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Motherhood is hard. But mama, you know what? It doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it sometimes. Jesus calls us to come to Him and give Him our burdens when we’re weary; and to cast our cares on Him.
Are you in the habit of doing that, sister?
Full disclosure– sometimes I do; but, often I don’t. Many times I get overwhelmed, worried, and anxious in my parenting. There are so many things to do, schedules to manage, places to be, and people to care for.
But God.
God can handle all the things. He will calm our hearts, give us peace, and gently lead us in the direction we should go– if we let Him.
I’ve found that I struggle with these negative (and unnecessary) feelings the most when I am not seeking Him and studying the Word regularly. This happens when my morning routine is slacking and lacking.
Moms– we must, must, must find a way to make time for God. No matter how busy we are. God has entrusted us with the lives of tiny humans, giving us the privilege and responsibility to raise them to be productive citizens in society, who fear the Lord. In my opinion, this is the most important job in the world.
Therefore, we have no excuse. Yup, I said it! No excuse. These little eyes, hearts, and minds depend on us to train them up in the way they should go.
Yet, if we aren’t taking the time to allow the Lord to continue to train us up, how can we in turn expect to have the godly wisdom and knowledge to pass on to our children?
RELATED: 22 Tips for Making Time for God as a Busy Mom
How to Prepare for your Morning Routine
Creating an effective morning routine as a Christian mom is more than doing small and sometimes insignificant things to make your day more productive. You can find a lot of tips, tricks, and articles on the web about general morning routines.
Sis– that’s not what we’re going to focus on today, ok?
Here at A Woman Created On Purpose, I feel called to equip you in your walk with the Lord. So let’s use our time wisely and focus on the things that are actually important to the Lord, shall we?
So, when I say morning routine, I’m not talking about making the perfect cup of coffee, or what music to listen to as you work out (not that coffee, music, and working out are bad– I love all of those things!).
What I’m talking about is coming before the Lord. And, since coming before the Lord is such a major thing, before creating the perfect morning routine, I think it’s important to do a few things:
#1: PRAY. ask the Lord to help you be consistent in your schedule.
We all know that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). You may truly want to have a consistent quiet time with the Lord in the morning; but, late nights, overnight feedings, or draining schedules leave moms weary in the mornings.
Pray for strength each morning, so you don’t constantly give into your flesh.
#2: Decide where you will do your quiet time.
Pick a special spot in your house to study the Word, whether it’s a favorite chair or a quiet room. Eventually, this place will become mentally synonymous with your quiet time.
#3: Find a time of day that works for you.
Since you’re reading the “Morning Routines” article, I’m assuming you’ve chosen the morning (or you’re entertaining the idea!).
There is something powerful about starting the day off in the presence of the Lord, but if you’re not a morning person, don’t try to become one overnight. You can check out the next two parts of this series to learn about Afternoon Routines and Evening Routines.
Whatever time of day you prayerfully choose, ask the Lord to remove obstacles you may face day to day.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ”
The Importance of Morning Routines for Moms
Our days need to be hemmed and wrapped in prayer. I don’t know about you, but my 24 hours seem longer, harder, and more tiresome when I forsake my time with the Lord.
If we want a day where we are keeping the Lord and His Word first and foremost in our minds, then we need to put the Lord first and foremost in our schedule.
Seeking the Lord first puts our minds in the right framework. We can give our control, worries, schedule, and hearts to the Lord when we seek Him first. Also, we can do a better job of mentally preparing for the day when we allow ourselves to bask in His glory with the sunrise.
When we wholly give ourselves over to Him first thing, we’re less likely to take ourselves back into our own control throughout the day.
Bible verses about morning prayer
Although we can seek the Lord at any time of day (and we should!) there is something encouraging about seeking the Lord in the morning. It is like wrapping the day up in a protective covering and shield, powered by the Lord. If you’re looking for Bible verses about morning prayer and seeking the Lord first, be inspired by these:
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. (Psalm 5:3 NKJV)
Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8 ESV)
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words. (Psalm 119:147 ESV)
But I will sing of Your strength; I will sing aloud of Your steadfast love in the morning. For You have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. (Psalm 59:16 ESV)
But I, O Lord, cry to You; in the morning my prayer comes before You. (Psalm 88:13 ESV)
10 Uncomplicated Steps to Creating a Productive Morning Routine
So, sister– let’s get into it! Your morning routine may look different than mine, but there are some basic things we can all do to create the ultimate morning routine for ourselves.
“If we want a day where we are keeping the Lord and His Word first and foremost in our minds, then we need to put the Lord first and foremost in our day.”
#1: Determine how much time you’d like to spend before the Lord.
There is no right or wrong answer to this! Set a loose goal for how much time you’d like to spend praying and in the Word. Be gracious with the amount of time, knowing that there will likely be things that cut the time shorter than you prefer.
#2: Set your alarm for at least 45 minutes before your children wake up.
Be sure to account for the timeframe you determined in Step #1, so you may need more than 45 minutes.
When we allow our children to be our alarm clock, we set ourselves up to begin the day frazzled. Not that our children are a constant cause of stress (!), but we as mothers need to remember that first, even before our motherhood, we are a daughter of God.
We need time to be His daughter, alone, before engaging in our role as a mom.
#3: Pray the night before.
If you’ve ever been a morning workout person, you know that one of the things that can help to ensure you follow through with your morning exercise is to set out your workout clothes the night before. I’ve even heard people say they sleep in their workout clothes!
The idea is that you need to determine the night before the things you will do in the morning. Thankfully as Christians, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us be accountable; we don’t have to do this in our own strength.
Before going to bed, say a short prayer, asking the Lord to give you strength and mental clarity in the morning, and to help you uphold your commitment to meeting with Him.
#4: Get up!
Don’t you dare hit that snooze button, sister! Turn your alarm ringtone to something that sounds pleasant and invigorating, and puts a smile on your face. Get up and get moving.
#5: Don’t waste time doing unnecessary tasks.
I love starting my day with a cup of coffee, but I don’t want it to be an extra chore in the morning. I typically prep the coffee maker the night before, so that at the crack of dawn, I only have to hit a button or two to get the joe flowing.
I also give you permission to ignore the leftover dishes in the sink, the room that needs tidying up, and the looming to-do list. It’s not time for that yet! First thing in the morning is primetime for the Lord.
#6: Hold off on the electronics.
I have Bible apps on my phone that I use during my study time, but other than that, all other apps are avoided until my time with the Lord is done. Do your best to ignore email and social media notifications. Don’t even open the apps– we all know how easy it is to get sucked into the digital world!
Outside media has a way of heavily distracting us from focusing on the Lord– not just in the morning, but throughout the day. Be mindful that you aren’t wasting your precious quiet time reading about everyone else’s life on Facebook or responding to emails. There is always time for that later.
#7: Prepare your study materials the night before.
Could you imagine diligently popping out of bed when the alarm clock rings, getting your coffee in a jiffy and eliminating all distractions– only to waste 15 minutes gathering your necessary study tools?
Whether it’s just your Bible (which is enough!), or your Bible along with a journal, pens, highlighters or study guides– place your study tools in your quiet time area the night before. Having everything ready to go removes the need to scurry around for it in the morning.
get the most out of your study time
Download this set of FREE Bible Study Printables to assist you during your quiet time! This 5-page download includes a place to take notes, create a weekly or monthly reading plan, and to capture verses that speak to your heart. Fill out the form below.
The less you feel you have to work to put your morning routine into motion, the more you’ll be motivated to stick with it.
#8: Pray before you get started.
This may seem obvious, but don’t miss it! Not only should you pray over what you’ll be reading and that the Lord will give you wisdom and understanding of His Word, but it’s also a good idea to pray over your morning routine itself.
Do you struggle with being extra tired as you read? Does your mind start to wander as you pray? Are you looking at the words of Scripture on the page, but mentally preparing your grocery list at the same time?
Pray and ask the Lord to give you undistracted (internally and externally) peace and quiet as you study.
And can I share a secret? I even pray that the Lord would keep my children asleep until I’m finished with what He wants me to read that morning!
#9: Focus. Focus. Focus.
Purpose to sit and be still for the entirety of your study time. I know your coffee needs warming. What was that noise upstairs, anyway? Ooops, there were clothes left in the washer last night that needed to be placed in the dryer. What time is that appointment, again?
All of those things can wait. The more you get up and interrupt yourself, the less you are soaking in what the Lord has for you. Your morning routine is not the time to multitask. Focus on hearing from the Lord, not on your present circumstances.
So, finish reading the verse, the passage, or the chapter. Whatever you felt led to study that morning, be diligent to stay put until you do so.
#10: Help your children start their day with the Lord.
You’ve just spent ample time with the Lord, and now your little blessings are awake. Will you forget everything the Lord revealed to you, or could you pass it along?
If appropriate, share a few truths with your little ones as they begin their day. Whether this is casually over breakfast, or in a devotional-type setting, getting your children in the habit of thinking about the Lord first and foremost sets them up to have their own quiet times as they get older.
Plus, we all know the best way to imprint what you’ve just learned is to not only take action on it, but to also teach it to someone else.
RELATED: How to Purposely Pray Over Your Children
Morning Routine: Bonus Thoughts for Working Moms
The 10 Tips above are coming from my perspective as a current, stay-at-home mom. I understand that it sounds easier said than done, depending on the number of children you have and their ages, and whether you work full-time or part-time, out of the house, or at home.
I remember how differently my morning routine looked when I was a mom working full-time, with two kids under the age of 4.
#1: Consider the Lord’s wisdom
For my working sisters, please know that although your mornings are probably busier, as you also must prepare for your day away from your children, the Lord will give you the wisdom to know how you can make spending time with Him a priority.
#2: Prior Proper Planning
Perhaps you do the bulk of your work-day preparation the night before:
Pick out your outfit (and your little one’s)
Shower
Prep and pack certain components of your lunch and school lunches
Pack the diaper bag
Prep the coffee maker
Maybe you have to get up an extra 20 minutes earlier to account for the time it takes to get dressed and do your hair and makeup; however, if many of these time-wasting tasks are handled the night before, you have much less to do in the morning!
#3: continue to converse with the lord
Work schedules can change, whether you have meetings or events; morning schedules can change when children are sick. But, as you continue to seek the Lord, you will see ways to make a productive morning routine possible. He’ll show you things you can change, adjust, or cut out so that He can be a priority.
The fact is that God wants us to seek Him and keep His Word, and He promises that those who do will be blessed (Psalm 119:2). Therefore, if you genuinely want to make the Lord a priority in your day, He will help you establish this time and sustain you through it.
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart.”
Sister, we’ve got this.
As we work to set up a productive morning routine, please remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Things will arise. There will be unavoidable emergencies. Children will wake up a bit too early. You’ll get sick one morning and decide to stay in bed to get more rest.
Give yourself grace— because God does. He is always there, whether you missed your morning quiet time or not. He doesn’t move farther away throughout the day. He is waiting patiently for you to come to Him, seek Him, and spend time with Him.
So, although obstacles may come– don’t purposely stand Him up. Don’t leave Him hanging, sis. He’s your first love and He deserves to be honored.
Remembering that it’s all about Him, and not our perfect morning flow can help us start and stick with a morning routine that pleases and glorifies Him.
+Free Bible Study Printables+ Making time for God as a busy mom isn’t always the easiest thing to do. But, studying God’s Word is one of the most important things we can do to cultivate a deeper relationship with the Lord. Learn the key to spending more time with God, as well as 22 TIPS to help you consistently get in the Word each day.