I just have to say, I have some really amazing blogger friends. If you have not had the opportunity to visit their sites during the weekly linkup, find your way down this page and check out some of their posts.

I have had the pleasure to be in the presence of people who love the Lord and are passionate about sharing Jesus with as many people as they can.

Last week, I asked them to help me out with this post.

In fact, I had such a great response from them, we will get to enjoy more next week. I don’t want you to miss any of their responses.

If you missed my post last week titled, “Are You Too Busy”, you can read it here. 

Last week’s post stemmed these thoughts. We come before the Lord in so many ways. We sometimes feel the pressure to “get it right”.  What are real people doing for their Bible Study?

They have answered those questions here and I am thrilled to share their hearts with you here. We are talking real moms, real women of faith with a real passion for loving the Lord.

You will find great tips and honest hearts. I am sure you will be blessed by their responses. I know I certainly have.

To relieve some pressure right away, there are many ways to come before the Lord and spend time with Him. The key is a willing heart.

We have to remember, God desires us. He desires our hearts. He wants a relationship with us. He created us to be in community with Him.

If you don’t know where to start, start there. A willing heart ready to be in communion with Christ.

Now sharing their heart and passion for the Word, here are some dear women to share their walk in the Word with you.

About a dozen years ago, our family went through a crisis. My Bible became a lifeline. I read through from Genesis to Revelation in just a few months. God used His Word to carry me through that difficult time and gave me a passion for spending time with Him. I continue to grab my Bible and prayer journal each morning and enjoy the blessing of His strength and indescribable peace.

I know my time with Him has certainly changed as seasons have changed.

My heart is to align my thoughts with God’s and allow His grace to fill and overflow through me so I bookend my day with His Word. Reading a chapter first thing sets the course for my day, and reading The One Year Bible helps me sleep at night. I dive deeper with the First 5 app and the Life Application Bible, which have both helped me apply God’s Word to my every day.

I have carved out a specific time in my day for Bible study and prayer. It is not an obligation to me at all, Jaime. Over time, it has become my pleasure and delight. It’s often the best part of my day.

I know that many young wives and moms struggle to make this time, but I just wonder if they would carve out that time like they do for their children’s sports activities or showering each day–non-negotiables to be sure!–would they in time come to experience it as I do? I just think they don’t realize it is possible.

I love getting up before everyone else in the house.

Coffee first.

Then, notebook, Bible, pen, and a few moments looking up just one verse each morning. I’m going through my concordance and studying one word/concept each week.

This week’s word – “Encouragement.”

Next, I spend a little time in a Bible study book. Working through “Lord, I Want to Know You.” Finally, I spend time praying in the prayer closet. Love to have this solo time with just me and Jesus.

I really value my devotional time since it helps me be grounded and prepared for each day.

Ideally, my time in the Word happens early in the morning (about 5:00 a.m.) before my husband and children get up. It’s my time to be alone with God before the pressures of the day creep in. I use the phrase “first things first” to remind me that my time with God should come before anything else. Of course, life happens and I’m not always as consistent as I’d like but I long for those times to simply be renewed by His spirit. Without time with my Father, I’m like that grass blowing in the wind, tossed back and forth. But I love how God continues to call me back close to His side, because He knows how much I need to be strengthened by Him.

Every morning I study something biblically related. Often it is Oswald Chambers, but also includes a quote a day book, UBC daily devotional, Jesus Calling and others. I try to study a Bible study even when I am not in a group. I just finished Lord, Only You Can Change Me, an excellent study by Kay Arthur. I am starting Daniel by Laura Davis next.

It’s the only way to properly start my day. I have been getting up early since I asked God to wake me up. I never set an alarm.

You must make it a discipline – something you have to do each day – otherwise it is very easy to get taken away and not do it. I try to not let social media and email interfere with this time. But it doesn’t always work. I need more discipline in this area.