My husband has been mentioning how little personal/devotional time with God he spends lately and how he'd really like to start back with his daily devotional time. I want to make him a spot where he can go and spend time with God without the children or I in his way. Does anyone have their own place? What do you find useful to have with you during your personal time? I was thinking of getting him maybe a leather bound journal for writing scriptures but need help thinking of other items...

My MIL loves to get those 365 day calendars that have daily insightful scriptures from the Bible, she says that they help her think about how great the Lord is and makes her feel closer to Him. That reminds me, I better get her one for Christmas.

I try to do mine in my bedroom during the day while my husband is at work and the kids are napping. I read a chapter from the Bible each day so I have that and a scripture journal that I record prayer requests in for use during my prayer time. I usually spend the rest of my time doing some kind of devotional work or reading a chapter out of whatever Christian book I am reading at the time.

The book I'm reading now suggests finding a prayer "closet" (it doesn't have to be an actual closet, of course, just somewhere he can go where he can be alone to meet with God) that you can go to every day. Sometimes I think it's the time more than the location that matters. I find that my time with God is most effective when I do it FIRST - before everything else that I need to accomplish during naps - so that I am not constantly worrying that one of the kids will wake up before I'm finished. I also try to make sure to do it while my husband is at work so that I don't take away from our quality time together as a couple.

A highlighter or special pen that he can use to underline special scripture passages in his Bible might also be helpful.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

Hubby reads every morning before he goes to work, then again before he goes to bed. As for me I have to have quiet before I can read. Needless to say I have a extra Bible in my bathroom, on the back of the comode. I know it sounds silly, but in this house thats the only quiet place there is! So when I get a chance to go to potty, instead of a mag. I have my Bible to read. Do a lot of praying in the bathroom too, especially in the shower. Some days I manage a shower or potty run without interuptions.

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When Jesus returns, will you be ready???

I usually pray in the morning before I get up when it is nice and quiet and no interruptions. Or if I sleep in, I will pray during my shower or on my way to work. We (kids & me) also pray at night before bedtime. I read the Bible usually at bedtime or during lunchtime whichever I can squeeze in. It makes such a difference in my day, when I take time to pray in the mornings. I say a prayer with my kids before school too. I don't normally forget, but if I do, they remind me. It says in the Bible to pray continually so I pray throughout the day while at work too.

That is so funny I thought I was the only one. I also read the church bulletins in the tub.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous