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Original poster

SAHM of 3.6 yr old - help me find time to pray!....

14 replies

Hearts · 09/05/2007 11:12

I have recently been on an Alpha course and am continuing on with a post-alpha course which the church puts on.
I have been doing lots of reading and am trying to "get into" prayer. When do other people find it best to pray?
Someone on my course said their friend prayed on the toilet - but they didn't seem to realise that we mums don't even get to do that on our own!
Thanks for any suggestions - I really do want to live a more faith-full life....

OP posts:

harrisey · 09/05/2007 12:28

Hearts, really nice to hear that you had a good time at Alpha and are carrying on. Nice to 'meet' you
I'm a Christian Mum of 3, one of whom is the same age as yours, and finding time for prayer is hard. Someone once told me you should give the best of your day to God, but to be honest there is no best time in my day!!
I try my best to pray in the littel moments I get - when kids are asleep at night I go into their rooms and pray for each of them at the end of their beds. I try to pray when I am doing the mundane things - hanging out the washing, or doing the dishes! Or when I am walking down the road.
I think it is important to pray, but I also think God understands that we mummies are very busy and that a lot of our prayer is practical, in giving ourselves to others, in the day to day life we lead.
I also think that prayer is just being with God, being in his presence. So I listen to music and sing in the house, I praise which keeps me close to him.

Please join us over on the Prayer Thread - thats another nice way to pray, to be involved in the lives of other mumsnetters and send up a wee one for them while you are here.

HTH, if I think of anything else I'll let you know!

Cazee · 09/05/2007 13:37

I find it helpful to talk to God throughout the day, much as I talk to poor DH when he is at home! If I am feeling sad I tell God about it, if something nice happens I thank him... I also find it helpful to say "what should I do about this God?" when I have an issue, someone making me cross in traffic, someone lonely at mums and toddlers... I think that is what Jesus meant when he said "pray ceaslessly". Our whole lives should be in communion with God. It is still good to find time to sit down without distractions to pray, but v difficult with little children.

Notquitegrownup · 09/05/2007 13:48

Hi Hearts

Totally sympathise. My ds2 is 3.8 and he just never stops talking, so any quiet times I have are definitely fitted around him.

I pray when I drive. We can listen to tapes then and praise a bit too. And I pray when on MN! The Christian Prayer thread has helped me a lot to pray regularly again. I grab time on MN when ds2 is quiet - so I now combine the two activities.

I've always hoped to get up early in the mornings to pray but a) we still have broken nights and b) I'm poo first thing in the morning - realistically it's better for me having a quiet time last thing at night, if I can sneak upstairs before dh.

HTH. Do pop over to the Christian prayer thread. We'd love to 'see' you there.

Original poster

Hearts · 09/05/2007 16:25

Oh thank you everyone. I have a huge guilt thing about not taking time to pray - but you have made me feel lots better.

I do love music, and the church I have attended for alpha uses a lot of contempory music which has been great. Could anyone recommend a particular cd I could get? I could play that in the house and also in the car as dd loves music too.

And I will certainly get involved in the prayer thread - how do I start?

Thanks again everyone - & I have said a thank you prayer for your support!

OP posts:

fannyannie · 09/05/2007 16:26

Not very helpful I know - but did you know that Susannah Wesley (the mother of the 'founder' of the Methodist church) used to at the kitchen table and put a t-towel over her head when she wanted to pray - the children soon learned that they had to go away and leave her.

Notquitegrownup · 09/05/2007 21:25

LOL FA! That's lovely!

I'll watch out for recommendations of CDs with interest Hearts, as my tapes are all getting very old now.

The Christian prayer thread is here

People just arrive and say hello, maybe asking for prayer for something specific, or maybe just introducing themselves a bit. We're a friendly lot, though that does mean that we also talk/post a lot! Captain Dippy, who started off the first thread a year or so ago, does a summary of the prayer requests from the previous month at the start of the thread, so you can get a quick intro to some of us at the bottom.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Notquitegrownup · 09/05/2007 21:25

LOL FA! That's lovely!

I'll watch out for recommendations of CDs with interest Hearts, as my tapes are all getting very old now.

The Christian prayer thread is here

Look forward to seeing you there.

Katymac · 09/05/2007 21:28

I'm not sure that my prayer is consious (sp) - it's more integral to my life? (if that makes sense?)

imback · 10/05/2007 10:03

im glad im not the only one. some days i really feel guilty because i havent prayed enough or been reading the bible, but it is so hard to find the time. i work really long hours and have my family to see to. i do find i am talking to god alot, could be about anything (even what to have for dinner that night) but actually sitting on my own and dedicating time is dificult.

imback · 10/05/2007 10:04

i wish our church had done something after the alpha finished, i get really down about it, miss it alot.

harrisey · 10/05/2007 10:30

imback, could you ask the church to run a post-alpha discipleshiip course - our church does that? Or is there a housegroup you coauld join?

I like live worship to listen to - current favourites are 'The BEst Live Worship Album' which has some rubbish but quite a lot that is good, and Robin Mark 'Revival in Belfast' which is fabulous. I also like the 'Cutting Edge' CD's - its Delirious before they were delirious and has a kind of a raw edge to it - i like! I find a lot of studio albums a bit bland and hard to worship along with, if you see what I mean!

imback · 10/05/2007 10:35

i do belong to a house group but i suppose we just havnt jelled as well. I will mention your sugestion on sunday. i suppose although the alpha did great things for me i do still have an element of doubt, and i still have a feeling of unworthyness, (cant spell) but im happy most of the time and i am sure it can only get better.

duvet · 11/05/2007 22:06

For me it's not just about praying but like someone said having God as an integral part of your life, praising God, listening to worship I also listen to bible teachings a lot in the house ( whilst playing with the kids/cooking tea) I have learnt so much thru doing this and it keeps me focussed, God is much more at the back of my mind. We dont have a tv either so evenings we read bible or a christian book together/alone, watch a christian dvd teaching.

www.awmi.net (free)
www.newcreation.org.sg
www.joycemeyer.org all have teachings you can download and listen to or watch online. This is much more effective for me as sahm.

Original poster

Hearts · 12/05/2007 11:34

Duvet - Thank you for those ideas - that sounds really helpful and I will definitely look at those websites. Am popping off to join the prayer thread now as I have got some "me time" for an hour or so!

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