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Want a More Restful Christmas Season? Here’s What to Do

November 23, 2020 by Gina Poirier Leave a Comment

It’s the holiday season! Which means lots of fun, celebration, aaaand…

..for many of us, a good healthy dose of stress and burnout. 

Printable Bible Verses for Moms

These are often accompanied by lovely side effects including binge eating of Christmas cookies, temper tantrums, family squabbles and a hefty credit card bill.

If this is you—and you’re in good company if it is, my friend—I have good news and bad news. Bad news first: holiday stress is unavoidable. (Unless you just choose not to participate, which in my opinion would be sad.)

Now the good news: there are some things within your control that can help you experience a much more restful Christmas season, even with the added stress.

Related post: 15 Meaningful Christmas Tradition Ideas Your Family Will Love

10 tips for experiencing more rest and lest stress this Christmas

Photo credit

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.

10 Tips for a More Restful Christmas

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn as a mom, wife and homemaker is that I am in charge of my daily decisions. God is ultimately in control of what happens to me, but I choose how to respond. So if my schedule is too busy and everyone is cranky and we miss the “meaning of Christmas,” I can’t just blame the season or society for making our lives difficult.

I lecture myself periodically about this because it’s all too easy to just throw my hands up and succumb to the madness…

You don’t have to succumb to the madness either. If you want a more restful, meaningful, peaceful Christmas with your family, I have a few practical ways you can prepare yourself for the season.

1. Anchor Yourself in Christ

It’s catchy to say that “Jesus is the reason for the season;” yet around December, he kinda gets kicked to the curb. And I’m not talking about the debate about whether you should say “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays;” I’m talking about personally being in his presence on a daily basis.

There are a lot of ways to practice a dynamic relationship with Christ (see more ideas on how to read the Bible, how to pray and my quiet time bucket list). One practice to consider at this time of year is observing Advent.

Advent is part of the liturgical calendar (a fancy word for worship calendar) that some churches follow. It comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” During the season of Advent, you reflect on the coming of Christ.

In nature, winter is a time of year that is slow and quiet. It begs us to stop. Listen. Reflect. Meditate. Rest. (Quite the opposite of the holiday hustle and bustle!) This is the spirit of Advent, as you anticipate God’s greatest gift and prepare to celebrate Jesus’s arrival.

Whether or not your church follows a liturgical calendar, you can still take this time to reflect on and pray about the meaning of Advent in your daily times with God. I tend to gravitate towards reading the beginning of Matthew and Luke during this time of year, as well as messianic prophecies.

Advent devotionals are also pretty easy to come by. I love Arabah Joy’s prayer journals, so I recommend Praying the Names of Jesus: An Advent Prayer Journal.

Praying the Names of Jesus 30 Day Advent Journal Arabah Joy

Learn More

By the way, anchoring yourself in Christ should be something we practice year-round! I’ve rounded up my favorite scriptures for moms in every season; access them here.

2. Anchor Your Family in Christ

My daughter recently asked for an Advent calendar. Not because she was wanting to participate in Advent, but because she’d seen an ad for a cool calendar with a surprise you can open every day as you count down to The Biggest Toy Day.

Sigh. Turns out I’m not the only one who needs a heart check around the holidays.

I really enjoy participating in the magic feeling of Christmastime with little ones, including the gift part, but kids’ hearts are naturally going to be pulled towards all the cool things they’re going to get under the tree.

It takes some intention on our part as parents to keep our family focused on why we celebrate.

I did ultimately get an “Advent calendar” with a little gift to open each day. But instead of a toy, it’s an ornament they get to open, which has a corresponding family devotional we get to read each day.

By December 25, we’ll get to put a star on the tree and will have discovered The Wonder of the Greatest Gift.

And the kids are pretty excited about it! It turns out they just like to open things.

The Greatest Gift Jesse Tree

This is otherwise known as a “Jesse tree,” a decorative tree used during Advent to retell the stories of the Bible that lead to Jesus’s birth. Jesse was King David’s father and an ancestor of Jesus (hence why Jesus is called the “Branch of Jesse” in the Bible). I was surprised to learn that this tradition goes back to the Middle Ages! So while it has gained popularity in recent years, it’s certainly no passing fad.

I love it.

There are other ways we can keep our family focused on Christ during the Christmas season like listening to worshipful Christmas music and reading the story of the nativity. We also try to get the focus off ourselves and on others, such as volunteering and donating to gift drives to the less fortunate.

I know it can feel overwhelming to think of worshipful traditions as more things to mark of on your long Christmas “to-do” list. But it helps to remember that:

  • Worshiping God is the heart of the holiday.
  • It doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it shouldn’t be.

3. Identify Your Priorities

For the first few Christmases I shared with my husband, I wasn’t really sure what I even wanted it to look like and worried whether we were doing it the way we “should.” It got more complicated when we added kids to the equation. How should we approach Santa, stockings, outings, crafts, food, travel…and on and on?

The truth is, for a restful Christmas, you can’t do all the things. You can’t see all the people, send all the cards, have the perfect house and make all the food. You can’t spend all the money either.

But you can choose what’s most important.

I believe in the power of writing things down. There’s something about writing on paper that makes you commit a bit more to your intentions. To be intentional about a more restful Christmas, I recommend writing down your vision for it early (I’m talking like October or early November).

I wrote the following statement in my planner this year: 

This holiday season, my priorities are:

  • Growing in and celebrating Christ
  • Loving others (community, family and friends)
  • Laughter
  • Coziness
  • Great food

Now, as I plan out my schedule and budget, I read that statement. If what I’m planning doesn’t contribute to that vision, then it’s not going to make it on the calendar.

I encourage you to write out a similar statement with 4–5 things that you can focus on. Put it somewhere visible so that you can remember those priorities when life starts to get a little too busy.

4. Pick Your Favorite Traditions

Danger: when you look at your priorities, it can be tempting to want to do multiple things that contribute to the best Christmas ever.

But you don’t have to visit every relative, volunteer at 50 events and make 50 types of Christmas cookies. If you can do one thing loving for your community, one thing that creates coziness, one thing that celebrates Christ, and so on, you can be content with that. In fact, you might find that simplicity is the most effective approach.

There will be some years when you won’t be able to do as much (hello, 2020!). Maybe you’re in the middle of a move or have a newborn. Perhaps you’re having health issues or it was just a busy year and you’re just exhausted.

It’s okay. Take a deep breath.

Write down some of your favorite family traditions (or the ones you want to start). Do they match your priorities, in a balanced way? 

Next, write down one tradition under each priority that you can realistically accomplish this year.

The ones that didn’t make the cut? Write those down as “maybes.” Play it by ear, and if you feel like they would contribute to your priorities, then add them in.

If you don’t get to do everything you hoped you would, could you perhaps do it next year? There are some things that our family does some years but not every year. And I like it that way.

5. Plan Your Calendar

A wise person once said, “You run your schedule. It doesn’t run you.” 

If you’ve already set your priorities and identified the most important traditions that you want to keep this year, then this part should be a piece of cake. (Or fudge. Or sugar cookies.)

I’m a big fan of time blocking, which is exactly what it sounds like: breaking your time into blocks and planning tasks accordingly. At the beginning of the week, I look at my Google calendar and take note of my appointments. Then I look at my priorities for the week and plan out when I can fit them in.

You can see my process in more detail: The Ultimate Time Management Guide for Moms.

When you do this, you’re in control of what goes on the calendar…and what stays off.

I also recommend spacing out must-do holiday tasks like shopping, decorating, volunteering, baking, gift wrapping, party planning and so on. If you squeeze it into one weekend, you will die. Or are least get really, really cranky.

So while it’s not terrible to wait until the last minute, you’re going to thank yourself later if you can not be frantically wrapping all the gifts well into the late hours on Christmas Eve. (Not like I’d know anything about that, cough cough.)

Lastly, leave margin in your schedule. Every. Day. Because life happens in the form of bad weather, traffic, misunderstandings, emotions, messes and illnesses. This is just good advice in general, but during the holidays it’s even more vital! Plus, it gives you the opportunity to act spontaneously from time to time, which I’d argue is vital for your soul.

6. Plan Your Budget

Okay, so honestly, money is one of the areas that can cause the most stress around Christmas. I’ve worked on budgeting for holidays in the past…but following those budgets hasn’t gone so well.

I think I just haven’t been realistic about the kind of Christmas we want to have and the amount of money that kind of Christmas costs.

If your budget isn’t working, you either have to change your expectations so that you can spend less or, if possible, put more money aside so that those expectations can be met.

In the past, I’ve found that I simply forget how much stuff costs. When you budget for the holidays, remember to include, when applicable:

  • Gifts for family (plan out for individuals!)
  • Gifts for community (school, work, etc.)
  • Charitable giving
  • Family outings
  • Extra or more expensive groceries
  • Dining out
  • Holiday apparel
  • Decorations
  • Less income if you don’t get holiday pay
  • Travel expenses
  • Childcare during parties or winter break
  • Postage and printing for Christmas cards

When you write it all out like this, it’s obvious why it is so easy to go over budget!

Ideally, you should be planning for the holidays months ahead of time; otherwise, you’ll be caught on your heels come December. But even if you’re late in the game, just being aware of all the hidden expenses can help you not go overboard.

Jessi Fearon has some great info on this: Holiday Budget Planning.

7. Communicate with Your Family

So all this planning I’m talking about for a restful Christmas…let me back up a bit. Chances are, you’re not the only one with needs and opinions in your household.

As I said above, my husband and I had different experiences growing up, and thus, we have different expectations about Christmas. If we’re not communicating about what those expectations are, we’re on track to get into a fight.

Related: Marriage Communication Skills That Prevent Fighting

And yes, we’ve had a few Christmas-related arguments over the years.

I’m the one in the marriage who’s more inclined to detailed planning, so I just have to be sure to talk to him about what I’m thinking. We have regular conversations during the holiday season where we discuss things like:

  • Priorities this year
  • Budget
  • Shopping lists
  • Family calendar
  • Extended family expectations
  • Parties and other commitments
  • Food
  • Decorations

We try to make time every night to connect and talk if we need to. Each week we go over the schedule. I also try to make a point around mid-November to talk about our priorities and plans before the chaos begins.

My friend Elizabeth wrote some hilarious and wise thoughts on this: Have Yourself a Merry Married Christmas.

As the kids get older, they tend to have their own expectations as well. Talk about it around the table!

Lastly, communicate with your extended family and friends, once you’re clear about your expectations within your household.

8. Keep Your Blinders On

I think I may need to limit my time on Instagram during the holiday season. I see beautiful, simplistic living room arrangements with gorgeous trees cut by hand in the mountains, with matching embossed stockings over a warm fireplace.

We have a tree. Right next to the Barbie house and the play kitchen, because the family room also happens to be the playroom. I think I bought the stockings on clearance and wrote the kids’ names in Sharpie on the inside so we could tell them apart. Maybe we have firewood somewhere in the garage? I’m pretty sure it has been over a year since we used the fireplace for you know…burning logs.

I am more than two decades out of junior high, yet I still fall into the comparison trap. 

Some other family is probably going to decorate better, cook better, give better gifts, be more spiritual and have more fun than your family. So what? 

If your family is anchored in Christ, focusing on your priorities and traditions, and you’re communicating well, it shouldn’t matter what other people are doing.

9. Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries

As hard as you try, sometimes the source of stress at Christmastime isn’t your lack of planning or intention. It’s the other people: family, co-workers, neighbors and friends.

The first step minimizing your agony about everyone else is to remember that you are not responsible for their thoughts, feelings and general attitudes. You can take ownership of yourself and, to some extent, your family.

Recognizing your separateness and taking ownership for what you rightly should is called setting boundaries.

You won’t make everyone happy.

You can’t do everything.

You are allowed to say no.

What’s more, you can be kind and compassionate about communicating these limits.

There’s a lot I could say about this, as boundaries have been some of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered as an adult. If you’re not familiar with boundaries, then I highly recommend putting Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend on your Christmas list!

10. Choose Rest

Hopefully it’s clear by now that you may have more control than you think over how the holiday season goes. Will there be unexpected surprises, busyness and drama? Most likely. But will you be at peace about it? That’s up to you.

Rest is a choice. When I leave more space in my heart and in my schedule and stop trying to respond to all the “shoulds” in my life, I’ve seen God work in the best ways.

Don’t forget, rest is also about caring for yourself. Just because it’s busy doesn’t give you license to sacrifice sleep and sanity.

If you want to learn more about this, be sure to check out my Take a Deep Breath Toolkit.

Printable Bible Verses for Moms

I hope you feel refreshed knowing that you can have a restful Christmas, my friend! Which of these tips can you put into practice this year?

Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Christian Life

11 Bible Verses to Banish Mommy Guilt

October 20, 2020 by Gina Poirier 2 Comments

Do you wrestle with mommy guilt—that nagging feeling that you’re not doing enough or that you’re screwing up? Then you’re in the right place! Be sure to grab the printable download of these Bible verses in my free resource collection.

Bible Verses Mommy Guilt | Mom Encouragement | Christian Motherhood

Meireles Neto

I screwed up again. My son’s eyes spilled over in tears and he turned away, a little embarrassed. “We just did what you wanted to do, not what I wanted,” he confessed. “It wasn’t fun.”

Mixed feelings of guilt, shame and anger heated my face. I had taken him to the mall on a special outing with just the two of us to get him some new shoes and a special snack. It didn’t turn out as planned because or local mall is shutting down stores like crazy. The shoe choices and the snack options were very limited.

I was hurt that he wasn’t more thankful, yet at the same time I felt horrible that I had let him down. My efforts weren’t enough.

Mommy guilt.

It’s this condition I’ve battled with ever since I heard his first cry. This impossible question lingers constantly: Am I doing enough?

I know I’m not the only one with this issue, so I asked members of our Facebook group what made them feel guilty. The answers weren’t surprising, things like:

  • Not spending enough time with the kids
  • Not meeting their emotional needs
  • Taking time away from them for self-care
  • Not playing enough with them or doing what other moms do
  • Not feeding them enough healthy food

Do you see a pattern here?

Not enough.

Related post: Yes, You’re Failing at Parenting (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

Banish Mommy Guilt with Scriptural Truth

“Not enough” is a pretty sneaky little lie that we mamas give undeserved brain space.

It’s sneaky because in one sense, it holds just a kernel of truth: we fall short of perfection. So in that sense, no we’re not “enough” and never will be. But on the other hand, because Christ does immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, we are more than enough through all of our weaknesses.

Related post: To the Mom in Survival Mode: You’re Stronger Than You Think

So the next time you are wallowing in guilt, whether you legitimately screwed up or are worried that you did, meditate on these truths and put their teachings into practice.

Printables for Christian Moms

On Confession

I’ll be honest: I did not plan on having this section when I started thinking about this topic! But the more I dug into the word “guilt” in the Bible, it was apparent that the first step to healing is confession.

So be honest with yourself, with God and with other believers about those things that are weighing on your heart.

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

1 John 1:9

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

On Being Enough

That feeling of “not enough”? It’s a lie because Christ is more than enough. His love for you and intervention on your behalf give you a brand new start each and every time you feel “less than,” with your parenting and so much more.

Colossians 2:13–14

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

1 John 2:1b

But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Hebrews 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

On Moving Forward

I think this is the hardest part for my guilty conscience to accept. I know that I am forgiven and cleansed through Christ, but the truth is I still fall ridiculously short when it comes to loving my kids.

These verses help me remember to live in faith instead of fear, anxiety and guilt. God’s grace is sufficient; he fills in the gaps where I fall short. And because of this, my heart can be at peace.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Hebrews 10:22

[L]et us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Philippians 4:6–7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Want to keep these Bible verses handy? You can access them and other Bible verses for moms! Just click below:

Printables for Christian Moms

Your turn: how do you wrestle with mommy guilt and what are your favorite scriptures to combat it?

Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Christian Life, Encouraging Scriptures for Moms

11 Bible Verses for the Exhausted Mama

May 26, 2020 by Gina Poirier 21 Comments

Are you an exhausted mama looking for some encouragement? Join the club! I originally posted this on 3/19/16, and due to its popularity, I decided to update it. You can find a printable reference sheet for these Bible verses and many more in my collection of resources for Christian moms, which you can access by clicking below. Enjoy!

Printables for Christian Moms

This past week kicked my butt a little bit. Normally I don’t publish a new post on a Saturday, but well, here you go. It’s just part of the season I’m in right now. As are many of you.

While I’m not up at all hours of the night breastfeeding anymore, I remember all too well what that was like. And mastitis. Then croup. Stomach bugs. Crazy rashes. Even when the kids aren’t sick, there are project deadlines. Too many appointments. Potty training. A messy house. Little people to feed constantly. Family drama. Friend drama. Work piling up. Loneliness.

Us mamas be tired! EXHAUSTED!

11 Bible Verses for the Exhausted Mama article from Gina M Poirier

I woke up Friday morning planning to go pray and work out. Nope. Not happening. My son, who had been vomiting all day the previous day, crawled into bed with me and I stroked his hair. Soon I had all three kids on top of me, squirming and competing with one another for the most comfy spot.

And while I wasn’t doing anything I had planned, and my daughter smelled of wet overnight diaper and little feet were not-so-gently jabbing my ribs, I decided to relish in that moment.

We mamas do holy work, you know. We need to remember that in the most mundane or even ugly moments, we are doing what is good. It’s inspiration in the everyday.

Related: Wiping Noses for Jesus Is Legit

It took me about seven hours to feel awake, but I finally got to sit down and think about what encourages me when I’m feeling completely wiped out. I flipped through my falling-apart Bible, the one with bent pages and the out-of-date translation, and found my favorite Bible verses. The ones with smudged ink and lopsided stars and long sections underlined.

Bible verses for the exhausted mom

These Bible verses have been a breath of fresh air to me during tired times, and I hope they are to you too. All verses are from the NIV.

Verses on Finding Rest

Matthew 11:28–29

Come to me [Jesus], all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Rest starts with turning to Jesus.

Isaiah 40:30–31

Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

God is like a mother eagle who takes me on her wings and teaches me to fly.

Psalm 62:5–6

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

Repeat: I will not be shaken.

Related: 10 Encouraging Bible Verses for the Overwhelmed Mama

Verses on Perseverance

James 1:2–4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

A rough day? I must be growing.

Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

When I feel like I’m sacrificing everything? I am worshiping God.

Romans 5:3–5

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Yep I’m growing. And there’s hope.

2 Corinthians 4:16 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

And each day is a new one, amen.

Related: To the Mom in Survival Mode: You’re Stronger Than You Think

Verses on Finding Strength

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

But [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

My times of weakness are when God’s strength shines through.

Philippians 4:4–7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Prayer. And the peace of God.

Hebrews 6:10

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 

God sees when I’m changing diapers and cleaning up vomit and cooking meal after meal. And he won’t forget.

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

To be still is to stop stressing. Because God is God.

Want to keep these Bible verses handy? You can now download them in a printable form! Just click below:

Printables for Christian Moms

What are your go-to scriptures when you’re feeling exhausted?

Gina M Poirier

PS You might also enjoy this post from my friend Jenn: 10 Bible Verses about How God is For Us

Filed Under: Christian Life, Encouragement for Moms, Encouraging Scriptures for Moms

10 Easy Bible Verses for Kids to Improve Behavior

May 22, 2020 by Gina Poirier 2 Comments

Welcome! Looking for a quick parenting win? You can get a free printable download of these Bible verses for kids as part of my free resource collection for moms!

Printables for Christian Moms

I don’t know if it’s a girl thing, but we had a case of the whiiiiines in my house.

My daughter was four. Her two older brothers certainly had issues at this age, but they mostly involved destruction and throwing epic temper tantrums.

The whining though? The scope of itwas new to me and just blew my mind.

One night I was exhausted from constant speech correction and was lamenting about it to my husband. (If you’ve never been in a logic match with a preschooler, I hope you appreciate your life). As I worked through my frustration, I realized that I was lacking an essential piece of the parenting puzzle.

Being Scripture-based.

Don’t get me wrong; my kids knew their Bible stories well. It’s just the practical application part that we were slacking on. This was further evidenced when my daughter said something along the lines of, “God says it’s my turn.”

So we either had a prophetess or I needed to be a little more grounded, right?

Discipline just goes so much better when we rely on God’s Word rather than our own logic and incomplete wisdom.

Related: 6 Important Things to Remember When You’re Angry and Frustrated with Your Kids

10 Easy Bible Verses for Kids To Improve Behavior

When I'm frustrated with how to deal with my kids' behavior issues, that's a sign I need to turn to the Bible for help! These Bible verses for kids have helped my kiddos as well as my parenting, so I created a free printable of them.

Allen Taylor

I decided to round up several Bible verses for kids that are behavior-focused so that I could be more on my parenting game. And then I thought, hey, why not share the love? Because certainly I’m not the only who has ever needed a little backup, right?

These verses can apply to any age, but they are easier to understand for kids ten and under. They are also fun to memorize and if desired you can add simple crafts or object lessons…

You can read the full version of this post by clicking over to My Joy-Filled Life!

Or grab the the printable download of the scripture list:

Printables for Christian Moms

Here’s to scripture-based parenting!

Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Christian Family, Encouraging Scriptures for Moms, Parenting Tips

Looking for Things to Pray For? Here Are 40 Ideas.

May 14, 2020 by Gina Poirier 5 Comments

Wondering what to say when you pray? Here are some of my best tips and a big list of things to pray for in any season, even when you’re a bit distracted or overwhelmed…

Be sure to also check out these printable prayer prompts to keep your prayer life on track!

Prayer Prompts Button


Do you ever feel like you’re missing something when it comes to prayer? I don’t know about you, but it seems like everybody seems to do it a lot more naturally than I do.

You probably relate if you sit down to pray and about five seconds later your mind wanders because:

1. Life is distracting.

You get up early, enjoying the peace of the morning. You intend to get out of bed and spend those precious quiet moments in prayer.

You start saying, “God…thank you for today.”

And then you start actually thinking about today. Your mind starts racing as you’re walking through the morning mentally.

You feel guilty: ”Sorry, God, uhhhh…”

But before you know it, the kids are up, and you’re on the move. God will have to wait…maybe until tomorrow.

Related: How to Pray When You Just Can’t Focus

2. You’re overwhelmed. 

Your heart is heavy; you know you want to reach out to God. Maybe you have a quiet moment; maybe there is chaos surrounding you. Either way, you don’t even know what to say or how to start. Then distractions set in…you never really get back around to addressing that weight on your heart.

3. You don’t know what to say.

You’re in a prayer or Bible study group. You listen nervously as others offer up their prayers, but you’re not really paying that close of attention because you’re trying to figure out what in the world to say when it’s your turn. When it’s time to open your mouth, you freeze, or you say something that sounds sort of religious so you can pass the baton on to the next person.

Friend, you’re not alone. I’ve had so many women talk to me about how this is their story.

And to make matters worse, it’s really easy to feel guilty about it.

But here’s the truth: we all start somewhere, and we all have something to learn. We are spiritual beings so prayer is natural; yet it is not necessarily something we just know how to do.

If prayer is your struggle, don’t feel bad about it! I found it helpful to study some of Jesus’ fundamental teachings on the subject (he had quite a lot to say!), which I put together into seven days of prayer prompts.

Beyond that, I’ve put together a list of things to pray for when your mind is simply drawing a blank. They’re divided into categories based on different types of prayer. I’ve included some scriptures for reference.

40 Things To Pray for (Even When You’re Distracted, Overwhelmed and Don’t Know What To Say)

Does your mind go blank when you pray? This list of things to pray for will help you focus on what the Bible says we should focus our minds and hearts on in prayer.

Reflective Prayers

In English, when we think of the word “prayer,” we often associate it with presenting requests to God and asking him for help. While that’s not wrong (as we’ll explore below), it’s not the whole story. In Hebrew, the word for prayer, hitpallel, comes from a verb that means “to judge oneself.” Keep that in mind when you read through the Psalms! Prayer can be a time to reflect on your heart and talk about it with God.

1. Confession of your sins (1 John 1:9)
2. Asking for forgiveness (Matthew 6:12)
3. Asking for a pure heart (Psalm 51:10)
4. Your honest feelings about your circumstances (including anger, despair, hopelessness and more). For a helpful study, read Lamentations. You don’t have to be happy-go-lucky all the time to be close to God.

Prayers of Praise

Things To Pray For | How To Pray

Sometimes it does the heart good to simply praise God. You could spend the rest of your life just praying many of the Psalms (try it!). Whether you’re praying the Psalms or just coming up with your own praise, you can think about:

5. His love for you (Psalm 52:8)
6. His goodness (Psalm 145:7)
7. His holiness (Psalm 29:2)
8. What he’s done in your life and others’ (Psalm 9:1)
9. His Word (Psalm 119)
10. His creation (Psalm 19)

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Gratitude is scientifically proven to have multiple psychological benefits. No wonder the Bible tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). You can be thankful about virtually anything, but here are some ideas:

11. Your family relationships
12. Your friendships
13. The community you live in
14. Your work (Colossians 3:23)
15. Your freedom
16. Things that make you smile or laugh (Psalm 68:3)
17. Forgiveness (Romans 7:25)
18. Your trials (yes really—because they’re strengthening and refining you James 1:2–4)

Prayer Prompts Button

Requests

I don’t know about you, but I’ve made some pretty silly prayer requests. But Jesus does say, “Just ask!” (see Matthew 7:7–12). It usually isn’t hard to come up with requests, but just in case you need some prompting:

19. Things you’re worried or anxious about (Matthew 6:25–34, Philippians 4:6)
20. Your basic needs (Matthew 6:11)
21. Your craziest dreams (Mark 11:23)
22. To increase your faith (Luke 17:5)
23. Wisdom (James 1:5)
24. Spiritual strength (Ephesians 6:10–17)

Prayers About the Kingdom of God

The Lord’s Prayer says “Your kingdom come, your will be done.” There are a lot of ways to pray about that! Consider praying about:

25. Your government and leaders (Romans 13:1–6)
26. Church leaders (Hebrews 13:7)
27. Worldwide and local missions (Ephesians 6:18–20)
28. Social injustice (racism, poverty, etc)
29. The impoverished and suffering
30. The persecuted
31. The church (global and local) and/or ministries you are a part of

Prayers for People in Your Life

This might be the easiest thing to pray for, but sometimes it’s also easy to forget! I recommend making your own list, but here are some ideas to get your started:

32. Your spouse and your marriage relationship
33. Your kids (their faith, their trials, their education, their relationships…)
34. Your parents
35. Friends who are believers, near and far
36. Friends who are not believers
37. Coworkers
38. Neighbors
39. Siblings
40. Your local community

I feel like I need to get busy!

Related: How to Read the Bible When You Feel Stuck

If you found these tips helpful, you might also like my printable prayer journal, Teach Me to Pray, which walks you through four weeks of biblical prayer prompts.

Teach Me to Pray 4 Week Printable Prayer Journal

Do you struggle to find things to pray for? What changes can you make to your daily routine to have a more powerful prayer life?

Gina M Poirier

Filed Under: Christian Life, How To Pray

How to Pray When You Just Can’t Focus

May 7, 2020 by Gina Poirier 57 Comments

Welcome, friend! Are you looking to kickstart your prayer life? Be sure to check out 7 days of printable prayer prompts in addition to the tips in this post.

Prayer Prompts Button

Knowing how to pray is one of those things you think should come naturally, right? Especially if you’ve been a Christian for a while?

But if you’re like thousands of other people who’ve landed on this post, I bet you’ve run into the same problem: you can’t focus. You don’t know what to say or even where to start sometimes. It just doesn’t come naturally for everyone.

I’ve been praying in some capacity since I was a teen. I remember curling up in my bed at night when my life felt confusing, asking a big mysterious God for guidance and strength. I drifted in and out of a youth group and felt guilty for my lack of commitment, although I wasn’t even sure what “commitment” to him should look like.

Finally I promised this God that I would go to church when I went to college.

I kept that promise and my life turned upside down. After deciding to follow Jesus I never looked back. Early on I learned that if I was going to keep this up, prayer was going to be an essential part of my life.

But here’s the thing. I suck at praying.

I say that a little tongue in cheek because at least I’m trying, and I’m pretty sure God listens to whatever jumbled mess of thoughts I throw his way. But let me give an example of what my mornings can look like…

My alarm goes off, I grumble, hit snooze a couple of times.

I finally turn on my phone and start rifling through emails and notifications, to wake up my brain. I start thinking about my day.

Depending on the day, I either read some of the Bible or go work out. Or put it off and sleep more.

At some point I turn to God like I know I should (and want to):

“Good morning God, thank you for the beautiful sunrise, thank you for guiding our family…oh I wonder how Jonathan’s cough is this morning. I’ll need to give him his medicine, but first I’ll need to make breakfast…oh no, I hope we’re not out of bread…oh sorry God, I mean, uh, please help Jonathan feel better…is he well enough to go to the library? Ugh, I really need to deposit those checks on the way home, Marc needs to sign them before he leaves…oh hi God, sorry, ummmm where was I? Ugh, I’m so tired, can’t focus…”

I could blame the stage of life I’m in, but the truth is I have always struggled with this. I’m a Type A, always planning, always ten steps ahead of where I’m at.

I have difficulty being in the moment.

When I pray, I just can’t focus.

Some people naturally pour their hearts out to God every time they turn to him. Others have to learn it through practice and habit. Guess which category I fall into.

I’ve made the mistake of assuming that knowing how to pray is a skill that everyone should know automatically, but it doesn’t quite work that way. As someone constantly grappling with grace I know that my prayer life is not something to be ashamed of, but it reflects a weakness in character that needs strengthening.

Over the years I’ve learned that there are a lot of ways to connect with God in a meaningful way. I may not be the 21st century Psalmist, but I can pray faithfully and powerfully even with my disjointed, distracted train of thought.

If you relate to this, I hope you don’t feel guilty. Just know that God is listening, no matter what you try. And if you feel like you don’t know how to pray, don’t worry. It’s never too late to learn.

Related: Quiet Time Bucket List: 20 Ways To Build Intimacy with God

How To Pray When You Just Can’t Focus

Focus in prayer can be tougher than it looks, so I compiled the best tips about how to pray, for beginners or anyone!

Here are some simple tips about how to pray and connect with God if you struggle with consistency and focus. Also be sure check out the journal I developed as a result of the popularity of this post (you can try a free sample!).

Prayer Prompts Button

1. Pray Out Loud

Yes, even when you’re by yourself. Or not by yourself.

When I was a college student I would pretend I was on my phone while I prayed during my walk to class so people wouldn’t think I was crazy!

I think of the story of Daniel. A Babylonian law forbade anyone to pray to any god but the king, yet Daniel continued to pray visibly and loudly enough to get arrested. Why didn’t he whisper or do it in his head? (See Daniel 6.) I find that when I make my thoughts verbal, they’re less likely to trail off.

2. Sing Hymns

No need to come up with eloquent words when they’ve already been written. Don’t turn on music and zone out; say the words and mean them. I’m a fan of old-timey hymns with rich lyrics as opposed to saying “hallelujah” over and over. Get a songbook/hymnal, or print out some lyrics and try it!

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord
—Ephesians 5:19

3. Start with the Lord’s Prayer

Sometimes there is great value in ritual. It can keep us on target.

Jesus’ disciples were with him constantly and must have seen his relationship with his Father, and yet they still asked, “how do we pray?” Jesus laid a foundation in Matthew 6:9–13:

This, then, is how you should pray:
’Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

When I don’t know what to say, I know I can’t go wrong with honoring God, asking that his will be done; asking for what I need, for forgiveness and for help through my weaknesses.

4. Imitate Great Prayers in the Bible

Just as Jesus set an example in prayer, so did many other people in the Bible. Pick one. I love Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–10 for starters.

Related: How to Read the Bible When You Feel Stuck

5. Fast

It’s Lent as I write this so fasting is on a lot of people’s minds; however, it doesn’t have to be a special occasion to get your heart and mind spiritually focused.

I know that whenever I have practiced a traditional fast by giving up food, the hunger is a constant, humbling reminder that my strength comes from God alone. That helps me focus.

6. Pray Continually

This tip is for you, parents—yeah you who don’t have more than five quiet minutes to yourselves ever.

You’re probably already aware of this, but praying doesn’t have to be a formal event. God’s listening all the time.

Say a quick thanks, a shout out for your friend, praise, or a request for help whenever you think of it. Nehemiah did it constantly, if you want inspiration.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
 for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
—1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

7. Pray with Your Kids

This seems obvious, but is it? I regularly forget to even pray at meals.

Yet I nonetheless try to have regular times throughout the day. This practice not only for them—it helps me too.

We pray when we load up the car (usually because this is stressful and I need the reset button). We pray at the beginning of our school day. We pray whenever someone is scared or sick or is being disciplined. We pray when kids throw fits and we pray when Mommy throws fits. We pray when something awesome happens and we want to thank God. We pray as a family at bedtime.

These are quick and may or may not always be super heartfelt, but you know what? They add up. And what’s more, you’re teaching them how to pray!

Related: 11 Bible Verses for the Exhausted Mama

8. Pray with Your Spouse

Sometimes this overlaps with the praying with the kids thing, but we try to spend at least some time in prayer together daily. Want to try something super humbling? Stop to pray in the middle of a fight.

9. Go for a Prayer Walk or Drive

I did this a lot more before I had kids and when they were stroller size. Just thinking about it makes me want to get back in the habit. There is something about being outside that clears the mind. When you’re out walking you’re less likely to be distracted with your to-do list. Plus, there’s nature.

The heavens declare the glory of God; 
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
—Psalm 19:1

10. Pray the Psalms

I remember the first time I read through the book of Psalms; I was completely bored. Yeah, really.

At that time I was trying to absorb the knowledge that the Bible offered, and I was falling asleep getting through this very long collection of poetry. But years later, I love the Psalms because they have guided me in prayer on so many occasions.

You know those times when your mind is a flurry and you’re either sobbing uncontrollably or you’re so numb that you can’t even do that? You want to pray but you don’t even know where to begin? Pray a Psalm. A couple of my favorites include Psalm 23 and Psalm 63.

Friends, I don’t call myself a prayer warrior, but even as I write this I feel empowered because I know that in spite of my weaknesses, I do speak and God hears my prayers. If you have a hard time focusing, I hope this lists empowers you too.

If you found these tips helpful, be sure to check out this prayer journal!

4-Week Guided Prayer Journal promo

The first week (which you can get for free) spends seven days going through the teachings of Jesus. You’ll also receive a free email series about how to make prayer a daily habit.

Plus, check out my Facebook Live video on how I pray when I’m a hot mess:

Do you know how to pray when you’re having trouble focusing? What do you do?

Filed Under: Christian Life, How To Pray

10 Bible Verses for the Stressed Out Mama

September 18, 2019 by Gina Poirier 2 Comments

Are you a stressed out mom looking for encouragement? While the Bible doesn’t talk about “stress” explicitly in the way we think of it, there is nonetheless quite a lot the Scriptures say about how to respond. I hope these verses help! Be sure to grab the printable download.

If you're in need of some inspiration and encouragement as a mom, these Bible verses address stress at the heart! Let God's word transform you from the inside out to deal with life's worry, anxieties and stress.

Rachel Lynette French

When my daughter was about 6 months old, I remember one day when I was carrying her on my hip. I had my phone balanced between my ear and my shoulder and was trying to sort laundry while I talked, while my 2- and 4-year-old boys were wreaking havoc who-knows-where in our admittedly cluttered house.

And then it happened.

My back didn’t exactly give out, but it started throbbing painfully near the shoulders. I thought perhaps I had pulled a muscle and was forced to rest.

I felt useless. I could hardly lift my infant daughter; neither could I carry out some of my daily responsibilities like cooking and cleaning. After a few days, I decided to get some help.

But after many months and appointments with a physician, chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists, it didn’t get much better.

It was frustrating to discover that this was a chronic problem. It seemed like it would never go away.

There were a few physical changes I made that helped, including getting serious about strength training and working on my flexibility. But it wasn’t until I started taking a look at my emotional state that things really started to get better.

I was stressed out. Constantly.

My hands were full in every sense of the word. In addition to my responsibilities as a mom of three young kids, I was taking on more than I could handle with work and volunteer opportunities. I was also lonely and grieving loss—my closest friend and my sister had moved away within months of each other. And deep down, I was resenting my role in motherhood.

I thought that breaking down crying once a week or so was the norm. (It’s not.)

I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. And I think it broke them.

Unmanaged stress does weird things to our bodies.

For me, it manifested in painful knots in my upper back. For others, it can reveal itself in panic attacks, rashes, insomnia, high blood pressure, cysts…In fact, if anything strange is happening to you, you might want to consider stress as a cause.

Now, 6 years later, I can say I rarely have my telltale back pain. I’ve learned a ton about managing stress biblically, and I’m passionate about sharing it.

I know that many of my readers love my Mama Verses scripture lists, so it made sense to put one together on stress.

While I completely believe in the power of the Word of God to transform our hearts, these Bible verses for stressed out moms are just the beginning. If you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired from the stress in your life, I encourage you to sign up for StressLESS, a free email series I put together to help you get a biblical view on stress.

Stressed out new perspective

Verses on Understanding Stress

While the Bible doesn’t talk about “stress” explicitly, do you know what it does talk about? Suffering. Stress is our biological response to the things we care about that happen in our lives. In other words, stress is our natural response to suffering.

Keep that in mind with the following verses:

James 1:2–4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I think it’s important to consider that stress is not all bad. It helps us grow and mature through our trials. You’re not going to avoid it. So embrace it.

Romans 5:3–5

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The same sentiment is here. (By the way, if you’ve seen any of my other Bible verse lists, you might notice there are some repeats here! They mean that much to me!)

Verses on Surrender

When I think about the things that cause stress, many of them are out of my control! No matter how much I put my worry and anxiety on repeat in my mind, there’s nothing I can actually do about them.

That’s why one of the critical healthy responses to stress is learning how to give to God what is God’s.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

Short, sweet and simple, right? Sort of…but this is easier said than done. When I think of the word “casting,” I think of my boys trying to cast their fishing lines. This is a skill that takes lots and lots of practice. But you’ll never get it if you don’t keep trying to battle your anxiety.

Matthew 6:25–27

‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?’

Many of us know these words of Jesus so well, and yet we need to be reminded again and again. Again, surrendering our worries and anxieties takes lifelong practice.

Philippians 4:4–7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There are a few more practical tools here that go hand in hand with casting our anxieties on the Lord: practicing gratitude. Rejoicing. Lots and lots of prayer. These are the disciplines that bring the peace that transcends understanding.

Related: 3 Ways Overwhelmed Moms Can Truly Rest

Verses on Taking Action

Surrendering our fears and worries to God is one part of the equation, but we also have a responsibility to take action for the things we can control.

Deuteronomy 30:19–20

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

At the end of his life, Moses reminded God’s people that they had choices in life. Whatever happened, they could choose to love God, listen to him and follow his commands, or not.

Whatever our circumstances, we are presented with the same choice. Even under stress, we can choose to grow and to learn and walk the hard path that God’s way often is, or we can succumb to fear and victimhood.

What this looks like practically can vary quite a bit. Personally, in response to my own stressors, I’ve had to be more intentional about the way I spend my time. I’ve had to choose rest over productivity. I’ve had to reach out for help when I was lonely. God did his part, so I had to try to do mine.

1 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Sometimes my feelings of stress are a result of my own negative thoughts that aren’t true! With the Holy Spirit’s help, we have the ability to change the way we think. It’s a process we participate in actively, by identifying the thoughts that aren’t true and replacing them with the word of God. We can find joy and strength in the Lord.

Verses on Perspective

Lastly, it helps me to remember that there’s typically more going on spiritually than I am aware of.

1 Peter 5:8–9

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

The apostle Peter reminds us not to be off guard. It’s so easy to forget in the midst of our stress that we have a lion-like enemy out there, who is trying to exploit our weaknesses. The call is to recognize him, and resist him.

John 16:33

‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’

Jesus said this to prepare his disciples for the suffering and stress they would have to endure. For me it’s a great reminder to step back and look at the big picture. In light of eternity and the power of the cross, we can take heart.

Ephesians 6:10–17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I’ll leave you with Paul’s appeal to hang in there and keep fighting, through it all. You’ve got this, because you have a great God who is fighting for you, my friend.

There’s so much more I have to say about dealing with stress in a biblical way! If this post stirs you, be sure to sign up for StressLESS.

Stressed out new perspective

Are you dealing with stress as a mom? Which of these Bible verses (or others) are the most helpful to you?

Filed Under: Encouraging Scriptures for Moms, Stress Management

How to Read the Bible When You Feel Stuck

October 4, 2018 by Gina Poirier 2 Comments

Are you someone who knows you “should” read the Bible more, but whenever you try, you feel stuck, confused, unmotivated and discouraged?

Well, don’t feel too bad. I’ve been there. Many times.

Can I just be honest? The Bible is hard to read.

Bible verses for the exhausted mom

The poetry is difficult to understand. The cultural references go over my head. The repetitive nature of the Old Testament doesn’t exactly make beach reading. Don’t even get me started on “apocryphal writing.”

What’s more, it can be hard to know where to start, or even to want to start, when dealing with heavy emotions like grief, fear, disappoint or anger.

I’ll say it again: the Bible is hard to read. I don’t know that many Christians are totally honest about this, because we feel guilty saying it. So we don’t talk about it…and when it comes to really understanding it, many of us get stuck.

For those of you who are going to argue with me, I do think that the gospel message is quite simple and doesn’t require a theology degree. Furthermore, I don’t think that it’s ever wasted time to read the Bible, even when you don’t fully understand what it’s saying (see Isaiah 55:10–11 and Romans 10:17).

But if I’m going to “live on every word” as Jesus did (Matthew 4:4), I have to do more than read a verse, scratch my head, stare off into space, and then see if there is something more interesting on Facebook happening at the moment. (Speaking from experience, folks.)

Personally, I’ve found it immensely helpful and freeing to have the right tools for discovering the Bible for myself. Over the past couple of years I’ve expanded my repertoire in spiritual disciplines quite a bit, and I’m eager to share what has helped me. So, if you’re ever stuck when trying to read the Bible, I hope they’re as useful to you.

Related Post: Quiet Time Bucket List: 20+ Ways to Build Intimacy with God

Wondering how to read the Bible when you feel stuck? Let's face it; the Bible is hard to read, which is why these tips are great for beginners and lifelong Christians alike.

Sarah Noltner

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.

Consider More Than Just Reading

When I think about reading a book, I imagine myself sitting in a comfy chair during my free time with a cup of tea, starting at the front cover, and reading each page in order until I’m done (if the kids will let me, but that’s another story). A good book will keep me engaged with an interesting plot and descriptive writing if it’s fiction, or thought-provoking insights and sound arguments if it’s non-fiction.

But the Bible does not work like that. If I were to assess it by my modern tastes and preferences for entertainment, it is not a “good book.” (I know. Call me a heretic and cast me out.)

If you’ve ever tried to read the Bible cover to cover, did you stall at all? Maybe you even tried various methods, like reading through it in various chunks over the course of a year, or going through it chronologically.

I’ve done those things, and I actually do recommend going through the whole Bible periodically so you can gain familiarity with the whole text. But honestly? If all you do aspire to do is check off Bible reading plans (if you can even get through them), you might be missing out.

Consider Psalm 119:10–16:

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

That doesn’t sounds like someone who is simply reading words and then checking off the reading assignment for the day. He is consuming them, meditating on them, rejoicing them, memorizing them, internalizing them.

I used to think that I’d had a good “quiet time” after I had read the Bible and prayed. Check and check. I like checks in boxes. But what does it mean to “read” the Bible anyway, aside from just getting through the text in your reading plan? It turns out, there’s a lot more to it!

I found this article helpful: Bible Reading Plans Vs. Bible Study.

11 Bible Verses For The Exhausted Mama

Get a Fresh Perspective

When you hear the same things over and over again, they can start to have a mind-numbing effect. This can especially be true with stories you heard as a kid that read more like lullabies than life-changing truth.

A fresh perspective on the Bible can snap you out of the lullaby effect. A good Bible teacher will help you reconsider what you’ve read a million times, ask the hard questions and help you gain a new understanding. You’ll be eager to dig into the Scriptures further on your own after considering the teaching, as the Bereans did after they met the apostle Paul in Acts 17:11.

Personally, the BEMA Discipleship podcast has done this for me. It presents narrative of the Bible from a perspective I haven’t considered much: a Jewish one.

It’s easy to forget that the writers of the Bible were addressing an ancient Jewish audience—Jesus and his disciples included. Most of us read the Bible from a modern, Western perspective—not to mention translated into a different language—so that we miss so much of what scripture is actually saying (and not saying).

In the podcast, Marty Solomon explores what Jewish rabbis teach about the Scriptures, from creation up through the New Testament. I was shocked at how much I didn’t know, even after I’ve been studying the Bible for years.

It’s quite humbling.

BBEMA discipleship podcast

(Fun fact: my husband and I enjoy the podcast so much that we reached out to Marty and his cohost Brent and got to grab lunch with them when we were traveling through their area on vacation.)

Even if BEMA doesn’t do it for you, go on the hunt for a great teacher who makes you think, especially if you’re stuck when it comes to reading the Bible. Maybe it’s a theologian or apologist. Maybe it’s someone you know personally who has a lot of knowledge and can guide you. If you don’t know who it is, I encourage you to pray that God will lead you to someone.

 

Discover the Bible with Spiritual Disciplines

Did you know that there are endless ways you can dig into the Bible besides just, well, reading it? There’s a newer-to-me concept called “spiritual disciplines,” which are basically ways that you strengthen your spiritual muscles with daily diligence. If you’re reading feels a bit stale and you’re feeling stuck, trying one of these is a great way to freshen up your quiet times:

Memorizing Scripture: This practice was pretty standard if you were raised in a Jewish household during Jesus’ time. Memorizing long passages of scripture is an ancient practice that has been practiced less and less as the Bible has become more accessible (i.e. we’ve become lazy).

You have to be intentional about on a daily basis if you are going to make any serious progress. I’ll be honest: I’ve tried with minimal success to memorize verses on notecards, but I always lose momentum.

Currently I’m taking a different approach. Instead of picking short passages, I’m simply working through books of the Bible. Right now I’m in Proverbs, memorizing one section at a time. Once I’ve memorized a section, I move on to the next one—I might not be able to quote the whole thing from memory a year from now, but I’ll certainly have a lot of it internalized!

Copying scripture: I don’t know why I didn’t discover this idea years ago, but I love it now! You don’t need anything special to make this work; just spend a few minutes copying a passage onto paper. By writing it, you’ll spend a lot more time processing it and internalizing the message. (Writing can also be a part of your memorization process.)

While I think there’s value in writing through larger portions of scripture, I’ve also enjoyed using my Write the Word journals if I just need some quick ideas about where to start. If you’re ever drawing a blank or are stuck, just open up your next entry and start writing!

Write the Word Bible Journal

Praying through scripture: Who ever said praying and Bible reading had to be two separate practices? I’ve found that I’ve been able to get a lot more out of both by engaging my heart and mind in prayer while reading a passage.

The Psalms are some of the more natural places to start when looking for inspiration in your prayer life. Either read them and pray them as they’re written, or expound on them in your own words, either aloud or in a journal. I walk through the Psalms for an entire week in the Teach Me to Pray Journal if you want more guidance.

Sometimes you may want to pray through a particular topic. I recently went through Praying the Promises of the Cross by Arabah Joy, which gives you a verse a day to pray through, based on the promises God offers throughout the Bible. This is helpful because it has prayer prompts that will teach you how to do this.

Related post: How to Pray When You Just Can’t Focus

Journaling Scripture: The possibilities are endless when it comes to putting pen to paper. Simply by copying down scripture and already praying through it, as described above, you can dig into your Bible pretty deeply. Beyond that, I’ve found it helpful to write my responses to certain passages, look up words and concepts, and map out themes. While it may sound intimidating to start, practicing the habit of keeping a journal open whenever you read can prompt you. You might even like a journaling Bible, which you can use to write in the margins or to do artistic Bible journaling in.

Meditating on Scripture:The word “meditate” is instructed multiple times throughout the Bible, and it means to think deeply about the text. This practice can feel a bit uncomfortable if you’re not used to it, but I’ve found it worth the effort.

Pick a short passage and let it sit in your mind as you either read it a few times, copy it, or repeat it. Relax your mind and body. Let its meaning sink in for a few minutes and ask God for guidance. Don’t worry if you lose focus or aren’t sure if you’re doing it right. Try it a few times and see what moves your spirit.

Dig Deeper Through Bible Study Methods

If you’re still not sure how to approach Bible reading, having someone coach you through techniques can be very helpful. Awhile back I came across in a class called Bible Study Methods, taught by one of my favorite Christian bloggers, Arabah Joy. In it she outlines the following:

Verse mapping: This simple system involves writing a passage of scripture, making observations about the text, studying words and context and concluding with a personal application.

Word study: This method zooms in to look at the origin, meaning and uses of a particular word in scripture. The goal is to learn as thoroughly as possible a writer’s original intent by the word he used.

“APPLE” method: For any passage of scripture, look for these components: Attributes of God’s character, Promises from God, Principles for living, Lesson learned and Example to follow.

Topical study: Take a look at God’s word on any given topic. This method considers every scripture related to your topic in order to gain God’s perspective, instruction, revelation ad understanding, as well as a personal application.

“TASTE” method: When looking at a passage of scripture, follow these steps: Talk to God before reading, Ask him to speak, read the Scripture, Take two minutes to listen quietly and Explore the passage.

Lectio Divina: This phrase is Latin for “divine reading” and simply involves combining scripture reading with prayer and meditation. This devotional method of studying the scriptures has been used by Christians for centuries.

Chapter summary: This method is a way of understanding the contents of a chapter of scripture and involves reading through the chapter multiple times, asking a series of questions and summarizing your discoveries.

Bible Study Methods Review Arabah Joy

Learn More

This is a course I’ve enjoyed going through a couple of times to refresh my understanding and get new ideas about how to study my Bible better. I’ve enjoyed verse mapping and word study the most, but have tried them all.

And if you want to dig deeper like this but don’t even know what passages to start with I’ve got multiple scripture lists I lovingly call “mama verses” that you can download for free in my collection of free resources for email subscribers. I compiled them based on different emotions and experiences most moms go through at one time or another.

Click here to subscribe

Are You Stuck Reading the Bible Because You Don’t Have Much Time?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been frustrated with spending my time in God’s word because I was interrupted, or I was too tired to focus. If you’re in a season (like being a mom of little kids) when you don’t have as much time, don’t let that discourage you from doing what you can.

In my experience, a grace-filled “do what you can, when you can” approach has been very helpful. Some daily practices like scripture meditation, journaling and memorization can be done in five minutes or less. My husband and I have also enjoyed the BEMA podcast because it’s easy to listen to while commuting, working out or doing housework.

As much as possible, make your Bible reading a routine, whether that’s when you first wake up, at lunch, before bed or while your kids are eating breakfast. If you feel like you can’t get enough in one sitting, break it up! Currently I spend about fifteen minutes journaling, praying and memorizing scripture before listening to BEMA or another educational podcast or class while working out. I’m also a fan of spending time with God as a family, so we do prayers and family devotionals at different points in the day and week.

If your current routine isn’t working, try something else. What works now might be different than what you did a year ago, and it will continue to evolve.

Related post: Daily Quiet Times: How Busy, Tired Moms Can Get Motivated

 

I hope you’ve found some of my recent journeys into the Bible helpful in your own studies and discovery. If you’re a mom who is looking to strengthen your relationship with God in the chaos of everyday life, be sure to check out loads of resources I offer!

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Your turn: do you ever get stuck reading the Bible? Which of these tips would you like to try, or what’s worked for you?

Filed Under: Christian Life

10 Bible Verses for the Grumpy Mama

August 14, 2018 by Gina Poirier 17 Comments

Feeling like a grumpy mama? I’ve created lists of Bible verses for FAST access when I need them most—whether I’m feeling grumpy, anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed, and a lot more. Sign up below for access to the whole collection.

Printable Bible verses for moms

 

You know what my favorite sound in the world is?

Three little voices talking—no, screeching—at the same time, arguing over whose turn it is to pick out a cartoon.

I also love the sounds of “uh oh” coming from the bathroom, of glasses of milk spilling onto my laptop, of Legos being dumped all over the floor, which I know will eventually implant themselves into the bottom of my bare foot.

You know, the sounds of my life. Grating music to my ears.

Do you ever feel like you want to just hide and disappear under 59 layers of blankets in the morning? Or maybe just go for a run…indefinitely? Or invent the 100 percent effective earplug? Maybe that’s just me…

I suppose it’s not my kids’ fault that I’m human, that I can only take so much chaos before I start to bark like a wounded animal. Some days I can keep my cool, but on other days I literally go into my room and start growling until I can get enough of it out of my system to compose myself again. This is a natural human response, correct?

I have issues.

This post was inspired by a grumpy mama day. Well, actually many grumpy mama days. I decided it would be a good idea to put a bunch of helpful scriptures into one place so that when I’m starting to lose it, I can find my ground again.

Can you relate? Then these are for you.

10 Bible Verses For the Grumpy Mama

Bible Verses for Grumpy Moms | Christian Encouragement for Women

On choosing joy and gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

This is one of my favorites—my kids and I memorized it together. It reminds us that while we can’t control our circumstances, we can nonetheless choose to give thanks, to pray and to find joy.

Philippians 4:4–7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Again, in every situation we can choose to pray, be thankful and rejoice. This is so powerful when put into practice.

Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This helps remind me that I have a choice: I can give into my natural state of being, or I can rely on God’s Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

God wants me to be at peace; I want to be joyful and to strive for love and peace within my home.

Related post: 10 Encouraging Bible Verses for the Overwhelmed Mama

On praising God

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

I just do so much better when I get the focus off myself and onto HIM.

Psalm 104:33–34

I will sing to the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    as I rejoice in the Lord.

By keeping my eyes on him, by literally singing to him, it’s hard to stay self-absorbed.

Isaiah 49:13

Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

God is there for me always; he knows how I feel.

On overcoming trials, big and small

James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Wait, so working through all my issues makes me more “mature and complete”? That’s encouraging.

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.

I’ll remind myself of this the next time I’m throwing a mommy fit.

Habakkuk 3:17–18

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

If this starving prophet can choose to rejoice, so can I, no matter how hard my day has been.

Related post: 10 Bible Verses About Anxiety—for the Mama Who Fears Failure

I hope you find these as uplifting as I have. Having read through them several times as I’ve prepared this post has made me feel more light-hearted. I recommend writing them down as you go through them, which can help you internalize what they’re saying. You can also pray through them.

Want to keep these verses handy? You can now download them in a printable form! Just click below:

 

If you enjoyed this study, you may also like other posts in my Mama Verses series.

What are your go-to scriptures when you’re feeling like a grumpy mama?

Filed Under: Christian Life, Encouragement for Moms, Encouraging Scriptures for Moms

4 Ways to Experience More Joy, No Matter What the Circumstance

July 25, 2018 by Gina Poirier Leave a Comment

“I just feel like I’ve lost my joy,” she told me one day over coffee and a few tears. “And as a Christian, I feel horrible about that.”

My friend was in the situation many of us find ourselves in: taking care of kids (or something else) and trying to keep our acts together while we’re exhausted, overwhelmed and downright cranky about all. And to top it all off, we feel guilty for not being more joyful.

I wish I could have told her the magic formula, something like prayer + Bible study = joy. And there have certainly been times when I have naively thought it should be that simple.

But in response I simply gave her a hug and maybe cried a little myself. Because in truth, life is hard. Joy isn’t always an automatic response just because you’re a Christian.

Yet on the other hand, the Bible does instruct us to rejoice always, in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:17). I mean really, God? (He says yes, really.)

Feel like you should be more joyful, but the circumstances make you feel anything but? Joy is a part of the Christian experience, but perhaps not in the way you think. Here's what you need to know about growing in joy.

Guilherme Stecanella

So how, exactly, do we have more joy, even when life is really, really tough?

I’ll try to handle this carefully, since I truly don’t think there’s a formula. But here are a few things I like to remember that help my own heart feel more joy when the circumstances bring anything but.

How to Have Joy in Any Circumstance

You can read my four tips to more joy by clicking over to my guest post at Equipping Godly Women: How to Have Joy in Any Circumstance.

Here’s a hint if you want a sneak peek: filling your mind with truth! And I’ve got a bunch of Bible verses that do just that. Click here to sign up for Mama Verses printables and other helpful resources to help a mama’s heart to choose joy.

Click here to subscribe

Filed Under: Christian Life

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I'm Gina, a happily married mom of three and stress management coach. I help exhausted, overwhelmed moms find peace and purpose in the everyday. Be sure to sign up for tons of free resources that will help you stop just surviving and start thriving! Read More…

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