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By personality, I am a task-oriented, active, and out-going woman. So when I decide to do something, I jump in with two feet and get busy. I also love to organize and plan. Preparing to teach my preschool-aged children feeds my personality longings! In no small terms, I love to prepare activities to do with my kids. I enjoy the dreams and plans that develop as I work.
Those of you with an equal personality are dying for me to give you a timeline and step-by-step process to get started on activities for your child. And while we are going to get to that, today is not that post. Because we can not impress on our children what God has not impressed on our own hearts.
I can not stress this enough. So I will say it again. Before I can teach my children, I must daily allow God to work on my heart.
And so I begin the “Preparing to Impress” series with “Preparing Mommy.”
Honestly, five years ago I would have been bummed reading this post. I would have skipped over it with a I-don’t-have-time-for-quiet-times and my-children-get-up-too-early attitude and skipped ahead to the next post where I could find specific activities to do. I would have stood firm in my abilities and talked the good-Christian-mommy talk.
But God brought me to such a rough spot in mommyhood that I realized I can’t make it through the day without first tapping into the source of love, joy, and peace.
If you have hung out with me for any length of time you know that God has placed it on my heart to encourage women to spend quality time with their Savior each morning. This lead me to write my first ebook “A Quiet Time, Worth the Time.” In this free ebook I share what I am learning in my journey to have a quality quiet time.
You may be surprised to hear that the first step in our preparing process may very well be the hardest of all. In this step, I have to have a teachable heart. I have to open my heart to truth and allow God to get into the yuck of my heart that I try to oppress. This all begins with getting up in the mornings or setting a specific time each day to be quiet, read the Word, and pray. (More information in the ebook and Morning Quiet Times with God category.)
As I travel the road of parenting I am increasingly convinced that character, attitude, manners, ethics, and behaviors are caught more than taught. Thus, what my kiddos see me do is making more of an impression than what they hear me say.
At this moment we need to ask ourselves, “Am I daily allowing God to prepare my heart to be able to leave a godly impression on my child?”.
Tomorrow: Impressing While Preparing
Question: Be honest, how are your quiet times?
If you need encouragement, have questions, or need accountability, I encourage you to join our SISTERS group on Facebook.
Thank you! 🙂
You are welcome!
I found this out the hard way yesterday. I was very impatient and harsh with my daughter, then I realized it wad because I hadn't spent time in the Word. After having a quiet time today, I've been in a much better mood. I can't be a good mommy without His help.
Amen, sister!
My quiet time is pretty non existent. It just never seems to work out. And when I do get time, I open my Bible and I don't even know what to read. I joined the FB group. Maybe it will help. 🙂
http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/
I had the same problem. This is an online study group. I believe each study is 14 weeks. During the 'school' year they usually go through one book of the Bible. It's an excellent way to get started and not completely overwhelming.
They use what is called the SOAP method of study. You write out the Scripture (usually 1-2 veres), then the observation, application and a prayer.
What I have learned over the last 3 years is that I don't have to do it all at once. Sometimes, I just have time to read the verse, then later when I have a few more minutes I'll write it out. I rarely do the whole thing at one time. This allows me to really meditate on the Scripture as I am thinking about what to write for the O and A parts! I hope that helps out some.
Thank you for sharing this Andie!
Stephanie – We have all been there. At times I return there. I encourage you to read my ebook "A Quiet Time, Worth the Time." I pray that you can get some direction and ideas. Also check out the blog category "Morning Quiet Times with God." – http://ouroutofsynclife.blogspot.com/search/label/Morning%20Quiet%20Times%20with%20God
I go through spells where I don't miss a day of quiet time. Then I miss a day which turns into two days missed. Before I know it I have missed a week of dedicated prayer time. I'm trying to be consistent enough that I begin each day with my quiet time without letting other things distract me.
It is amazing the lengths the enemy will go to to distract us! He must realize it does us some good!