Motherhood alters nearly every area of our lives. We sleep less, our meals are often cold, our time is not our own, not to mention our bodies. But our prayer lives often become completely unrecognizable. We are going to spend the next four weeks considering some ways we can actively include prayer in our daily lives in this wonderful, and often all-consuming vocation.

Scripture as our Prayer

An essential part to approaching our prayer life as mothers is to set realistic expectations. If you are home with little children or waking up from a rough night with an infant, you are not likely to get thirty minutes of contemplative quiet to read Scripture and ponder it. If you are getting kids out the door to school, and making lunches, and packing backpacks, getting up in time to spend an hour in prayer is unlikely. But the word of God is alive, and we can make it our partner and friend all day, throughout all of our work.

One of the perks of our overly technological world is that we can easily access Scripture on the go. There are several apps and websites that allow us access to the daily readings, which is a great place to start. We can start the day with a morning offering, and we can read the Psalm for the day or the Gospel and simply ask the Lord to remind us of his promises found in Scripture throughout the day. We can write a verse down and put it somewhere we will see it throughout the day (above the sink, by the washing machine, at our computer at work) and simply repeat it as a proclamation of who God is, of his presence with us, and of his goodness. The Psalms are wonderful when we are short on time, and as mothers we will often relate to the cries of the Psalmist calling out to the Lord for help, refuge, and hope.

Next time you miss the hours you used to be able to spend in prayer or in adoration, or daily Mass, remember that God has called you to this work, at this time and with these children, and he is not blind to the time it takes, and he rejoices in the work of your hands. Find refuge and strength in the word of God, and let that be your prayer. Next week, we will discuss prayer as a life of gratitude.

In closing, here are a few wonderful Scripture verses to reflect upon:

Isaiah 40:31:  But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Matthew 11:28:  Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Isaiah 40:29: He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.