Finding Quiet-Time In A Busy Home

As a full-time wife, mother, and homemaker, this is the million dollar question— How do I find Quiet-Time (uninterrupted intimacy with YAH)?

Between cooking, cleaning, blogging and now gardening (hello Spring!), I was having a strange and reoccurring thought: “I’ll have less time to pray.”
How sad is it that we may think this way when our schedules begin to expand… Bible study and Quiet-Time is usually first on the chopping block— often without us even realizing it.

The answer is very simple. So simple in fact that I didn’t believe it for many years. I’d attempted to complicate it, dance around it, avoid it, and experiment with other resolutions. But the reality is that if I want Quiet-Time, I MUST get up before everyone else. Or at least, before others need me.

I’ve been reading and hearing other homemakers say this for years (and if you’ve ever tuned in to the homemaker-sphere then you’ve heard this too)… “Get up early…” “Don’t sleep in…” Even the Proverbs 31 Woman, bless her heart, get’s up before the sun even rises to get her daily Bread of Life.

She also rises while it is still night, And provides food for her household, And what is lawfull for her girls.

Proverbs 31:15 TS2009

For a long time, I growled, grunted, sighed, rolled my eyes, and smacked my lips at such a ridiculous thought. Me, up before dawn? The whole reason I pursued life as a full-time homemaker was to avoid starting my days before dawn! Now you’re telling me I can’t avoid it? Yikes.

The remedy has finally become so clear. Not only when I make time for YAH by getting up to meet with Him before I do anything else do I find peace, I also start the day off on the right foot: entering His Presence! Some days it is extremely difficult to wake up and pick up my Bible in the wee hours of the morning. But I’ve just come to realize and lovingly accept that, unfortunately, when I don’t, I always regret it. Always.

When I miss my morning appointment with YAHUAH, choosing to instead sleep in and do it once I finally rise, I am simply not as productive, energetic, or focused. My chores become a drag, I am more likely to lounge, and I get. so. far. behind.

Thankfully, He is so merciful. Lately I’ve been finding a good rhythm in my routine, and this new familiarity allows me to anticipate opportunities for Quiet-Time. I’ve even been able to begin going on prayer walks each evening just before the sun sets, and it has been a blessing that I hope to continue and grow in as I mature. This way, even if I miss my morning appointment, I have my prayer walk to look forward to (although nothing beats the quiet serenity of meeting with Him in the morning).

So how can you begin to get up early, even when it’s hard, you’re always tired, and you simply don’t want to depart from your bed? I’ll share what has helped me!

Look for YAH to order your steps

O YAHUAH, in the morning You hear my voice; I present myself to You in the morning, And I look up.

Psalm 5:3

Proverbs chapter 3 verse 6 is very clear: In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

This is true. We must abide by this if our goal as homemakers is to build, cultivate, and maintain Kingdom homes! We can’t settle for NOT having time with YAH. I once heard a great quote. “I’m too busy not to pray!”

He knows you have to entertain guests, homeschool, cook, clean and serve your husband. The beauty is that all of those things are acts of worship when you dedicate them to Him. That is why we must go to Him every morning so that He can lead us in doing these things HIS way. Not only this, but so we can be grounded in Him for the day, having a renewed portion of Ruach HaQodesh (The Holy Spirit).

Have a solid nighttime routine

I truly cannot stress this enough. A solid nighttime routine can truly be the determinant of how willing and seamlessly you rise up in the morning. The goal is to rise refreshed, ready, and radiating that joyful, easygoing homemaker-spirit which takes on her day with gladness.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; And she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared].”

Proverbs‬ ‭31:25‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Smiling at the future as a wife means life without anxiety because you know Who is In Control. No matter what life looks like, you are assured in Him, so you continue on with your tasks as assigned and continue preparing every night.

Some simple but great things that can change how you rest at night:

• Warm Shower
• Moisturize (REALLY take your time and invest into products you LOVE)
• Facial skincare
• Hair routine (twists, laying edges, oiling scalp, retouching braids etc. whatever this looks like for you)
• Soft music
• Less tv, entertainment and social media
• Stop responding to texts + answering calls + looking at emails (you get sucked in and before you know it, you’re no longer thinking about the bed but instead something that CAN wait for tomorrow)
• Wear a nice bed gown (or something you actually look forward to putting on… no more granny gowns and tattered robes!)

You can do whatever fits for you and your husband. The key is to try to do your routine at the same time or within the same window every night :). Getting a rhythmic familiarity going each night as the sun goes down helps to take anxiety off of you as you get closer and closer to your bed-time! The continual rhythm becomes expected by your brain, and ultimately the first step in your routine will begin to signal to your brain that “Hey, it’s time to relax!” So don’t neglect to reserve a little window for yourself during the evenings and do it regularly!

Go to bed earlier

Yes, really.

Sure, you can go to bed at 3am and wake up at 6:30am every day for a few days, maybe even a week. But let’s be real, with all the work you do, you need your beauty rest! And sooner or later, you’ll crash if you don’t get it (or work yourself to death)!

If your morning Quiet-Time comes at the expense of a full night’s rest, you will eventually grow resentful and abandon it altogether. This is why it’s important that the earlier you plan to wake up, the earlier you must lie down!

This can also reflect in your chores and tasks! You may need to have all the cooking, cleaning and tending done by seven so you can relax with your loved ones for an hour at the least, do your bed time routine, and then be in bed by 9.

I know it sounds hard, and I’m not even going to sugarcoat it. It’s extremely difficult. But you will NEVER regret making life changes so you can water your relationship with YAH, no matter how hard. And you begin to see how much smoother everything runs when you’re willing to put things on the back burner (or remove them completely) for Abba. He is an investment that is sure to have an eternal return, so don’t be afraid to let Him completely shake up your comfort!

Make Quiet-Time luxurious

I’m a tea girl (even though most recently I’ve been looking to coffee for my daily wakeup).

Every morning, more or less, I do the same thing: wake up, stretch, pray, make hot fresh tea, open the curtains, sit down with my Bible and journals in the comfiest place, and get my Daily Bread.

This is rewarding to me for a few reasons.

1. There’s nothing like the quietude of the morning
2. I LOVE fresh hot tea in the morning
3. It’s literally SO quiet in the morning
4. Tea.

I’m not even a morning person. But by giving myself something I thoroughly enjoy in the morning, I often find the motivation to get up and start my day early. I look forward to my morning cup of tea. For me, it symbolizes renewal, repentance, and stillness— I’m starting a new day, yesterday is gone, and I am right here with my Father.

Designate a place in the house. Somewhere VERY comfy, like your favorite recliner or rocking chair, your porch, your dining table, or even your window nook if you have one. Decorate it, add pillows, bring in fresh flowers or essential oils, bring in lots of natural light, play your favorite worship and/or gospel tunes. And add treats! Muffins, berries, yogurt, granola— make it a personal tradition to have your own signature Quiet-Time treat. It really helps with getting out of bed.

It truly makes all the difference in your Quality-Time when it’s actually something you look forward to, instead of something you dread!

Most importantly, to make your early morning Quiet-Time luxurious, you have to have ZERO distractions. Quality time is not very quality when you’re not giving your undivided attention. Texts, Instagram, the package coming in the mail and even breakfast can wait (if you’ve managed to get up before it’s time). Put everything aside and just be totally subdued by Him.

The real tea (no pun intended) to getting Quiet-Time with our Father, is simply to RESERVE time, and make it pleasurable! Do NOT try to squeeze Him in. He won’t fit. He is worth more than the little pocket leftover at the end of your hectic day! Even if you’re not up at the crack of dawn, appoint time for Him instead of hoping the time will become available…it will not.

After you drop the kids off… Right before they wake up from nap time… or even as part of your bedtime routine… Designate an appointment for just you and Him, and show up! Every day! He is worth it and you’ll never regret running into His arms!

Do not wait for an opportunity to be with YAH— Create one!