start with one: our relationship with God — on the go

This is the first in our series Start With One: Overcoming The Overwhelming.

Our relationship with God can be changed if we start with one, only one part that can dramatically improve everything. Today’s contributor is Chris Carter, one of our awesome MOMtors.

Read as she shares with us how to have “God On The Go!”. 

As moms, we hardly have time for our own needs because we are constantly serving the needs of our children. I know how the days get blurry, as do our eyes, when we are buried in the incessant day-to-day demands of our family. I often find myself so focused on my “to do list”, that my priorities become construed.

Whatever is in front of me, grabs my attention- always. There is the endless stream of someone, something, taking me into that oblivious state of functioning…over and over again.

Amen?

Each season of my life as a mother, has posed a profound challenge in spending time with what should be the most important Person in my life: God. 

When the kids were infants and terribly ill, I lifted up desperate pleas and exhausted groans with no energy left to pursue Him further.

As the kids got older, their medical ailments kept me drowning in surviving the storms that flared around every corner of my world.  I would spend late nights praying and attempting some bible studies in the quiet hour at hand…but there was always that relentless tug from the call of motherhood pulling me away: my daughter up most nights, (all night) with her asthma.

Naps were rare, and when my kids did nap, I desperately tried to sleep myself, anticipating another night up with my child. When the kids are little ones, those precious few moments of peace we have, are most likely devoted to putting our home back in order, or trying to recover from the relentless job we hold.

As kids get older, the busyness never ends. The activities and school work spiral out into the evenings and weekends, as I find myself packing lunches at midnight and cleaning uniforms right before a game.

Motherhood doesn’t stop. Ever.

So where does God fit in?

What if you just can’t muster up the time and strength and effort to carve out that needed one on one with God?

There will always be seasons in our lives, God may slip through the cracks of chaos. It happens to us all.

There are so many variables in our days and nights, that our priorities shift without us even knowing they have…blending and bending this or that to sustain our family’s needs.

So what’s a mother to do?  Where on earth will we commune with God? 

When? 

How? 

Now.

It’s time to start a new program for the busy mom.  It’s called…

 “God On The GO!”

You can take God with you anywhere. He is already there…just waiting to bless your heart with his Wisdom, Strength, Grace, and Guidance. All you need to do is Pray.

When you can’t find that “ideal devotional time” or “perfect bible study hour”…

This is the perfect program for YOU!

Some of my most fervent prayers have been in the shower…In the car waiting in the pick up line…Sweeping the floors late at night…Cooking dinner in the kitchen…Folding laundry.  ETC.

I call them “Empty Spaces”.  

Opportunities that allow us to be in the presence of God, if we so choose. 

Sure, there are other things we could be doing while busying ourselves with these tasks, such as talking on the phone, watching tv, or listening to the radio…

But perhaps, we can devote these empty spaces to our Heavenly Father instead?

There are endless opportunities to pray, if you are intentional about it. I will usually pray about what is heavy on my heart:

Asking God for guidance with my children.

Offering my gratitude for all the blessings of my life.

Restating scripture that resonates with me.

Praying for others that are suffering.

Revealing issues I am wrestling with.

Seeking His Grace for my mistakes.

There is Power in prayer, my friends. And God is ready and waiting to hear from you.

When our lives get so overwhelmingly busy, we can always find God on the go. Threading prayer throughout our everyday lives can produce a deep abiding faith.  He wants us to pray without ceasing…  not just during those precious times we carve out for Him.

But always. 

An endless conversation with God.

Sometimes distracted. Sometimes fragmented. Sometimes passionate. Sometimes questioning. Sometimes praising.  Sometimes angry. Sometimes sad. Sometimes joyful. Sometimes desperate. Sometimes conflicted. Sometimes hurried. Sometimes exhausted. Sometimes proud. Sometimes vulnerable. Sometimes full. Sometimes empty.

But always, always opening our hearts to Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.