Let’s face it, moms are busy and need prayer. It’s doesn’t matter if you’re working from home and homeschooling, or dropping the kids off at school on your way to work.
There are a lot of moving parts in life and trying to balance family, children, work, and activities is hard enough (and I didn’t even mention a social life). This article will offer suggestions to help you recognize what’s important and provides a few prayers for busy moms.
Adjust your attitude and realign your priorities through prayer in order to make the most of your time.
Why A Busy Mom Needs Prayer
It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the responsibilities of motherhood. We often find ourselves spending the day reacting to events rather than directing them.
This is why it is so important to begin the day with prayer. Personally speaking, it is even more important to write the prayers down in a prayer journal of some kind.
The act of writing helps our mind wanders less, improves our focus, and can give a sense of accomplishment, albeit small one. It is also rewarding to maintain a journal to track the answers we receive when God answers.
He always does. Sometimes “yes”, sometimes “no”, and often “not yet” or “I have a better idea”!
If we feel overwhelmed it is possible that just a few minutes alone with God can give us strength or provide peace to get through a tough situation.
Moms experience a number of different stages in life. Beginning with having a baby, then the responsibilities of early childhood, adolescence, and teenagers.
Each stage has its own challenges and adventures. Combine the responsibility of raising children with keeping house, loving a husband, and perhaps a career, and things can begin to seemingly take control of us rather than the reverse.
>>Also read: Prayers For Safe Travel
Add commitments in church, clubs and other groups, and life can get overwhelmingly busy. Even a favorite hobby can be sidetracked. After all, there are only so many hours in a day.
Asking for Prayer or Sharing Burdens
The importance of friends or family who will pray with you (the best) or pray for you (wonderful) cannot be overstated. While we know God hears us and answers, sharing a burden with another person will always lighten a load. Jesus said,
“For where two or three gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20.
Mothers of PreSchoolers (MOPS) is a wonderful international Christian organization where moms can find practical and emotional support. This includes praying for one another.
Prayer Basics
Before I share my prayers for busy moms, I wanted to explain how you can use the Lord’s Prayer to create your own. The Lord’s Prayer is the template for our own prayers.
Jesus gave us this prayer as a guide and to help when we are in a place where it is hard to think of words to say.
So this is the order to pray:
Our Father in heaven –
Recognize that God is your heavenly father and loves you. Speak the words.
Hallowed be thy name –
Praise him. Express your love and gratitude to him for all that you appreciate; friends, nature, salvation, beauty, kindness.
Your kingdom come –
Pray for God to transform the world and restore his rule globally or in your country.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven –
Pray for God’s will in your life. Pray for his will in your home,
Give us this day our daily bread –
Provide for my needs and those of my family and friends. Share what they are.
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us–
Be specific about what you’ve done wrong. Ask for forgiveness and for patience with others’ shortcomings.
Are you holding any grudges? Talk about it here.
Lead us not into temptation –
Describe what worries you or concerns you have about doing right. Ask for wisdom in making decisions.
but deliver us from evil –
Ask for Gods protection from the evil all around and pray this on others behalf also.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer is short and can be recited in about 30 seconds. But by using the prayer as a guide you can cover all the basics.
By personalizing it and sharing with God our deepest thoughts and concerns we are drawn intimately into His presence. Jesus gave us this gift of a direct line to the Father. The following prayer suggestions would fit into parts 4, 5 and 6 of the template above.
Also Read: Prayers For Adult Children
A Prayer For Busy Moms (6 Situations When Prayer Is Often Needed)
1. Overworked and Life Balance
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Heavenly Father,
I know you have the best in store for me but it’s very hard to understand that in my present situation. I have taken on too much and my family and my health is suffering for it.
You say that you have plans to give me hope and a future but right now I can’t see the way forward with so much to do right now. I volunteered to do too much, I need help.
Please help me figure out a way to slow down, cut back, and say no when I should. Even this time of prayer has helped me focus on You and stopped my mind whirring. Thank you for your word and your promises. Thank you for your answers that I know are coming.
2. Patience With Kids and Husband
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Heavenly Father,
I am having a tough time right now. I know you have blessed me with a wonderful family and I love them with all my heart.
But I have found myself angry and impatient with them more often lately and I wish I could calm down. When I am praying for my situation I know that I cannot change them but by spending this time in prayer I hope to change me.
It has been said that the mother sets the tone for the home. In that case, home hasn’t been such a calm and welcoming place to be lately.
Forgive me for my loss of temper, my edginess and unkind spirit. Allow me to see changes I should make
3. Prayer To Whether The Storm
From Ecclesiastes 3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.… He makes every thing beautiful in his time.
Heavenly Father,
My family is going through a difficult time right now. We are in a situation that was unplanned and quite devastating.
I’m not sure what to do or where to turn but I know that too often I come to your throne last of all. It should not be that way and forgive me for waiting until desperation set in before praying and asking for guidance.
You know the beginning from the end and have promised that you will be with me through the dark valley but may not take me out of it. Please grant us peace as we endure the coming months.
Allow us to lean on you and draw strength from your word. All of us go through times of plenty and of want. Keep near to us Lord and remind us continually of your presence (also read: Things You Need To Pray For)
4. Change (After Moving, Starting a New Job)
Jeremiah 17: 7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Heavenly Father,
Did I make a mistake? What have I done? I’m not sure I made the right decision. So I come before you, Lord, for calmness, for peace and for help in what I should do next.
I am anxious and I know that’s wrong. Instead let me find my confidence in You and be like that tree. I am sure that you will take my circumstances and allow me to grow and learn from them.
Help me to focus not on myself but instead focus on your will and the way in which you will be glorified in my new situation. If I have made a mistake, please redeem it and us it for your glory.
If I haven’t and this is where you want me, please guide me to the place where I can do the best for the kingdom and for my family.
5. Busy Because of Blessings
Philippians 4:12-11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Heavenly Father,
Is it possible that too many of my prayers have been answered? Can so many things be going so well that I am unable to prioritize the truly important.
I believe that some organization would help me and so I come before you only to ask for help in simplifying my home. Are material things getting in the way?
Is the great church we belong to asking too much of me? Maybe our kids are so good at sports that we need to cut back on one or two? Lord, I think that Satan loves my disorganization because what really happens is my relationship with you suffers.
I don’t want to give him the pleasure of seeing one more Christian sidetracked by “doing good”. Thank you for the life we have but help me see the way to simplify it. We need to spend more time with you and with each other.
6. Parenting Issues
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Heavenly Father,
I am failing as a parent. I don’t know where to turn and so of course I am asking my own heavenly father.
In your word you say to teach my children all the time. I don’t quite understand how to do that but I will try.
Please give me wisdom for this and if I need help please allow me to find what is best for my children and me. You know the heart of my child(ren) and love them as I do or more.
Help them to look to you when they should and keep them out of danger (also read: My Example Blessing Prayers).
Simple Strategies For Busy Moms
- Prioritize your daily schedule and allow time for devotions, reflection times, and walks with family. If you find at the end of the day you haven’t done them, start making time in the morning and do them first. One of the most precious times with my children was when the school schedule gave us extra time in the mornings. During this period we would read and then pray together before school. I still have our little prayer journal and the sweet words said as we prayed over each other and for the school day to come.
- Say “no thank you” more often. Politely decline opportunities if they take you away from your family and explain that you have a self-imposed limit for the sake of your family. Limit yourself to one outside volunteer activity at a time. Remember that your first mission field is your own family. Don’t neglect them for others.
- Buy less “stuff” and declutter your surroundings. Keep cleaning and household maintenance to a minimum by having fewer things to care for. I admired a mom of 6 who’s house at first glance looked to be stripped bare but was actually decluttered so well that there was nothing extra to have to clean or dust. It’s only temporary and once the kids are older bring out the knick knacks…or not!
Conclusion
Praying for your family, your situation and your children is one of the best thing you can do. Often words don’t come the way you might want them to so I hope these short prayers can help you get started.
God knows your heart and wants you to share your honest feelings with him. We all tend to be too busy and too preoccupied with time wasters than we should be.
In the Bible, prayer is often coupled with fasting. I have found this to be especially rewarding. God knows our heart and when we are serious enough to fast for him while praying for our concerns, He will surprise you with his answers.
Remember to write prayers down and celebrate the blessings you receive.
