Making the time
Time is something that nobody seems to have anymore. We are busy and we fill our days with activities, events, and work. In our free time, we choose to check our email, texts, social media accounts, and binge watch our favorite shows.
Why do we do this?
I don’t have the answer. That’s a legitimate question that I’m asking. Why do we do this?
We have a choice.
We CHOOSE to sign our kids up for teams.
We CHOOSE to turn on our cell phones and televisions.
We CHOOSE to busy ourselves into anxiety.
Stop choosing these things that cause you so much stress. I’m not saying that every activity needs to be cancelled, but if you are at a place in your life where you feel like you’re drowning and can hardly keep your head above water, something has got to change!
Take back your priorities
A great way to figure out what things to ditch and what things to keep is to make a list. Let’s talk priorities.
The bible tells us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength in Deuteronomy 6:5 and to love our spouses in Ephesians 5:22-25. We are also called to parent our children in Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4.
Our parents are also high priority in Deuteronomy 5:16 and our extended family, including fellow believers are to be important to us according to 1 Timothy 5:8.
I’m starting to think that relationships are HIGH PRIORITY in God’s eyes.
That should actually be a release of tension in our lives. If the things that we are doing aren’t encouraging relationship or caring for the needs of our families, why add it into a busy schedule?
My Christian top 10 guide
- God
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Family
- Other Believers
- Service
- Work
- Ourselves
- the World
The top of my list and yours, if you are a Christian, is God. There’s nothing more important on this Earth than having a relationship with God. And there’s no way you can maintain a relationship with anyone if you don’t spend time with them.
Neglect something
In order to give the attention you need to give to God, something else has to be neglected.
This might seem like a pretty harsh term. Here’s how I came up with it:
A couple years ago, I was talking to someone about all the different projects I had going on, and she commented, “How in the world do you find the time to do it all?”
I responded “I neglect my children.”
Now this is completely NOT TRUE. My children are not neglected. I was JOKING. But it got me thinking…..
When we are focused on one thing, something else does typically fall to the wayside…..
As good at multi-tasking as we women think we are, nobody has it ALL TOGETHER.
When I homeschool, in order to give a child complete focus, something else has to fall to the wayside. Maybe it’s another child, maybe it’s the dishes, maybe it’s a text that I need to return.
Full attention cannot be given to anything or anyone if you’re doing something else at the same time.
So what do you need to neglect?
Replacing what you neglect with God
So, choose something that is less important and replace it with God time.
Such as not clicking “yes” when Netflix asks if you’re still watching….
FInding the right time
I try to be sure that everyone is taken care of, as a mom, when I sit down to Bible journal. I know that by doing this, I will endure fewer interruptions.
In the beginning, I would try to journal after everyone was in bed, but I found that I wasn’t giving God a good portion of myself. I was tired and over the day and my God time suffered because of it. I wanted to give him a good part of me and I wanted to be present in our relationship.
Now, I choose to mostly journal while my kids are around. They’ve gotten used to the rules of being quiet while mom reads her bible.
Sometimes the older boys journal with me and sometimes the baby scribbles on my page. UGH.
Sometimes I have to walk away.
Sometimes I get to finish.
Sometimes a fight breaks out that I have to referee.
Sometimes the little guy can’t handle it for one second more.
There are days I journal during naptime and nights that I wake up at 3am with a desire to spend time with God.
Throw out perfection
What I’m trying to say is there is not a perfect solution in this season of life. But it’s important so you just have to “make it happen, Cap’n”. Find what works for you.
Sorry that probably wasn’t the answer you were hoping for. There is no “easy button”. There is no magic solution. Relationships take effort.
Don’t tell yourself you will just have to wait until the kids are grown.
That’s a lie.
There is time in the day to do this. If there’s not, then you have too much in your day. How’s that for a truth bomb?
It’s ok if every day looks a little different.
God’s not looking for perfection, he’s just looking for you.
You will never regret taking a moment to work on the most important relationship in your life.
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Millie says
Oh my! Thank you! I just came across your blog (day dreaming about Bible journalling while feeding our baby and snuggling our toddler down for a nap). These are such encouraging and helpful words. Thank you! I’m going to say no to more Pinterest and yes to reading my Bible for a few minutes. Thanks and please keep writing!!
Rachelle says
Love that! Thank you for sharing! It’s so worth the effort. ❤️