, has posted something of a devotional nature, whether it’s a post about a revelation from God, reflection on what they heard in church last week, or just a story of their children which brings them back to the Lord. Bible verses are quoted, and links are given to even more christian discussion. Lest you think my scope is limited, these women manage to cover everything from the pure salvation message to old testement ceremonial law, marriage and children right through to the theology surrounding angels.
Beyond reading, I often find myself taking these posts and using them as a starting point. I’ll find something I’m not sure about or don’t understand, or something I’m unfamiliar with, and research it, look at it. I find myself at least once a week doing an indepth study on something.
So I don’t do official devotionals, and I’m sure to many christians what I do dosen’t ‘count’. But it works for me right now, and I am spending more time in the word than I ever did before. I don’t see how reading a post about the blessing of motherhood and a verse to go with it is any less of an achievment as opening a book and reading a page about the blessing of motherhood and a verse to go with it. The difference is one was done by a professional author who probably dosen’t share my more specific beliefs, the other is done by a woman who is where I am and sharing from her emotions, rather than an author who shares more from his thoughts.
I’ll admit I don’t read as much of the actual bible as I should, but that is a struggle relating to things from my past that I am working through, there’s no quick fix for that in my case. But when I consider all the bible I read through my research and others posts, I think I read about as much as any young mum, in bits and pieces.
When people talk about devotions we tend to imagine early morning, worship music softly in the background, morning coffee and books scattered, peace and calm. Maybe for an older mother, but I need my sleep! And why is using a web browser and notepad any less holy or worthy than books in my hands. Why is studying at lunchtime less holy than doing so at daybreak. Why is self directed study worth so much less than a pre-written book? (isn’t that a very state school mindset?). Why is doing it 6 times a day for 10 minutes at a time frowned upon compared to doing it 60 minutes straight?
I guess I’m breaking the mold, and as far as many christians are concerned I don’t do devotionals, but unless there is a theological argument against the way I do things, I’ve finally accepted that this is what works for me and I’m comfortable with it.
As a side note, once my children are of homeschooling age I intend to do something with them each day as part of their curriculum, sort of like a family devotional.
I’m sorry, I don;t mean to sound defensive by the way, I know you’re not judging me, but I know others will, and I guess this is something I’ve become defensive about in general.
A baby? Oh my! I remember when you were recently married! Oh, I wish you were still blogging (but understand that you’re not).
Have you ever read my post where I felt judged for NOT reading devotions?
http://susanpriolo.com/blog/2010/02/12/relational-living-and-quiet-times/
So, don’t let anyone put judgment on you Abba. Well they can try but you don’t have to put it on. Know what I mean? Bless you and thanks for sharing.
I actually am blogging again, I didn’t think you’d even remember who I was lol. I don’t link to it with my name yet because I guess I don’t feel very confident in myself… But if you’re really interested the address is – http://abba12instructionmanual.blogspot.com/
Oh cool! I’ll pop over and visit you now. Thanks for sharing with me. let me know if you want me to delete your url from the comment above.
I’m pretty good with names and face. No way did I forget you. 🙂
Devotions? I would love to have a small devotion time each day! I have this ideal in my head about getting up nice and early before the kids (4 boys 4 yrs and under) and having quiet time in the Word and Prayer….but as I said – it’s an ideal and far from a reality (the boys are early risers and once they are up, they are up!!)! I try and steal 5 mins here and there to have a moments prayer – which gets me through but leaves me so hungry for the presence of God! I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that I’m in a ‘season’ at the moment – and that things will only get easier …eventually!!
Thank you for all the engouragement!
Blessings,
Jo
Hi Jo,
I used to try and get up earlier than the children but when they woke so early it was quite difficult, to say the least. So I would try and grab snatches of prayer time whenever I could. I also found playing praise music in the background was helpful, as well as teaching the little ones from the Bible, as it became my nourishment as well. Even just having a few Scriptures over the wall, above the kitchen sink, etc is handy because it is a way of hiding God’s word in our heart.
Once the children are a little older, you could (if not already) start to train them towards a quiet time. I would make sure the children were fed, toileted, etc so this would limit interruptions of the necessary kind. 😉 Then, I would tell them that we were going to have a quiet time so that Mummy could pray and read. Realistically, one could only expect them to be quiet for (approx) 1 min per year of their age. So, a 5 year old could learn to be quiet and still for 5 minutes. This taught them valuable skills but it also gave me a few minutes.
God knows the needs of mothers of young ones. If our heart is turned toward Him then He will satisfy us. 🙂
I always read my bible before I work in front of the monitor. Lat year was a struggle for me to read my bible, but when it goes into your system, you cannot just begin your day without reading it. It’s like going to work without taking a bath when you don’t read your bible. It is already a part of your morning ritual
I’m so thankful that I’m not the only one who has gone through long periods of little or unconventional “devotion” time! My boys aren’t babes anymore, but often the only “Bible time” I got was by reading to them while they played at my feet. I figured I was knocking off 2 goals with one action. I didn’t have much of a brain because of hormones for years, so I don’t know how much I actually was “getting” out of those times, but I knew that SOMEHOW God would fill my needs even if I didn’t feel like I was doing enough. A tough season… but worth it. God is faithful and works in ways we don’t understand.
Hahaa, thanks Aaron! This is pretty much exactly what I just wrote to Jo here. Yes God is faithful, isn’t He. And when we seek after Him, He will not leave us unsatisfied. 🙂
tough season for sure… sometimes i get a good hour in, and other times I am lucky if i get 20 minutes in! but I keep trying to move forward and keep looking to him everytime I mess up!
Hi there Amydeanne, Thanks for stopping by my site!
It really does depend upon the ages of the children, doesn’t it? That, and the diligence we’ve shown (or not!) in training them. Hehee, my family always wondered why I took such long showers… it’s the ONLY time I was left alone! I don’t know why they left me alone when I was showering but honestly, it was the ONLY place I could get 10min alone.
hmmmm, well, my 7 year old is not so little anymore so not sure if your question is related to me 🙂
I really am not one to read devotionals much, I don’t stick them out I find for some reason!
I think it’s because I sometimes like to read the Bible for ‘myself’. Devotionals have their place and we have stacks we’ve collected over the years but I just find for me that I read them very randomly. My dh on the other hand is a disciplined devotional reader:)
As for personal Bible reading time, it varies from day to day, somedays longer than others, somedays not at all, because on those days I spend that time reading christian books that I’m learning from. I do make time to pray every day though some days more than others. When dd was younger I used nap times to do this, now that she’s older and wakes up a little later I often have time before she wakes up, if not I fit it in when she has a quiet time in the afternoon in her room.
I find that having these habits becomes like second nature after a while, and just like you can’t go without food it becomes hard to live life withouth having spent that time with God.
p.s. I do have days when I don’t read or pray very much at all, esp on Mondays because I feel I need a break after a demanding Sunday with church and ministry responsibilities, shhh don’t tell anyone lol
Hehee, I won’t tell a soul, Rosemary. LOL
Using nap time is good. 🙂
Great responses here, Susan. After reading them over the last couple of days I realised with your FB status that it actually asked for mothers with little ones! I have no little ones of my own at this stage of life but lots of small people in the house 🙂
Just wanted to add that when mine were all small, I used the 5mins is better than nothing and prayer time over the sink, the feeding baby, the next load of laundry! Some days I would just read one verse and try to meditate on during the day.
The lovely verse which encouraged me was in Isaiah, He gently leads those with young.
Hi Ruby,
Initially my question was for those with little ones but the comments from the mums with older children has been invaluable – I’m so glad no one took any notice of me. 😀
And most times, reading one verse and meditating upon it for the day is EXACTLY what I would do. But sometimes, I will confess, even that seemed difficult as I wouldn’t know what verse or what book to even look in. I didn’t do devotionals so it was very hit n miss a lot of the time.
I came back because of my last comment of needing a ‘break’ on Mondays:)
We sometimes have such busy Sundays of ‘giving out’ that I often feel like I just need to ‘rest’ in Him on Mondays; not that reading and praying is work, just need time to mull over the day before etc etc not sure if I’m making sense lol!
Hi Rosemary,
Both my husband and I have ministered at Church on Sundays. Whilst it is a blessing and very refreshing and invigorating in many ways, it is also slightly draining in other ways. So I don’t know if it’s normal or not (although I strongly suspect it is) but I know exactly what you mean. 😉
It’s time to just be still and know that He is God… time to absorb and process all that has gone on throughout the previous day. There is nothing wrong in that!