Sacred Space for Busy Moms

I love uncluttered spaces.  Peter Walsh is a professional organizer, yes he is a professional.  He comes into your home and de-clutters your life, creating space in short order.  It’s quite amazing what he can accomplish really.   I’ve never met him but I wish he would visit my home.  One thing I’ve learned after 37 years of marriage and two children – it doesn’t matter the size of your home or how many trips you make to Goodwill, there never seems to be enough space. 

The same seems to be true with our personal, spiritual space, doesn’t it?  It doesn’t matter how old our kids are or how many we have – there never seems to be enough space.   If you struggle in your attempt to find the space in your busy day to connect with God – you are not alone.  In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things:  noise, hurry, and crowds.  He is methodical and masterful at filling up the extra space in our days.  It is not outside his playbook to use our children to distract us from meaningful time with the Lord.   How do I know this?  I know this because I have had many days when I failed miserably at creating space for God.  That said - I have also had some pretty good days when I seemed to get it right.  Well, I’m no Peter Walsh, but allow me to offer some suggestions on how to create some God-sized personal space in your noisy, hurried, kid-crowded life. 

Acknowledge your need for more of Him and ask Him to make you hungry for His presence.  I realize this seems elementary but it really is a necessary first step in any attempt to grow in relationship with Him.   Psalm 9:10, “Those who know your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Be intentional about creating space to be with Him.  One thing I’ve learned, we are never going to drift into intimacy with God.  Like anything worth doing well, we have to be intentional about it.   I can almost hear you saying, “That’s the problem – I can’t create space I don’t have!”    If getting up earlier or staying up later isn’t an option, then how about in the car?  Space.  Do you drive to and from work, sit in traffic, carpool, and wait at sporting events, or in a school pick-up line?  Turn off the radio and tune in to the Spirit – connect.  

Confess - which is to say, talk to Him, admit to Him (and yourself) exactly where you are in your spiritual journey.  Yes, He already knows but longs to hear it from your lips and dialogue with you about it. 

Now that you’ve set the stage and created the space, what should you “do”? 

My best encouragement to you as a busy parent is to not “do” anything.  Simply sit in the moment with the Lover and Creator of your soul and “be”.   Be contemplative.  Dive deep into the recreating silences.  

Giants of the faith who have gone before us knew the art of meditation.   Tell Him why you love Him or confess that you don’t but wish you did.  Sing to Him, read a verse from the Living Word, and pray it back to Him.  Resist the urge to go over prayer requests or problems – just breathe in the pleasure of His presence.    Delight just to be with Him – He is delighted to be with you.

At this point, I can almost hear the Accuser whisper in your ear (I’ve heard it many times myself), “You’ve tried that before, it won’t work, you don’t have time, you can’t do it.”  He is a liar.  He authors self-loathing and condemnation.  God authors Grace and Love.

Condemnation says, “You should be doing . . . you should have . . . “.  Grace says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8)

Condemnation says, “You don’t deserve it, you haven’t earned it . . . “.  Grace says, “Come, let anyone who thirsts come, drink of the water of life without cost”. (Isaiah 55, Revelation 22 )

Condemnation says, “You have no business advising on creating space after the busy week you just had”.  Grace says, “Your confidence is from God, He alone makes you competent . . . “. (2 Corinthians 2)

One final word of encouragement – as you seek for more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your parenting, instead of chasing hard after the fruit, chase hard after the vine (Jesus).  Above everything else - passionately pursue His presence – the fruit will come.  He has invited us to His banqueting table and His intentions toward us are love! (Song of Songs 2:4)  The space in your day for connection with God is – sacred space, the Spirit of the Living God makes it so. 

Now that is space even Peter Walsh can’t create.

Written by Kaye Hurta