Blog | Women Finding God

4 Simple Ways To Get More Out Of Your Bible Study

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Learn how to get more out of your quiet time with God with these Bible study tips. Perfect for beginners and understanding how to apply the scriptures to your everyday life.

It seems like I never have time for the important stuff:

Exercise
Fun with my boys
Time to study my Bible

I mean, I’ve gotten pretty good at reading it most days. At the very least I open my Bible app on my phone and read a few verses. But digging deep … I don’t always have the time for that.

If you can relate to not having enough time to study your Bible keep reading. I have 4 easy Bible study tips that I want to share with you.

Bible Study Tip #1: Use an Acronym

Have you seen those cute SOAP printable sheets for Bible study? A few years ago they were super popular and for good reason — it’s easy to use! All you need to know is what each of the letters stands for and in a few minutes, you can go really deep into a passage of scripture.

I used the SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) for a long time. And it served me well. But I put that to the side for another method that has really blessed me: The APPLE method.

The APPLE Bible study method:

Attributes of God
Promises of God
Principles for life
Lessons learned (or sin to avoid)
Example to follow

The APPLE method is a little more involved than the SOAP method and it takes me about 15-20 minutes to work through a passage. But I love it! All you need is your Bible and some paper or your favorite journal.

I found out a few years ago the benefits of studying the promises of God. And I truly believe that getting to know how God is and what He wants for your life is the best way to make it through any hard season. And the APPLE method helps me focus on those things.

Bible Study Tips #2 & #3: Verse Mapping and Word Study

One thing that can really be a struggle when it comes to Bible study is trying to understand exactly what the scriptures are saying. This was something that I battled with when I was trying to read from the King James Version.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with good old King James but for me by the time I figured out how to say the words in the scripture I had no energy (or desire) left to figure out what it meant.

If you have this same struggle it doesn’t have to keep you stuck from growing.

There’s an easy solution that works no matter what version of the Bible you read or how long you’ve been a Christian: Word study and Verse Mapping!

These two methods of studying the Bible have really helped me study and understand the precious words of scripture. And they are pretty easy to do. All you need is access to a dictionary and a concordance.

The basics of a word study involved looking up the original word that was used (in either Hebrew or Greek) and then seeing what it meant when it was used. A Bible dictionary is great for this!
With verse mapping, you want to look up definitions of keywords in the scripture to help you understand what it means. You can use a regular dictionary for this which is great because you can plug in the meanings of each word and suddenly have a whole new grasp of a verse or passage.

The best thing is that each of these methods can be done in as little as 10 minutes.

Bible Study Tip #4: Topical Bible Study

Once I had a handle on those quick and easy methods of studying my Bible I wanted more. I wanted to go deeper and I wanted to be able to take the things that I was learning and actually walk it out in real life.

That’s when I tried a topical study of the Bible.

This has become my favorite way to study my Word by far! It combines the things that I love about the APPLE method, word study and verse mapping in a way that helps me to have a complete understanding of how to be a doer of the Word.

Have you ever tried a topical study?

The basic idea is that you want to spend time reading every single verse the Bible has on a specific subject or topic. Doing this really gives you a clear picture of not only what the topic means but how to take that meaning and apply it to your life.

If you struggle with shame, a topical study can help you understand the truth about shame, what God wants you to know about shame and how to get to free from that bondage once and for all.
Fear, anger, and worry are also great topics to study this way. It helps you to understand what it looks like when you are afraid, what God has to offer as the solution to that emotion and why you don’t ever have to worry about it again.
Struggling with finances? A topical study on money will help you to find and understand the biblical principles surrounding money so you can become a better steward of what God has given you. Or it will help you to see God as the provider that He promises to be.

The thing that I love about a topical study is that I can find connections and truths that I never thought of before. I’ve been doing a topical study on Trust for the past few months as I work on a new book. And I have been blown away by all that God is revealing to me about this topic. The truth really does set you free!

Do you know how many words there are for trust in the entire Bible?

I do, I learned about each one during my topical study.

I know that studying every single verse on a topic can seem like an impossible task. I assure you it isn’t. And it doesn’t take a long time. I’ve been working on my current study for a few months but it still only takes me 10-15 minutes a day.

I learned each of these tips in the course Bible Study Methods: 7 Ways in 7 Days! Arabah Joy helped me see how easy and fun it is to dig into God’s word. She showed me 7 simple ways to study that don’t take up a lot of time!

Your Turn: What is your favorite Bible study tip?

3 Quick And Easy Ways To Stay Focused During Quiet Time

By LaToya 3 Comments

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Inside: These 3 tips will help you stay focused during quiet time with God. No more falling asleep or being distracted during prayer or Bible study!

It was as if all the stars aligned that morning.

I actually woke up on time … relatively
My boys were happily entertaining themselves in their room
I even got out of the bed instead of hiding under the covers

I grabbed my Bible, journal and headed to the living room for some much needed time with God. I couldn’t wait to just sit down and enjoy some time in His presence.

There was just one problem …

I couldn’t focus. My mind was all over the place. I stared at the pile of laundry that still needed to be folded. I thought about all the errands that needed to be run that day. And for some reason, I suddenly couldn’t remember if it was time to get the oil changed in my car.

Distractions often derail the best-laid plans when it comes to time spent growing our faith and deepening our relationship with God. And they aren’t always things related to housework or the kids.

Sometimes there’s just so much going on that it’s hard to reign in our thoughts and emotions.
Our children are going through a tough situation and we are overwhelmed by the desire to help
We feel burden by the weight of all the evil going on in the world
There’s so much pain in our personal life that it’s hard to take a breath and look up for help

3 Quick And Easy Ways To Stay Focused During Quiet Time

Whatever the reason or the cause we can’t allow distractions to keep us from the one thing that will help us find hope, peace and maybe even finally put that laundry away.

What are we to do when distractions come? Here are 3 things that have really helped me in the past.

1. Have a Plan

One the best ways to avoid being distracted is to have a plan. Knowing where you are going to have your quiet time, what you are going to study or pray about and having all your supplies in one place is a great way to get started.

Having a plan also helps to take the guesswork out of your time with God. No more decision fatigue. No more minutes wasted trying to figure out what to read when you open your Bible.

2. Reading and Praying Aloud

Confession: I have a bad habit of falling asleep while I pray. And sometimes I fall asleep face down in my Bible instead of reading it.

I have found that reading and pray aloud helps me to stay awake during my quiet time, especially if it’s evening after the boys have gone to bed.

One reason this is so helpful is that it helps with retention. As you are reading your Bible and saying the verse aloud it begins to take root in your heart. After an entire week of reading the same verses over and over again, you’ll definitely have it hidden in your heart.

3. Dealing with Distractions as they come

Sometimes God will bring a person or situation to mind while you are studying and praying. This is not meant to be a distraction. Instead, it’s usually the Holy Spirit’s way of prompting you to pray for them.

Sometimes no matter what you do distractions will come. But all hope is not lost. Here are a few things you can do:

Pray and ask God help you stay focused
Take some time to do a brain dump before you get started. This will clear space in your mind and heart so that you can hear from God more clearly
When something interrupts your thoughts during your quiet time keep a scrap piece of paper nearby to jot those thoughts down. This way you quickly refocus but still have a list of things that need to be looked at later

The next time all the stars line up for your quiet time with God you’ll have a few tips to help you deal with any distractions.

Your turn: How do you handle distractions during your time with God?

7 Encouraging Bible Verses About God’s Love

By LaToya 1 Comment

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Inside: Do you have a longing in your heart to be loved and cherished? Here are some bible verses about God’s love to encourage you when you feel lonely or brokenhearted.

A few weeks ago we said goodbye to my mother-in-law after a long battle with cancer. It’s never easy saying goodbye to someone we love. I remember how hard it was when I lost my father to cancer 7 years ago. Truthfully, it’s still hard.

There is one moment that will stick with me forever from her funeral service. And I’ll get to that in just a moment. One thing that really resonated with me during that entire service was love.

Love for a wonderful woman brought so many people of different backgrounds and from all over the country together. As people shared some of their favorite memories of my mother-in-law there was a common theme: love.

They told of her love for others. Whether she was serving in her church, caring for her patients in ICU or just loving her family.

I saw our love for her. Hearts broken at the thought of not seeing her smiling face here on earth. Tears of pain and ache. But I also saw tears of joy. Joy that she was now healed, whole and living with the Father.

And then came the moment that overwhelmed an entire church with love. My father-in-law sang a tribute to his bride. Something that took him almost a year to put together. Something he wasn’t sure he would have done in time. But it blessed every single person that was privileged to hear him play and sing that day.

I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for him to watch the woman he shared so much life with slowly fade away. Or how much of a labor of love it was to put together a tribute to her. To know that she wouldn’t be with him much longer but to want to do something to honor their life together.

It was beautiful. And there was no doubt about the love that was shared between them. It still brings tears to my eyes to think of that sweet moment.

And even in that painful and beautiful moment, I got to witness another act of love. When my son, wanting to be there for his grandpa stood beside him and simply placed his hand on his shoulder. A small gesture. But something that meant the world. His grandpa told him later that having him right there was what got him through the song.

When things began to calm down a little and I had a moment to reflect I began to wonder if anyone would ever love me that much. With two failed marriages to my name and having suffered the pain of domestic violence, I don’t know that I ever want to open myself up in that way again.

But that song made me pause and wonder if there would ever be anyone that felt that way about me.

Can you relate to that longing? That desire to be so important and cherished by someone else?

I have some good news for you (and for me) …

There is someone that loves and cherishes you just that much and more! He adores you and calls you beloved. And yes, he even sings beautiful words over you to tell you just how much he cares.

Who is this person? It’s God.

7 Encouraging Bible Verses About God’s Love for You

The Bible is full of scripture after scripture telling about God’s love for his children. There’s a reason some call the Bible God’s love letter to us. From Genesis to Revelation God demonstrates His love for each of us. Here are a few verses to get you started (if you’d like more here’s a month-long reading plan and prayer calendar all about love):

John 3:16 – “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love.

Romans 5:7-8 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Psalm 69:35-36 For God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land. The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there in safety.

1 Corinthians 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

Get your free prayer calendar and reading plan for more encouraging Bible verses about God’s love

Why First Thing in the Morning is the Best Time for Prayer

By LaToya 7 Comments

I get a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

Inside: Prayer is an important part of your quiet time with God and spiritual growth. Here are 3 reasons why early morning prayer is a good idea plus a little trick to help you consistently get up earlier each day!

I was really going to do it this year. I was going to get up early so I could have my quiet time with God before the day started.

Yes, I made that same commitment every year before that, and yes I always fell short every single year. But this year would be different. I had a plan. And I knew I could stick with it.

Go to bed early so I’m not dog tired when my alarm goes off in the morning
Have all my supplies ready to go right next to the bed
Exercise during the day so I’m good and tired when it’s bedtime so I’m not up all night thinking about all the things

It was a good plan. I followed it perfectly. And guess what?

I woke up the first morning and promptly went back to sleep. The second morning I woke up and made it through my quiet time. The third day it just didn’t happen.

Consistency gets me every time!

I bet if you’ve ever decided to get up early or spend more time in the word you’ve had the same struggle. Big changes like that are hard to do even when you have the perfect plan and the best motivation.

But hope is not lost!

I found a little trick that helped me be more consistent. Not perfect. But I am doing better at getting up and starting my day with prayer and Bible study. I still have to do all the other things on my list but this one thing this what helps me see the most success.

Ready for it?

I get out of bed when my alarm goes off.

Yep, that’s it. I kick the covers off and stand up. Once that happens I grab my prayer notebook and Bible. It’s a simple step but it packs a big punch.

Sometimes we get overwhelmed by big goals and too many steps. One way to get over that feeling of overwhelm is to find something that will give you quick win. Something that you can do in 30 seconds that will get you one step closer to your goal.

Why 30 seconds? Because it’s enough time to make progress but not enough time to talk yourself out of moving forward. And it’s something that’s easy to check off your to-do list. Which then motivates you to keep going so you can check something else off.

For example, if you want to floss every day. A 30-second task that you can commit to is flossing one tooth each morning. Why? Because if you floss one tooth you’re not going to stop there. You are more likely to finish the rest of your mouth.

So the challenge is to figure out what is that one thing that you can do every day to achieve your spiritual goals.

My goal is to start my day with prayer.

I know there can be some controversy about if you have to do quiet time at a certain time each day in order to be in God’s will. I don’t want to get into that but if you give me a minute I want to make a case for starting your day with prayer.

3 Reasons Early Morning Prayer is Best

1. Jesus did it

Our main goal as Christians is to be more like Christ. So it’s important to take our cue from Jesus when it comes to our quiet times.

Mark 1:35 NLT – Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Jesus rose early in the morning to have time to talk with this Father. I don’t believe that God is calling all of use to rise before daybreak to pray but I do believe that He wants to hear from us first thing in the morning.

2. It’s the perfect time to get instructions for the day

One thing that I pray for daily is that God will lead and guide our day. I’m not prideful enough to think that just because I have a plan in place that things will go smoothly. Remember my plan for getting up early?

Psalm 5:3 NLT – Listen to my voice in the morning LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

God already knows what we will face that day before we even open up our eyes. Why not take a few minutes to ask Him what that plan is? Do you have a BIG day at work … God has a plan for that. Spending the day taking care of your little ones? God has a plan for that as well.

God’s plans are perfect. And if we simply take the time to ask Him about it, He’s willing to share with us the right path to take.

3. Sometimes we need a little encouragement to put one step in the front of the other

If I’m 100% honest many times the reason that I struggle to get out of bed in the morning had nothing to do with how tired I was. Or my laziness or lack of consistency. Most of the time I just didn’t want to get up and face the day.

Psalm 119:147 NLT – I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

Starting the day with prayer …

Talking to God about what’s on my mind and heart helped me put one foot in front of the other. Because when things are as bad as it can get the only thing that we can do it cry out to God for help and for mercy.

I always feel better when I spend time talking to God. He promises comfort when we need it and He never fails to deliver.

Make the commitment to start your day by talking to God. Make it even sweeter by spending a minute or two in the Word. And don’t forget to find that one thing that you can do in 30 seconds to make sure you keep that commitment.

Your Turn: Do you pray first thing in the morning? Does some other time work better for you?

The 15 Minute Daily Routine That Will Make Your Faith Stronger

By LaToya 3 Comments

I get a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

Inside: This simple trick is the best way to start your quiet time routine every day so you can grow your faith through prayer and Bible study.

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I’m already exhausted from thinking about all things that I need to cross off my to-do list for the day.

Of course, I still have a long road ahead before I can relax at the end of the day:

Homeschool lessons with the boys
A load (or 3) of laundry
Meals to prep and cook
Work that needs to be done so I can keep paying the bills
Tidying the house so it’s not a complete disaster when we all wake up the next day

At the top of my list, each morning is the one that must be done if I’m going to make it through the day without completely losing it: my quiet time with God.

Here’s the truth

I’m a single mom of 3 boys, WAHM, and I homeschool. I’m busy. Trying to do an hour straight doesn’t allow me to accomplish much because I get interrupted. So chunks of 15 minutes throughout the day work best.

I spend about 45 minutes a day in prayer and Bible study but not all at one time.

I like to think of it as my way of praying without ceasing.

I am not an early riser. I don’t think it’s necessary to be up before the sun. I don’t try to get up before my children because they seem to think 4am is an appropriate wake-up time. (No idea where they get that from)

My goal is to be up by 7. And then I break up my quiet time into the following chunks:

Chunk #1: Quick Start with God

This chunk is meant to focus my heart and mind before I start my day. This is not when I pull out my Bible study or journaling. I’m not trying to go really deep. I just want to start my day off by checking in with God:

Singing a song while I make the bed and get myself ready
Finding just one verse or passage to read or pull out my current devotion
Spend a few minutes in prayer

I’m looking for a nugget to anchor myself throughout the day.

Chunk #2: Deep Dive with God

After school is done and my littlest guy is napping I have some time to go deep with God. I use this time for Bible study. This is anything from working through a video-based study to working through a word or topical study on my own.

The goal is to take at least 15 minutes to go deep in whatever God is sharing with me. I might also use this time for some focused prayer.

Chunk #3: Prayer and Journaling

I like to end my day with prayer. I pray for issues/concerns that have pop up during the day. I take a few minutes to pray as I write my to-do list for tomorrow. I take some time to pray for my friends and family.

This is also when I take some time to journal because I’m able to process and have complete thoughts because my boys are all asleep for the evening. I often make notes of how the anchor verse from that morning blessed me.

I use these 3 daily chunks for quiet time Monday to Friday. I don’t set aside quiet time on Sundays because that’s when we go to church. Once we get home from service I try to rest.

Saturdays are reserved for catching up on anything that I didn’t get to during the week or for another deep dive. Typically I spend time studying (and journaling) more about something that puzzled me during the week or just something I want to know more about. It’s also a day where you’ll find me reading a book on spiritual growth.

The important thing to do is find a routine that works for you. Even if everyone thinks you’re nuts.

I’d love to an interrupted hour to spend with God every day but in this season of life, I don’t. So I take my 15 minutes where I can grab them.

Your Turn: What does your quiet time routine look like?

12 Worship Songs that will Revitalize Your Quiet Time

By LaToya 5 Comments

I get a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

Inside: These 12 worship songs will add a new dimension to your quiet time with God. Next time you need words to pray or want to feel closer to God watch a few of these YouTube videos.

A few years ago I started keeping a playlist of worship songs that I liked or ones that spoke to me. Whenever I heard a song on the radio that blessed me in some way I looked it up on YouTube. I didn’t have a radio at home and I wanted to have some good Christian music to listen to.

I was out running errands one day, listening to the radio, singing a worship song and suddenly I started to cry.
Here are a few of the lyrics:

Good intentions
Never saved a soul
They never changed reality
You had to die for me
Cause I’m only human, you mend me
Tried so hard and still get lost
Give our all, but nothing’s complete
We need your love so strong
And I’m so flawed that you know I’m gonna fall
And you catch me
Your mercy
Your grace
My faith gives me strength to feel perfectly safe
Cause you’ll catch me

I don’t know about you but I make a lot of mistakes trying to get it “right”. I think I know what I need to do but then it ends up being a mistake. Then there’s the aftermath of a choice that seemed right at the time but ended up being out of God’s will.

I worry that I’ll really blow it one day. Completely miss out on the breakthrough that God has for me.

Can you relate?

Listen, we make mistakes. There’s no way to avoid it. Even when we seek God’s guidance there’s a chance that we may not get it 100% right. It’s easy to beat ourselves up and think that we are beyond hope and help. That’s a lie from the enemy.

God loves us. He loves you. He knows that you are going to make mistakes and He is waiting to catch you. You will be safe in His arms. And it took that song to remind of that.

Why You Should Add Worship Songs to Your Quiet Time

1. To Put Words to Your Feelings

That morning while I was running errands I was trying to sort through my feelings. Being in a funk for a long time can often be overwhelming. I knew that I was feeling a lot of something but I couldn’t express exactly what it was.

As I listened to the words of that song that morning I realized that they were literally singing my feelings. All the things that I was struggling to make sense of where suddenly clear as I listened to the music.

2. To Find Words when you can’t pray

Just like there are times when I can’t put words to my emotions … I often struggle to find the words to pray. When the weight of my circumstance feels too heavy. Or the burdens of others are more than I can bare I find myself singing my prayers.

God always brings a hymn to mind during these times. But often as I listen to other worship music I begin to pray the lyrics to my Lord and Savior. As I pray the burden lifts and I often find myself able to pray again.

3. To remember who God is and what He’s promised you

My favorite reason for adding worship songs to my quiet time with God is to help me focus on Him and what He is doing in my life. Those songs that are written as if God is speaking directly to me.

Yes, I often hear God’s voice through the lyrics of a good worship song.

12 Worship Songs That Will Revitalize Your Quiet Time with God

1. Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar

2. Chris Tomlin – Jesus Loves Me

3. Lauren Daigle – How Can it Be

4. Kari Jobe – I am Not Alone

5. Natalie Grant – Clean

6. Passion – My Heart is Yours

7. I am They – Make a Way

8. Eddie James – Breakthrough

9. Gateway Worship – Grace that Won’t Let Go

10. Ellie Holcomb – Find You Here

11. Geoffrey Golden – Glory to the Lamb

12. Tauren Wells – Hills and Valleys

Your Turn: Do you have a favorite worship song?

How to Make Quiet Time with God a Priority

By LaToya 4 Comments

I get a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

Inside: Daily quiet time with God doesn’t have to be hard or stressful. Here are the best steps for how to make quiet time with God a priority so you can have a healthy prayer life and grow stronger in Bible study.

I hesitated for just one second before I walked into the living room. I wasn’t sure what kind of disaster waited for me around the corner.

My boys had been up for hours already and when they came in to ask for TV time I quickly said “Yes, just make sure you eat breakfast!” and hurried them out the door. That morning I woke up desperate for a few minutes with God and I knew that a cartoon would occupy them and give me some quiet to focus.

I closed my door and settled in for some uninterrupted time in prayer and God’s word. It was just what I needed. By the time I heard the closing theme song through the walls I was ready to face the day.

I had peace about my mile-long to-do list and I had spent a few minutes praying for some of my closet friends that were walking through a hard time.

As I entered the living room, I realized that I probably should have prayed for God to help me manage the mess that was waiting for me.

My boys did their best to contain the mess of milk and cereal for breakfast. I saw the placemats on the floor and a paper towel attempting to soak up the mess. I simply smiled, sent them to wash up and got to work cleaning up the spill.

I was so thankful for the time that I spent with God that the mess didn’t send me over the edge. I simply took the 5 minutes I was cleaning to pray a little longer.

I’ve learned over the years that I need to make quiet time with God a priority or it just won’t happen. Even if it means my boys veg out in front of the TV so I can make it happen.

What about you?

Do you know that you need to be more consistent with prayer and time spent reading your Bible? Do you long for a deeper and stronger faith but just don’t have the time to do one more thing?

All you need to focus on is doing the most important things first!

How to Make Quiet Time with God a Priority

1. Evaluate your time

Have you ever had to track your money before creating a budget? It’s a great way to actually see where your money is going so that you can figure out how to best steward your resources. You need to treat your time the same way. Take a week and jot down what you doing with your waking hours. You may be surprised by what you find.

It’s hard for us to see where we might be wasting time or not making the best use of our time. Having it on paper makes it easy to see that you spend way too much time on social media.

Have you ever fallen down the Pinterest rabbit hole (or binged on Netflix) for hours and then claimed you have no time for God?

You can also see if you are too busy. If you look at your time evaluation and there is no margin whatsoever, it’s time to start seeing what can you take off your plate.

Simply replace your time on Facebook or extra volunteer meeting with time spent with God.

2. Just Make Quiet Time with God a Priority

I have a friend that gets up at 4 and gets a bunch of stuff done. She prays, reads her Bible, works out and even works for a while before the rest of her family wakes up. I don’t believe in 4am. My house would have to be on fire for me to get up that early, LOL.

That kind of schedule just wouldn’t work for me. But she has committed to keeping God a priority and does what she needs to do. If 4am works for you, great!

If you’re like me and it doesn’t hope is not lost. Simply find a time that does work for you.

How? Through trial and error.

But remember to be reasonable. If you have a brand new baby, aren’t sleeping and can’t remember the last time you had a shower give yourself some grace. If you are in a crisis same thing. Give yourself permission to scale back to 15 minutes a day instead of an hour.

It’s still possible to have a close relationship with God in 15 minutes a day (or less) God is not watching the clock penalizing you for not spending enough time. He looks at your heart.

If all you have is 2 minutes while you hide from the kids in the bathroom God will honor that and bless you for it.

3. Get creative

Once you’ve done #1 and #2 sometimes you just have to get a little creative.

A few years ago I was spending the night at a friends house. When I woke up one morning I heard voices coming from her kitchen. At first, I thought that she was chatting with her hubby or kids but when I got in the kitchen I realized that she was listening to an audio Bible.

She was still serving her family and taking care of me and my boys (we still rave about those pancakes) but she was also getting her time in the Word.

I remember thinking what a wise woman she was for having a great idea (and what a wise person I was to choose her as a friend).

Think about a time during your day when you are folding laundry, washing dishes, preparing meals or even nursing a baby when you could be listening to the scripture. Where ever you are, God is there with you and you can have that time with him

Praying in the car on your commute to work
Listening to a sermon or worship music as you go for your morning run
Watching a sermon or bible study on TV while your kids sit around you eating popcorn

God is creative! There is no one way to spend time with him. When you purpose in your heart to grow closer to God just pray and ask Him to show you how to make it happen.

Your time with God doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. God made you unique and special. So just make up your mind to do it, even if you have put your kids in front of the TV to make it happen.

Your Turn: How to make Quiet time with God a Priority?

10 Must Have Tools for Journaling Newbies

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Inside: Journaling is a great tool for spiritual growth. Here’s a list of must-have supplies for Christian women looking to get started! [Read more…]

How to Set Goals that You Can Actually Stick To

By LaToya 1 Comment

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Inside: How setting goals the biblical way can help you achieve a true transformation!

I did something a little radical …

I gave up my need to control all the things!

Sounds a little crazy right?

I get so many emails from ladies trying to figure out how to manage a hundred different things when they walk through a crisis.

Here’s what I’ve learned: The only way to manage all the things that are going right and wrong in your life is to let it all go!

Yep, you heard me right. Let it go.

Sing the song if you need to.

Did your flesh just cringe or scream a little? When I first decided that I wanted to be less of a control freak everything in me screamed HECK NO GIRL!

Maybe it comes from growing up with an alcoholic father and all the instability that creates in a child’s life.
Maybe it’s because I was given very little control or say in my life growing up
Or maybe it because I went through being abused and stripped of all my human rights that I have this overwhelming need to feel like I am in control
Maybe being in control is just my way of trying to deal with this thing called life.

Whatever the reason the truth was that I needed to make a change. My desire and drive to be in control of all things, at all times were killing me.

I had taken on a burden way too heavy for me and in the process, I was just making things worse.

I spent years telling God how to do His job. How He needed to answer my prayers in the exact way that I wanted and on my timetable.

God, I need your help. But if you could just do it my way that would be great. Thanks.

See, I told you that I had a serious problem. I needed to let it go if I was going to have peace and joy in my life. But wasn’t sure how …

Maybe you are not a recovering perfectionist and control freak like I am. Maybe you struggle with watching too much TV or eating too many cookies once the kids go to bed.

Or maybe you have some really big decisions to make and you aren’t sure where to start.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way we could be sure that we were making the right choices? A step-by-step process that we could go through any time that we wanted to accomplish something.

Actually, there is!

The Bible is the tool that will help us set godly goals and make wise decisions if we know where to look.

Digging into the word is what helped me overcome my struggling with not trusting and surrendering to God when I knew I needed to. My Bible helped me set that goal and meet it!

5 Steps to Setting Goals for True Lasting Change

Learning to trust God to take care of anything that was going on in my life was the goal.

That sounds super Christian, a no-brainer but it was very hard for me to let go. It’s in my nature to fix things that aren’t going the way I want them to. It’s so hard for me to sit on my hands.

But I was determined to overcome this obstacle in my life so I sat down to make a plan!

Step #1: I sat down and searched my heart to figure out what my goals were. I need to know what I wanted:

more peace
less stress
more clarity
to be in God’s will
a closer relationship with God

I just made a list of everything that was in my heart. Anything that I wanted to do. Learning to let go was just one thing on that list.

Step #2: I took my list to God and asked Him what He thought of my list. I had a few things that really jumped out at me to work on but I wanted to make sure that I was working on the thing that God wanted me to work on. (This is how I landed on my control issues)

Step #3: I made a list of all the things that I felt I needed to do in order to meet that goal. Some people like to create vision boards. I’m more a word person than graphics so I just sat down and thought about what I wanted my life to look like by the end of the year and wrote it down.

Step #4: I wrote down some good things that I felt would happen once I was able to let go of my need for control. I found these things in Bible. Anytime that I found a promise that related to learning surrender to God and trust Him completely I made a note of it.

I kept all these things in my journal so I could pull it out and look it over when I had a rough day.

Step #5: I began to walk out this plan that I created. One day at a time, I worked my way toward letting go and letting God lead.

What do you think? Does that sound manageable?

I know that this process might seem super Christiany (I think I made that word up) but it is really easy and doable.

Are you ready for your breakthrough this year?

Setting goals that were manageable and in line with scripture was always a struggle for me. Honestly, if it weren’t for the process I learned in Arabah Joy’s Biblical Goal Setting course I would likely still be stuck in bad habits like eating too many cookies and always wanting to be in control of everything.

I was stuck in some destructive patterns and couldn’t see a way out.

I used to have these grand goals and plans and then never get around to them. You know, because I would try the first day and then feel overwhelmed and give up.

Or I would get so caught up in the planning process that I never put anything into action.

I figured that there was no hope for me. I couldn’t change it’s just how I am.

Arabah Joy helped me see how easy it is to not only set goals but to grow spiritually and really see some true change in my life with the help of Grace Goals.

If it weren’t for the breakthrough in my faith … I could never have accomplished as much as I have in the past few years.

There’s no way that I would have control over my temper instead of being controlled by it. Or that I would be able to work, homeschool and care for my children without losing my mind.

And I definitely would not be spending consistent time in prayer and Bible study every day if I had developed some good habits and worked hard towards change.

I learned the hard way … I made a bunch of mistakes trying to do things my way instead of inviting God into the process.

You don’t have to struggle like I did! You can skip right to the most effective way to set goals and see positive change.

Arabah Joy has a bundle called Grace Goals: A Revolutionary Way to Set Goals and Achieve Change. It teaches you step-by-step how to set goals and actually see it through to the change you desire.

If you are tired of life as usual and you are truly ready to see a transformation in your life, grab a copy of this bundle right now! Yes, it’s that good!

Block off some time each day for a week to work through the process and great your plan of attack.

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s covered in the bundle:

Learn why grace is the enablement you need
Begin to recognize and appropriate grace in your daily life
Set practical, godly goals
Be confident of God’s favor and power in your endeavors
Develop a doable, personal plan for change
The comprehensive 48-page workbook with 5 mini workshops
Printables for each of the workshops to guide you and help you implement what you learned from the workshop

Arabah Joy made it possible for me to lay a spiritual foundation for the goals that I wanted to accomplish in every area of my life. Inviting God into the process gave me the strength and determination to see it through all the way.

It’s so hard for me to imagine what my life would be like if I had never taken the time to work through this system. I would be a hot mess if I hadn’t made the changes that I did.

Don’t miss out on the chance to experience true transformation and growth in your life this year. Get your copy of Grace Goals today !

The One Thing You Must Know to Seek the Kingdom of God First

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Inside: Getting your priorities straight is important for all parts of your life. Most importantly your spiritual growth.

I recently did a little soul searching in an effort to clear out some emotional junk and unnecessary stress.

I’d grown weary of chasing stuff, trying to make things work in my own might and effort. Something was missing but I was having a hard time putting my finger on it.

One day while reading my Bible I found the answer:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT

I realized that day was that I was not seeking the Kingdom of God above all else. That was a hard pill for me to swallow:

The rule follower in me doesn’t like it when I get it wrong.
The good girl in me wants to be perfect.
The Holy Spirit in me convicted me of my selfish thoughts!

I was saying with my mouth that I wanted to live a life obedient to God’s word but there were some areas of my life that I wasn’t walking that out.

Our job as daughters of the King is to seek the kingdom and live righteously. God promise is that when we do He will take care of everything else.

Sounds easy right?

I thought so too.

The truth is that seeking the kingdom means saying no a lot. No to myself, no to the world. No to the things that I think are good for me. Things that I want.

That’s hard. But with determination, it can be done!

Make a commitment to make God your #1 priority no matter what. To crave Him, His word and knowing Him more than anything else.

Why?

Because God promises that if I do, He’ll give you the desires of my heart.

How could you say no to that?

How to Practically Seek the Kingdom of God with Priorities

What are your priorities?

If you’re anything like me you have a ton of things on your plate. You probably have more than one plate, LOL! There are so many things that we have to get done each day. Families that we need to take care of, work to do, people to serve.

How can we do all of that and make sure that we are giving God His proper place in our lives?

That’s the same question Martha asked of Jesus when she was doing all the work preparing for guests and her sister Mary was just sitting around doing nothing. Well, she wasn’t doing nothing.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NLT

Mary had her priorities right. Martha was focused on the wrong thing in that moment.

Don’t misunderstand! It’s not wrong to take care of your family and invite people to your home. It is wrong to be so focused on those things that we forget to make time for God.

The dishes can wait for 5 minutes if it that’s all the time you have to read your Bible.
Your children can entertain themselves or watch TV while you take a few minutes to pray over your day.
Your guests can eat a meal you pick up from the grocery store if it means you have time to pray and allow God to give you a hospitable attitude before they arrive.

Seriously! There’s nothing worse than going to someone’s house and they spend the entire time in a bad mood because they are exhausted from cleaning.

You just have to put your priorities in their proper place. And then create a schedule that works around them.

Creating a Schedule that Reflects Your Priorities

Having a schedule/routine in place that works for you will give you the freedom you need to get the things done that need to be done, with a good attitude and room for rest and margin.

It’s pretty easy to create a schedule or a routine:

Make a list of all your roles
Write down all the tasks that go with those roles
Sort out the tasks that must be done and the ones that do not (these are your priorities)
Spend a week keeping track of your time.
Create a schedule that actually works

Bible Study Tip #1: Use an Acronym

Bible Study Tips #2 & #3: Verse Mapping and Word Study

Bible Study Tip #4: Topical Bible Study

Your Turn: What is your favorite Bible study tip?

3 Quick And Easy Ways To Stay Focused During Quiet Time

1. Have a Plan

2. Reading and Praying Aloud

3. Dealing with Distractions as they come

Your turn: How do you handle distractions during your time with God?

7 Encouraging Bible Verses About God’s Love for You

3 Reasons Early Morning Prayer is Best

1. Jesus did it

2. It’s the perfect time to get instructions for the day

3. Sometimes we need a little encouragement to put one step in the front of the other

Your Turn: Do you pray first thing in the morning? Does some other time work better for you?

Here’s the truth

Chunk #1: Quick Start with God

Chunk #2: Deep Dive with God

Chunk #3: Prayer and Journaling

Your Turn: What does your quiet time routine look like?

Why You Should Add Worship Songs to Your Quiet Time

1. To Put Words to Your Feelings

2. To Find Words when you can’t pray

3. To remember who God is and what He’s promised you

12 Worship Songs That Will Revitalize Your Quiet Time with God

Your Turn: Do you have a favorite worship song?

How to Make Quiet Time with God a Priority

1. Evaluate your time

2. Just Make Quiet Time with God a Priority

3. Get creative

Your Turn: How to make Quiet time with God a Priority?

5 Steps to Setting Goals for True Lasting Change

Are you ready for your breakthrough this year?

How to Practically Seek the Kingdom of God with Priorities

Creating a Schedule that Reflects Your Priorities

Are you ready to embrace your inner Mary? Are you ready for God to give you the desires of your heart? Let’s seek His kingdom together!