How Women Can Make Time For Devotions

If you're like me, you wish there were just a few more hours in the day. Between running the kids to various practices, games and lessons, being attentive to your marriage, making sure there's clean clothes in everyone's closets, conquering at least most of the dust bunnies threatening to take over your home, perhaps working full or part-time and volunteering at church...well, it doesn't leave much time for anything else - even spending time with God.

But, if you're like me, you also have a heart for God. You long to dig into the Word and devote yourself to prayer. Your deepest desire is to spend quality time with your Heavenly Father.

But how?

God understands the full lives of women. He understands when you have small children and aren't able to spend an hour (or even twenty minutes!) at a time with Him. He knows your heart. There will come a day when you are able to spend more time with the God you love. And, no worries! I promise it will be before your last child moves out!

However, it's because our lives are so busy that we need time with God more than ever. That's why it's important to make it a priority to steal splashes of time with Him throughout the day. Those brief moments may just be what we need to deal with the craziness and be able to do everything we women need to do without pulling our hair out (or our kids' hair!)

Even taking five or ten minutes to read a devotional does wonders. Grab that moment over breakfast, while the kids are napping, in the carpool line or, if you have to, (shhhh) in the bathroom. Here are seven recommended devotional books for women that don't take much time to read but offer a powerful dose of the Word to help get us through the day.

1. Women of Faith Daily Devotional. This book offers 365 devotionals by some of the world's funniest women, including Patsy Clairmont, Thelma Wells, Shiela Walsh, Marilyn Meburg, Luci Swindoll, and the late Barbara Johnson. These short devotionals will keep you laughing while you learn.

2. The One Year Book of Devotions for Women on the Go, by Stephen Arterburn and Pam Farrel. This book of brief devotionals will encourage you to meditate on God's Word daily, even in the midst of your hectic schedule.

3. Ten-Minute Time-Outs for Moms, by Grace Fox. Connect with God during a daily ten-minute timeout, sure to stir your spirit and refresh your soul.

4. Daily Steps for GodChicks, by Holly Wagner. A fun and fresh devotional for today's modern women with traditional, God-loving hearts.

5. The One-Year Book of Devotions for Moms, by Ellen Banks-Elwell. These devotionals will strengthen and challenge you as you face the busyness of life as a mom.

6. The Official Soccer Mom Devotional, by Lynne Thompson. Soccer, baseball, football, dance, music lessons....this devotional is perfect for the mom always on the go (and in the car).

7. Sister Wit: Devotions for Women, by Jacqueline Jakes. This practical devotion explores four areas of life: struggles and troubles, virtues, encouragement, and inspiration and challenges you to make the most of every situation.

There are many other devotionals geared toward busy women on the market today. Whichever one you choose, the important thing is to get grounded in the Word every day. These moments with God, no matter how brief, will keep you filled with joy and peace amidst your crazy and hectic life as a woman.