I recently stumbled across an article by Kevin DeYoung entitled, "Don't Let the Screen Strangle Your Soul." The content of this article challenged me to evaluate my excessive use of Facebook. I was forced to confront my obvious addiction to scrolling and to consider how such an unrestrained use of social media might be stunting my spiritual growth.
In an effort to minimize my over-attachment to Facebook, I have transitioned my use of social media almost exclusively to our family's laptop--which is docked in our master bedroom. Since I no longer allow myself unlimited access on my phone, I am no longer enslaved to scrolling whenever my toddler's head is turned or whenever I sit down to nurse my 2-month-old.
Implementing this change has been so liberating and beneficial for my soul. It has freed up significant time throughout my day so that I may learn to devote myself to my faith and my family. Since purging my daily routine of excessive Facebook usage, I have been able to adopt some healthier practices that actually serve to fuel my faith.
For any fellow Christian mother who yearns to experience a deeper intimacy with Jesus and maximize your contribution in the home, consider putting Facebook on the back-burner and start applying some of the following practices to your own daily routine.
1. Revisit One of Your Church's Sunday Sermons
During the initial months of my firstborn daughter's life, I struggled to be present and focused during Church. Because I would miss key parts of the sermon while tending to a hungry or fussy baby, I fell into the habit of simply tuning out altogether. Although I could have easily accessed the sermons online--so as to hear what I had missed--I honestly just never put forth the effort to do so.
However, as I navigate this season of life once again with our second daughter, I am striving not to fall by the wayside when it comes to hearing the preaching of God's word.
Each week, I am attempting to revisit my church's sermon at home and have found it to be a very fruitful practice. I am always amazed by how much more encouragement and instruction I'm able to glean as a result of listening to the message twice.
Ephesians 4:11-12 rightly reminds us that our pastors (and their sermons) have a critical purpose. They are meant "to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." Hearing God's word spurs us on to serve others, which in turn helps to encourage and strengthen the whole Church.
So, my fellow moms, whether you were fully engaged or hopelessly distracted this past Sunday, I encourage you to start revisiting your pastor's sermons on a regular basis. Doing so can only help to fuel your faith, as well as the faith of others.
2. Incorporate Christ-Exalting Music Into Your Daily Grind
In the past few months, worship music has become my constant companion during dish duty, playtime, laundry-folding, and the like. Mundane tasks such as these don't typically require a great deal of intellectual power. Therefore, they provide me with sufficient time to process my thoughts.
However, when left to my own devices, my mind can easily morph into a breeding ground for sin. Before long, my thoughts become infested with discontentment, judgement, bitterness, pride, anger, and selfishness.
Thankfully, because of the Gospel, I don't have to remain a prisoner to my own devices. Songs that speak of what Christ has done for me help to rein in my wayward attitudes and reassure me of my freedom from sin. As I lend my ear to powerful, Gospel-centered lyrics, I become all the more eager to forsake my sin, to forgive and love others, and to fervently lean upon Jesus.
However, when left to my own devices, my mind can easily morph into a breeding ground for sin. Before long, my thoughts become infested with discontentment, judgement, bitterness, pride, anger, and selfishness.
Thankfully, because of the Gospel, I don't have to remain a prisoner to my own devices. Songs that speak of what Christ has done for me help to rein in my wayward attitudes and reassure me of my freedom from sin. As I lend my ear to powerful, Gospel-centered lyrics, I become all the more eager to forsake my sin, to forgive and love others, and to fervently lean upon Jesus.
One Christ-exalting album that I return to frequently is "The Gathering" by Sovereign Grace Music. If you're not yet familiar with this group of musicians, I would highly recommend them to you! All of their albums are lodged with rich truths that will fuel your worship and your faith!
In addition, I own a few albums by Seeds Family Worship that I will intentionally have running in the background during my toddler's designated playtime. The songs on these albums are, quite simply, scriptures set to music. Listening to God's truths being sung as we play is a way for my soul to be nurtured while my daughter's imagination is being nurtured. Win-win.
So, my fellow moms, when your sink is stacked with dirty dishes waiting to be washed or your couch is ridden with clean clothes waiting to be folded--just press play.
3. Spend Time in God's Word--Whether It's Quiet or Not
I used to think that having my "quiet time" with God meant having both a lot of quiet and a lot time. I would hide away with my Bible and a cup of hot coffee--eager to read and digest a multitude of passages. Then I had children. Suddenly, it felt as though my quiet time had been hijacked.
But this year, I was challenged by a speaker at my church's marriage conference to loosen my grip on such an unpractical and secluded notion of quiet time. He proposed that our time of reading God's word and communing with Him through prayer could (and should) be done in front of our children as much as possible. After all, we can't expect our children to value God's word if they never perceive that it is valuable to us.
So, with this new perspective in mind, I have started reading my Bible at the beginning of my eldest daughter's morning playtime each day. I simply communicate to her that mommy is going to spend a few minutes reading the Bible while she plays. Sometimes she'll choose to read one of her own Bible storybooks. Other times, in typical toddler fashion, she'll do nothing but bombard me with interruptions. I'm learning to be flexible and forgiving as I test out this new approach to "quiet time".
Colossians 3:16 says to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." There are no specifications about how many verses to read or for how long. All that matters is that scripture is living and abounding in our hearts and minds.
So, my fellow moms, carve out time in your schedule each and every day to read and meditate upon God's word. Keep it sweet and simple as you model it's surpassing worth to your ever-watchful children.
4. Look Well to the Ways of Your Household
Mom life can be draining. We are constantly directing, explaining, disciplining, cleaning, teaching, playing, reminding, comforting, chauffeuring, feeding, and dressing. Much of our day is devoted to our children's physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Although there's very little "down time", I'm beginning to realize that there is a Christ-like beauty to this busy reality.
Mark 10:45 reveals that Christ "did not come to be served, but to serve...". At times when my God-given purpose and significance as a mother become clouded by a perpetual craving for personal time, I cling to Christ's selfless example of service.
As mothers, we have the ultimate privilege, day by day, of imitating Christ in the way we serve our families. The mother in Proverbs 31 models this type of diligent service. It says that she "looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness". She proactively seeks out ways to contribute to her household--resisting the temptation to choose idleness over service.
This does not mean that moms are never entitled to times of rest. Just like our children, we have our own physical, emotional and spiritual needs to tend to at times. However, we should not make it our habit to indulge laziness over Christ-likeness.
So, my fellow moms, in those rare moments of "freedom" while your children are otherwise engaged, choose to fuel your faith by cultivating a life of service to others. After all, any opportunity to become more like Christ--as mundane and tedious as the task may seem initially--is a beautiful use of your time.
Although there's very little "down time", I'm beginning to realize that there is a Christ-like beauty to this busy reality.
Mark 10:45 reveals that Christ "did not come to be served, but to serve...". At times when my God-given purpose and significance as a mother become clouded by a perpetual craving for personal time, I cling to Christ's selfless example of service.
As mothers, we have the ultimate privilege, day by day, of imitating Christ in the way we serve our families. The mother in Proverbs 31 models this type of diligent service. It says that she "looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness". She proactively seeks out ways to contribute to her household--resisting the temptation to choose idleness over service.
This does not mean that moms are never entitled to times of rest. Just like our children, we have our own physical, emotional and spiritual needs to tend to at times. However, we should not make it our habit to indulge laziness over Christ-likeness.
So, my fellow moms, in those rare moments of "freedom" while your children are otherwise engaged, choose to fuel your faith by cultivating a life of service to others. After all, any opportunity to become more like Christ--as mundane and tedious as the task may seem initially--is a beautiful use of your time.
5. Read a Book That Will Build You Up
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, the believers in that region are instructed to "...encourage one another and build one another up...". One way that our generation of believers continues to uphold this model is through the production of God-honoring, faith-fueling literature. There is so much biblical wisdom and encouragement to be reaped from those whom God has graciously equipped to communicate it.
One practice I've started implementing is to bring a book to bathtime. While my toddler turns into a prune, I can turn the pages of an instructive book and be built up in my faith.
At the moment, I am reading a book by Gary Thomas called Sacred Parenting. Each time I sit down to read, whether I manage to get through a single paragraph or a few pages, I am humbly reminded of God's design for parenting and encouraged to persevere accordingly.
So, my fellow moms, as your child enjoys his or her bubble bath tonight (or, if you're fortunate enough to enjoy your own bubble bath), ditch your phone and link arms with a book that will build you up.
6. Pray for the People In Your Life
1 Timothy 2:1 urges believers to pray for all people. I'll be the first to admit that I struggle to pray for the people in my life as I ought. Sure, certain individuals or families in need of prayer will trickle through my mind here and there. However, up until recently, I have lacked the discipline and diligence necessary to spend meaningful, consistent time in prayer for them.
In an effort to uphold 1 Timothy 2:1, I decided to search for a prayer App that could help me cultivate a more fervent and faithful prayer life.
I discovered an App called PrayerMate that has proved to be a fruitful tool for me personally in terms of establishing a prayer routine. This App provides me with the ability to create categorized lists of people to pray for. I can then structure the frequency and content of my prayers for each individual person.
Such a systematic, structured approach to prayer might not be a good fit for all believers--but it has definitely helped to lasso my wild, untamed prayer life. I hope to get into the habit of opening this App as compulsively as I used to open my Facebook App.
So, my fellow moms, if you're in need of a simple, yet effective approach to praying for others, clear some storage space on your smart phone--then download an App that will fuel your faith in the God who hears and answers your prayers.
This past week, a couple of seasoned mothers from my church family hosted a gathering for new moms. Their intent was to encourage us in our roles of motherhood.
At one point, the topic of Facebook came up. It seemed obvious that most of the other moms were, much like me, mildly (if not severely) addicted to social media. And, much like me, I perceived that these other moms were desperate to break their bondage, so as to be even more fruitful in their God-given roles.
This blog post is not meant to shame anyone or to impose my own personal convictions onto anyone. I enjoy certain aspects of Facebook as much as the next person. I simply want to strive to enjoy my God and my family more--and hopefully encourage other semi-addicted moms to do the same.
So, my fellow moms, may these six simple practices find a place in your daily routine and may they fuel your faith in the most remarkable and rewarding ways.
In an effort to uphold 1 Timothy 2:1, I decided to search for a prayer App that could help me cultivate a more fervent and faithful prayer life.
I discovered an App called PrayerMate that has proved to be a fruitful tool for me personally in terms of establishing a prayer routine. This App provides me with the ability to create categorized lists of people to pray for. I can then structure the frequency and content of my prayers for each individual person.
Such a systematic, structured approach to prayer might not be a good fit for all believers--but it has definitely helped to lasso my wild, untamed prayer life. I hope to get into the habit of opening this App as compulsively as I used to open my Facebook App.
So, my fellow moms, if you're in need of a simple, yet effective approach to praying for others, clear some storage space on your smart phone--then download an App that will fuel your faith in the God who hears and answers your prayers.
This past week, a couple of seasoned mothers from my church family hosted a gathering for new moms. Their intent was to encourage us in our roles of motherhood.
At one point, the topic of Facebook came up. It seemed obvious that most of the other moms were, much like me, mildly (if not severely) addicted to social media. And, much like me, I perceived that these other moms were desperate to break their bondage, so as to be even more fruitful in their God-given roles.
This blog post is not meant to shame anyone or to impose my own personal convictions onto anyone. I enjoy certain aspects of Facebook as much as the next person. I simply want to strive to enjoy my God and my family more--and hopefully encourage other semi-addicted moms to do the same.
So, my fellow moms, may these six simple practices find a place in your daily routine and may they fuel your faith in the most remarkable and rewarding ways.
