One of the most important jobs we can have, as women, is loving and nurturing our children while raising them to respect and have an understanding of God and His ways. We need to stay connected with God in prayer if we are going to raise our children in a loving Christian home. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, we are told how important it is to teach our children and bring them up according to the word of God. If we are not staying connected with God it will be harder to raise our children with that kind of connection.

It Isn’t Always Easy

The baby didn’t sleep last night but you still had to get up and make breakfast for the family, while getting the older children ready for school. As you watch them leave the house you find yourself wanting to crawl back into bed. However, your toddler is in the process of climbing out of his highchair and the baby, still in your arms, is getting hungry. When will you ever find time to pray?

Most moms would agree that scenarios like this are not the exception but happen more frequently than we would like. Do you ever feel as if God is getting the leftovers from your life? If so, it might take readjusting your expectations and understanding what you can offer Him is something He finds precious.

Nothing can separate us from Him (Romans 8:38-39). God loves what you are doing. He understands your role as wife, mother and home maker. He knows you have days when you are stressed and days when all you can do is sit and hold a crying baby, hoping you will get the chance to take a shower at some point during the day.

Expectations

Let’s put aside expectations which can make prayer time seem like a dream that will never come true.

Maybe someone has suggested getting up earlier in the morning and taking the time to pray before anyone else is awake. While that might work for some, if your sleep has been interrupted by a nursing baby, a sick child, a toddler with night terrors or any number of reasons, just getting up can be difficult. Getting up earlier can seem impossible.

Have you heard we must pray for a certain amount of time each day? Maybe you have heard prayer should be an uninterrupted 15 to 30 minutes each day. We can set this expectation aside by looking at scripture. Many of the prayers recorded in scripture are short and to the point. You will not find any command that prayer should fit within a certain amount of time. In 1 Chronicles 4:10 we read the prayer of Jabez as he asked for blessings and protection. It was short and to the point, and God did as He asked.

Maybe you have heard since Daniel prayed three times a day, we should follow his example. Scripture tells us this was his custom, He bowed down in the privacy of his home for prayer and to praise God (Daniel 6:10). However, he probably did not have a baby in his arms and a toddler at his feet. While having dedicated time to spend on uninterrupted prayer, three times a day, would help us all draw closer to God, it is not commanded and probably would be difficult for most young moms to find the time to commit to this type of a daily custom.

If you find yourself avoiding prayer because you don’t have the time required to fulfill the above expectations or others, put them aside and consider getting a little more creative with your time.

Prayer is Important

Prayer is one of the most important tools we can use to connect with our Creator. For a young mom it can take some creativity to include prayer into our daily lives. Doing so will be beneficial not only for your spiritual life but for your family life as well. When you are connected to God on a daily basis and have confidence in that connection it will carry over into the way you interact with those you love. Psalm 27:13-14 encourages us to have confidence in Him and His love for us.

Getting Creative

Below are a few suggestions on how to include prayer in ways that fit the struggles and demands placed on young mothers.

A fussy baby can often be quieted by her mother’s calm and constant voice. Maybe you are in a rocking chair holding the little one to your chest. This would be a good time to pray aloud. Praying aloud while rocking your baby, allows you time for God and prayer while also giving your baby a chance to hear your voice alongside the soothing rocking motion.

This can take practice. It means being able to address God while allowing your baby to fuss as needed. Keeping your voice calm and constant may be exactly what your baby needs while you take the opportunity to give yourself and God the time you need together.

Washing dishes is the kind of job that allows our minds to wander and ponder on the day’s events. Why not include God in your thoughts? Instead of mindless thoughts, direct your thoughts toward Him in prayer. Talk to Him about those times during your day which did not go as planned and ask for His help in making the evening a better time for everyone. Or use the time to offer thanks for the blessings of the day.

There will be times during your day when things are a little quieter. This might happen during nap time or play time. If your baby is sleeping, you might feel as if it is time to catch up on chores. However, it could also be a great time to connect with God in prayer. Remember it isn’t about the amount of time you spend with Him; it is about the quality of time. If you get ten minutes before your toddler needs your help, then give God that ten minutes. He knows what your days are like, He genuinely wants to be a part of it.

One of the most hectic times of the day can be getting everyone ready for bed. There is bath time, books to read, hugs and kisses and then tucking children into bed. Include prayer time as part of the bedtime routine. Let your children hear you praying for them, sharing your thoughts about them and asking for God’s protection over them. When they are old enough, give them the opportunity to take part in this time of prayer and connection with their Creator.

How Much Time Do You Have?

To be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12), is something that takes time and dedication to incorporate in our Christian life. It can look different for each individual, but it can have a huge impact on your prayer and spiritual life. We all get a few minutes here and there. Those few minutes can add up quickly.

Where do they come from? You might find you have two or three minutes during breakfast or lunch when everyone else is eating. Try sitting quietly at the table with your children, while you give God a few minutes of your time. Maybe it is only 30 seconds to a minute, but it is long enough to talk to God about something you might be thinking about. If you get time for a shower, this can be a great place to spend some time with God.

As you go through your day, be aware of the few minutes here and there you have to connect with Him. Take this time to pray for those in need, for your family, for the work or those things in your life you need Him involved in. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us we can cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us. He wants to hear from us. He wants to be there for us.

You might find few minutes while driving, at the park while the children are playing, while working in the garden or even in the middle of a grocery store. God wants you to want Him. He wants to be part of your life. He knows you are doing the most important job He has for you, raising godly children. He wants to be included. By including Him throughout your day, a few minutes here and a few minutes there, you are showing Him how important He is to you.

Imagine Him sitting on His throne and hearing your thoughts or voice, knowing you are taking the only time you have at that moment and giving it to Him. To you it might seem a tiny offering of time, not worth His effort. To Him, it is one of His children inviting Him into their day during the only time they have to do so. He will not reject this offering of time you choose to give to Him.

"Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2).

When You Have More Time

While the tips above are great for those times when you are exhausted, just barely putting one foot in front of the other, finding time for more involved prayers is something we should all strive to do. Take the time to explain to your husband that you need some time for prayer. Ask him to take over for a few minutes while you go into the bedroom and spend time with God.

This Too Will Pass

While it might seem as if your children will be young forever and you will never get enough sleep again, the truth is this phase of life will pass quicker than you might think. Take advantage of the little pieces of time you can find and use them in a way that keeps you connected with God.

As your children grow and become more independent, include them in your need for prayer. While they are sitting at the table doing homework or curled up on the sofa with a favorite book, tell them you are going to take some time for prayer. By making this a normal part of their family life, they will begin to see how important time with God can be.

Teaching your children to pray can be a part of the whole process. When they are struggling with peers, homework, school or just in a bad mood, pray with them. Show them how easy it is to step outside of the moment and connect with God no matter where they are or what they are doing.

If you are striving to raise Godly children, you are doing a good thing. Instead of feeling as if you are failing in your prayer life, seek out those moments when you and God can connect. He is waiting and ready to hear from you.