Women.  We are used to multi- asking, having our minds and lives  firing in 5 different directions, no wait, 6-10. At times we DO find ourselves on overload.  When we do, what do we tend to do?  And do well? Criticize ourselves.  I am reminded of a time when I sat among a small group of gals in a bible study setting.  So nice to be with those who have the same love for God that I do. In that discussion time we were sharing our goals for the study. There was a mother of ‘4’ (FOUR) small, YOUNG, needing her attention, children. I can sense you close your eyes and breathe a prayer over this gal. I know, I did too.

In her frustration and complete weariness, she shared in depth about not having ‘enough’ time for devotions and her bible study. She felt defeated and was basically giving up. Those in the group kept trying to help with creative ways to carve out ‘enough’ time. Go to bed earlier, get up earlier, when they sleep …. this young mom was nearly in tears. I just sat and listened. They were more worried about the ‘quantity’ of time, rather then the ‘quality.’

You know me, I finally leaned forward and looked the gal in the eyes, lovingly asking, “Could you look at maybe ONE verse each day or the whole week?” She stopped talking. So did the others. “This gal is NUTS!”, I’m sure they thought. One stinkin verse??? THAT is NOT enough! I will get behind, gotta get through that one year bible reading, gotta get my homework done! Gotta write in my journal. This attitude belongs to many of us. How many of us too, feel defeated and well basically allow our God time to slip, slip away.

I then shared that its not the quantity of time with God, and His word that is important, it is the quality. If you have just enough time to read one verse, then the baby cries, or the dog barks or milk is split etc etc etc (so goes a moms life) then take that ONE verse, WHILE you are cleaning up the milk – holding the crying baby, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to YOU about that verse. You, God, His word … quality time. Listen – listen for HIS application.  If need be at the beginning of the week, jot down that verse on a 3×5 card, tape it to the mirror in the bathroom.  Even though you may have a parade of offspring following you in there, READ it aloud.  Again and again.

Don’t get me wrong I am ALL OVER Bible study, to seek out the meaning, the context, the reason WHY Paul wrote what he wrote. What the original language is saying, asking the who – what – where – why – and how questions (ok, the Bible teacher in me HAD to insert this). But there are seasons, seasons when time captures us. Seasons when even with discipline … our clock is full.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 – emphasis mine) Allow that ‘alive word’ to minister to YOU! One verse?  Enough? Yes, yes it is with the Holy Spirit whispering in your ear. The Psalmist wrote “Oh how I love Your law, I meditate on it all day long” (Ps. 119:97) Meditate here means to reflect, pray, cause your thoughts to return again and again.

During that moment of silence with the gals, I shared I once spent days just on Thomas’s ” … my Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28) I didn’t research – I didn’t cross reference, just “My Lord and my God”, knowing the context, I thought about it ~ I said it ~ I pictured it ~ prayed it. It was amazing. The gals just sat there and starred at me, I was shocked that they allowed me to sit at their table again and share.

God knows us, knows our heart ~ for those of us, whose season doesn’t allow for hours or minutes of ‘head in the book’ sessions, don’t stress, don’t feel condemned, if we can give Him just ONE verse, HIS word, He can minister to us. It can be amazing.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” ~ Heb. 10:24)