How to Make Time for God with a Busy Summer Schedule

Inside: When we make time for God, our lives get better. We are able to deal with the ups and downs. How do we get into God’s word when our schedules are hectic?

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Are you like me? In the spring, I start a bucket list of all the things I want to do this summer. I can hardly contain my excitement for late nights, sleeping in, and lots of activities.

Then I forget the intensity of the baseball schedules of my boys. All of June is spent driving to practices and at least two games a week. My bucket list can’t even be pulled out until July (if it’s pulled out at all).

Time is of the essence, but yet time seems in short supply.

Summer isn’t a lazy period of weeks for us. It’s more of a brisk, energy-packed, exhaustion- grabbing time.

It really feels chaotic, how about you?

Here’s what I have noticed. The summer feels hectic and I feel a little uptight.

I’m distracted. Exhausted. Irritable.

My routine is turned upside down and so has my time with God.

I need my time with God. If you’d have told me this years ago, I’d have looked at you questioningly, not understanding what you meant.

Why Do We Need God Daily?

When I spend time in God’s word, I’m a better wife, mother, and friend.

Here’s the thing, spending time with God or a lack thereof won’t affect how much God loves us or if we will be saved. We spend time with God because we know life makes more sense when we’re filled with Him.

God’s word tucked deep within us can help us overcome hard things. We can find joy when nothing around us feels happy.

Spending time with God grows us, enables us to live better, and relationships work better when we’ve had our fill of Him.

Why Time with God Makes a Difference

Here’s what I’ve noticed:

My irritability is replaced for His goodness and love. I’m able to shift focus from what is wrong and making me crabby to what is right in my life.

In chaotic moments when I make time for God, peace is exchanged for the tension and overwhelmed feelings. It makes a huge difference when I start off the day with Him.

Being a mom can be lonely. Even though I’m with five kids, many times I feel alone and wish I had a friend to talk to. God is present and is able to fill me when I’m feeling rejected and alone.

As a parent, it’s difficult guiding my kids in wisdom and in the right direction. I mess up often. Remembering I can ask for God’s wisdom and help as I parent and discipline takes a lot of the pressure off.

In the periods when I am weary and exhausted, God’s strength can empower me to keep going. It’s like a Red Bull.

When seasons are long and feel never-ending, the hope God shows me He has a purpose and a plan for me and my kids.

Don’t we feel unloved and unappreciated as moms? God’s Word is abundantly clear about how much He loves us and how important we are to Him.

How many times have you felt like you’ve messed up as a parent? God’s Word shows us that our worth is not found in our role as parents but it’s linked to who we are in Him.

How Do We Find Time for God in the Midst of a Hectic Schedule?

I always thought we needed to spend a certain amount of time in the Bible for it to count. Here’s what God has been showing me. He sees the season I’m in and knows the distraction my kids can bring to my alone time.

God sees the effort of us getting into His word. Share on X

This has been liberating to me. I used to get frustrated at my kids and surly when I couldn’t get even fifteen minutes in the Word. Now if I only read a passage or listen to a few minutes of a podcast and the kids aren’t allowing me time, I ask God to show me what He wants me to learn.

Ways to Get into God’s Word

• Bible Reading Plans
• Devotionals
• Bible Study groups
• Spending time in prayer
• Worship Music
• Podcasts
• Online Sermons
• DVDs
• Reading online Christian blogs

A Few Hacks to Get into God’s Word

While I’m driving, I will put on an online sermon.

Playing a podcast while folding clothes, cooking dinner, or playing with the kids.

Listen to a Bible reading app while working out. (I especially like this, working on my physical body while getting a spiritual workout too. It’s a double whammy.)

Reading a few pages of a devotional book while lying in bed right before I fall asleep.

Praying when I’m in the shower.

While I’m cleaning, praying for each family member as I clean their rooms or fold their clothes.

Writing out prayers.

Making time for God by reading a family devotional before dinner or before a picnic lunch at the park.

Playing worship music quietly in the background.

Spending Time with God is Worth It

Any time we can spend in God’s presence will be worth it. Our quality of life improves, the energy surrounding us is more positive, and we become better people because of it.

God’s Word is the mental-pick-me-up for whatever we are going through.

Even a few minutes spent in God's word makes a difference. Share on X

We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength.
~ Charles Stanley

Another Exciting Opportunity to Spend More Time with God

I’ve paired up with four other bloggers to bring the Sunshine and Scripture Tour to you. Starting next week, each of us will be sharing our top posts to guide you back to God during this summer.

Maybe your summer isn’t hectic, but you’re still having problems getting into God’s word. Each of these posts will help you find God in topics such as homemaking, relationships, prayer, hard times and more topics too.

Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For KidsConquering the Quiet Time: A Proven Battle Plan for Spending Quality Time in the Word of God.Holy Bible: New Living TranslationThe Weekly Prayer Project: A Challenge to Journal, Pray, Reflect, and Connect with GodMy Prayer Journal: A 3 Month Guide To Prayer, Praise and Thanks: Modern Calligraphy and LetteringFinding I AM – Bible Study Book: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart