Is your spiritual life lacking because you lack consistency and focus? It’s time to organize your spiritual life and get back on track!
Organizing is one topic homemakers never seem to tire of discussing. We are always looking for ways to make things run smoother, faster, and sweeter. We take note every time we walk into another woman’s home or read another woman’s blog. We search out what she does to stay organized. We tweak things in our minds and on paper to see if maybe, just maybe, her method will fit our lives.
But what if the thing that really needs organizing is our spiritual lives?
I must admit, my spiritual life is the least organized thing in my world. Once upon a time, I would get up early in the morning and have coffee on the front porch with my Bible in hand.
But that was 8 children ago.
Early mornings alone just don’t happen around here.
I began to wonder if perhaps my spiritual life deserved more organizing than I was giving it. Perhaps I needed crates and tubs and bookshelves and highlighters? Maybe I needed a special closet or a caddy? And what about that Bible Binder I never seemed to get down off the refrigerator? Oh dear! The more I thought about organizing my spiritual life, the more stressed out I felt.
Wait a second…organizing NEVER stresses me out. It ALWAYS makes things easier and happier. Why in the world was this organizing project making me feel so hemmed in and grumpy.
That’s when I remembered my ENTIRE day is my Spiritual Life!
READ >> How to Have Quiet Time All Day Long for my thoughts on Quiet Time and resources to make that happen!
So, let’s step outside the box and think in terms of facilitating your spiritual life rather than organizing it.
*Keep a Bible close at hand. Mine is on the end table by my favorite chair. I know right where it is and can grab it at a moment’s notice. (The Bible in the photo above is my brown and aqua ESV that just feels good in my hands. You can see it HERE.) Keep pens, highlighters, paper and whatever else you might use to study your Bible near there. I am an underliner, so a pen is always at hand in order to make notes in my Bible.
IDEA: If you are afraid your kids will draw in your Bible, keep it up high or in a case like this one >>
You may want to put your Bible near your bed, in your Homeschool Mom Basket, or near your office space. Make it a place you see several times a day and one that allows for easy access.
READ >> Mom’s Command Central
*Keep worship music readily available. Whatever kind of music leads you to worship the Lord, keep it cued. I love having playlists and stations in Pandora and Amazon Music for this purpose. Keep worship music near your CD player. Keep a hymnal on hand. Music can be such a balm to the soul and such a beautiful way to worship the Lord, so have it available! (And remember, worship-filled music is not always in the “Christian” genre.)
*Learn how to parent with Scripture. Many years ago I met a woman who seemed to have Scripture to meet every situation her children faced. It was beautiful! I was determined to learn to parent like that. Besides digging into the Word of God and learning more and more of it by heart, one resource that helped me greatly was the book Parenting with Scripture.
*Be sure Family Worship is part of your day. This is probably where I have the most organization. Our school day starts with Bible reading. Our evening ends with Family Worship that includes singing, Bible reading and prayers. These are part of our schedule and therefore, an expected part of our day.
>> GET MY FREE FAMILY WORSHIP GUIDE <<
Perhaps you’ve noticed that organizing your spiritual life isn’t so much organization as it is the act and art of being purposeful. Don’t compartmentalize your spiritual life. It is the cornerstone of your entire day. It is the cord that holds your day together. Without your faith, you are laboring in vain. All your other organization efforts will be for naught if you do not possess the Peace that passes all understanding, and it all starts with a day steeped in Scripture!
CHALLENGE: What do you need to do to “organize” your spiritual life?
May says
You’re so right about worship music not always being in the Christian genre – I find instrumental classical music very uplifting sometimes, and I often enjoy listening to pop music love songs and imagining that they’re being sung to the Lord instead of to the singer’s boyfriend. Some of the lyrics don’t fit but it’s surprising how many do!
Kelsey says
What an encouragement! I currently have an almost-three-year-old and 9 month old, but would like to have lots of kiddos eventually. I’m trying to get my life organized now so it will be easier later when my hands are even fuller. My husband and I have individual quiet times each day and we pray together. I also read Bible stories to my toddler for ‘school’, but we don’t actually have a family worship time. I’d like to, but I’m kind of waiting around for our kids to get older, I think. I’ll be checking out those links and that book! Thanks, Amy.
Amy says
I’d encourage you not to wait! It is such a blessed time and even our little people enjoy it. Make it a part of their bedtime routine. I really think you will find it to be a wonderful end to your day.
Heather @ Raising Mighty Arrows says
Excellent post Amy! This is something I’ve blogged about several times, as seasons change and another baby is added to the family. What one time worked doesn’t seem to after life changes. I’m constantly trying to make quiet time work. Thanks for the encouragement that our entire day is spiritual!
Amy says
Thank you, Heather. I think it helps our children to see this as well. 🙂
Tessa W says
I love this line, “really it easy is not about organization as much as it is about being purposeful.” So true! I am looking forward to having a bit more structure in our day when the baby comes in a couple months (yes, structure with a newborn lol! I won’t have to work every day and I’m looking forward to that) and being more regular with Scripture reading with the children. Purposeful. Very good word. Thank you.
Amy says
You are welcome, Tessa! And many blessings to you in this pregnancy! 🙂
Tessa says
Reread this post today and found I commented a few years ago. The “baby” in question there is now coming up on 6 and Ive had one since and am now due with baby #5.
I still dont get early mornings alone but I manage to do my morning coffee and devotional routine while my kids feed themselves breakfast. It isn’t quiet and I often have a toddler and/or my almost 6yo on my lap. Sometimes even my 11 or 8yo join me for a snuggle! But it has become such a natural part of our mornings that the kids know where I’ll be and what I’m doing. I figure it is a good testimony to them that even Mama still seeks out time with God.
Amy says
How beautiful! I love that you were able to come back here (I republished it since it had been so many years!) and give an update!
Dawnita Fogleman says
Excellent post! So many people get caught up in having to have a special devotional book or Bible study tool; reading the Bible through in a year with a schedule and having a specific time… All great tools, but they can complicate things, create an unnecessary burden, and disregard the scripture if we aren’t careful. (Deuteronomy 6:7 & 11:19) Christian homemakers too often put a guilt trip on ourselves when we aren’t following someone else’s recipe. 🙂 Thanks for the simplicity!
Heidi Greening says
Once again, very en pointe! Our families must be intentional and purposeful. Raising a godly family doesn’t just happen and mom is really the best one to make sure it’s an integrated part of every day.