Scheduling quiet time isn't easy for busy moms. I find that a lot of the time I don't even have the time to sit down and schedule my quiet time. Sound familiar?

Finding a few moments to yourself is difficult whether you're a working mom or a stay-at-home mom. As a working mom, I get up early, go to work, come home and make dinner, watch a little television, and go to bed. In the morning I'm always in a rush to get up and get everyone out the door, and in the evening I'm too tired to think let alone accomplish anything productive.

I recently realized that at least a whole year had gone by since I'd spent any length of time reading my Bible. Sure, I sit in church every Sunday and can't resist all the great books coming out by Christian writers (which I always seem to find the time to read), but I just couldn't find the time to just pick up my Bible and read.

What finally did it for me was watching my teenage daughter faithfully reading her Bible every day and excitedly writing down in her journal what the Lord had revealed to her through His Word day after day. After awhile I just couldn't take it any more and knew that something was going to have to change. My competitive spirit finally got the best of me.

This year I resolved to read through the entire Bible by the end of the year. I sit down and read a couple chapters a day, sometimes more and sometimes less. I haven't quite got into the journaling part of it yet like some people do, but I do quietly contemplate what the Lord has to say to me that day.

What always trips me up is my promises to myself to "read every day", or "read for a certain amount of time every day", or "read at a certain time every day." As soon as I set up those guidelines for myself, I have set myself up to fail. It turns into a battle with my will, which I'm well aware is a self-discipline issue, but old habits die hard.

I've found that if I miss a day I don't worry about it. I just pick it up the next day. Sometimes I squeeze in my quiet time at lunch time and sometimes I wait until bed time. I know a lot of people like to get up early, before the rest of the family, to have their quiet time and start their day off right, but I just haven't got to the point where I can get up earlier and focus on the things at hand. Maybe in time that will change.

Maybe you need to spend your quiet time praying and spending time in the Lord's presence. When something's on my mind or the Lord has put a burden on my heart, often I will just sit quietly and pray. Often the feeling will last for several days and will continue to be the focus of my quiet time.

If you ever feel yourself drifting off on your own and not quite connected with the Lord the way you should be, spend some time alone with Him and see what message He might have for you. Just pray quietly, and open His Word, and He will be right there just waiting for you to call on Him.

Whether it's in the car, or while you're cooking or doing laundry, or getting ready to fall into bed, find some time to talk with the Lord today. Find your quiet time. And don't forget that your kids are watching everything you do. If they see your desire to connect with the Lord then chances are they will want to too.

Copyright 2003. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer, mom, and owner of four home and family web sites. For complete resources for the Christian home, visit her web site at http://www.Christian-Parent.com.

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