Mom Time — 5 Ways to Capture Moments of Peace in the Chaos of Motherhood

Does it sometimes feel like the sound levels of your home could match an attack by a Viking army? A personal quiet moment — even in the bathroom — might now be considered a refuge previously taken for granted a few years BC (before children).  

Finding peace in an increasingly busy, noisy and stressed world may seem as impossible as trying to solve your child’s math homework.

Feeling overwhelmed? Do you, like the Psalmist, long to be “rescued” and “brought out into a spacious place”? (Psalm 18:19) Here are five baby steps to create a home with more room to enjoy the presence of God in the midst of our messy–but extraordinary–daily lives.

5 Ways to capture moments of peace in the chaos of Motherhood.

Seek quiet minutes.

Our society is increasingly addicted to filling every quiet space as if we are afraid of the sound of silence.  Seek out those pockets of time, whether they’re on the school run, during nap time, or even while preparing dinner.  Engage with those precious moments of peace, allow your heart to reach out for the presence of God – even for a moment. Take a second to breathe. Refresh yourself in His presence. That moment could transform the busy hours to come.

Become a good steward of your phone.

Your smartphone is not the problem. Instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, embrace the challenge of becoming a good steward of your phone. Be conscious of how it fills your mind and time, and what you’re filling those with.  Paul in Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Look for people and organizations who meet these criteria and fill your social feeds with them–people that will build you up and encourage you.  Apps, such as the Christian meditation app Soultime, give practical tools to help us engage in short accessible meditation sessions that even the busiest mom can fit into her day.

Bring your children on the journey.

So often we think of prayer and meditation as an exclusively private moment.  There is so much power in modelling simple prayer, worship, and meditation to our children. This can be done through listening to reflective music, playing your favorite worship albums, praying with your little one, repeating simple Bible verses and learning Scripture together.  Teaching them the life skill of stillness, even if they manage only a few seconds, will be extremely beneficial to them as they learn and grow. Your children need to switch off the noise at times, just as much as you do.

Encounter God during bedtime stories.

Storytime can be an odd moment filled with Gruffalos, Hairy MacClary and other wonderful creatures only known to those with kids. But it can also be a sweet time to instil peace in your home. Consider reading together a children’s Bible or stories such as Max Lucado’s “You Are Special.”  For older children consider books such as C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series or an audiobook of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Allow the imagery in the storytelling to take you on a journey together, removed from this present world where you and your child can experience God’s presence.

Prioritize peace.

Making space for God consciously means prioritizing that time over other things. What commitments are only contributing to the chaos?  Don’t become addicted to being busy. Perhaps one less activity a week could provide breathing room in your schedule for still and quiet.  You will never regret prioritizing space to listen in to God, the good shepherd, who “gently leads those who have young.” (Isaiah 40:11)


Soultime
Soultimehttp://soultime.com
Soultime is a Christian mediation app that helps people focus on Scripture meditation and time with God.

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