You’ve been there… you get up early to have quiet time, get your coffee ready, sit down and open your bible, savor the quiet for just a moment, and… the door opens and your child comes stumbling out, ready to start her day!

This scenario happens to me…a lot.

It’s not that I don’t want to have a good quiet time. It’s not that I fail to plan for one. It’s simply that early risers and all nighters and high octane preschoolers all mean one thing: no solitary potty breaks, much less ten minutes of quiet.

I recently heard an older woman counsel younger ones in the trenches to try trading “quiet time” for “rowdy time,” meaning that we can connect with God while we are, say, playing with our kids outside finding bugs.

While I agree with the concept, we all know that God’s Word is our daily bread. There is simply nothing that can replace His word in our lives. His Word is our sustenance and it is what divides the intentions of our hearts. It is what gives light to our path and strength to our bones. Boy, do mommas need steady and regular nourishment in the Word! So what to do when it is so difficult to get?

Here are some tips that I employ with my four little ones:

Be content with Short.

Gone are the days when I believe a full course quiet time is the only kind that’s satisfactory. I’ve learned that a single passage or verse can be more than sufficient for the day. Exodus 16:4,18 says, “I will rain bread from heaven for you; the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day…He who gathered much had no excess and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Part of this season of life is learning to trust that God has a daily portion for us. Some days it may be a very small portion, a phrase or even a single word. Our job is to “gather it” and then feast on it (see final tip below). He promises us our daily portion will always be sufficient.

Involve the Children

Even if I miss “alone” quiet time, I get the Word in at the table after breakfast. The children are still seated and the youngest is still (locked down!) in his high chair. I or my husband will read short passages of Scripture, not too much to overwhelm the younger ones.

We use Daily Light on the Daily Path , which is a collection of short compilations of scripture for morning and evening of each day of the year.  Using this ensures we all have some Words to chew on each day. Here is an example of how God has used this simple practice to profoundly speak.

Employ Meditation

Then, I meditate on whatever word God has spoken throughout the day. This is a conscious choice to ponder and feast on the word and allow it to become my spiritual meal.

Meditation is crucial to transformation. It really is the “meat” of the meal. I used to have very long quiet times and deep study times (and I look forward to having them again one day!) . But I have learned that meditation is where the truth really becomes part of your nature.

Meditation changes your thinking and how a woman thinks in her heart, so is she. Being a mom can force you to develop this skill out of necessity.

Don’t underestimate the small things! You can take a passage, a phrase, or even a single word and meditate on it all day long. God changes our thinking and deepens our understanding through meditation. (See Romans 12:1-2 and Psalm 1)

I see this season of motherhood as an opportunity to develop other spiritual disciplines- like meditation and observation- disciplines that are just as vital for one’s spiritual growth and maturity. So celebrate this season of limited “quiet” times, knowing that God is working into your life additional skills and tools.

 What are your tips for having quiet time?
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