“Anytime Is Prayer Time” by Joy A. Mead: 7 Ways to Pray blog series

So encouraging to read Joy’s reflections on her early-parenting years and how God met her through them. She shares how she turned the mundane moments of sweeping up the breakfast crumbs into a time of communion with God. Whatever your season of life, I think you’ll be inspired.

Reflecting back to my time as a stay-at-home mother of two young children under the age of five, I recall hardly having a moment to myself. Those equally beautiful and challenging years of day-in, day-out, around-the-clock childcare made it difficult to have an uninterrupted cup of tea, let alone a proper quiet time with God! And it was in that stretching season of my life, where realistically there was no way of keeping to a consistent moment with God, that I encountered Him in a very tangible and practical way. 

I remember feeling looked after and guided by the Holy Spirit while I swept crumbs from underneath the table before the next mealtime and prepared endless dinners and snacks. Comforting my three-year-old daughter after a bad dream and nursing my baby son in the middle of the night, I could sense that God’s presence was right there with me. Or when I was up early sorting the dishes and preparing breakfast, it’s as if God was opening my eyes to see that there wasn’t a legalistic right or wrong time to pray. Any moment, great or small could be used as an opportunity to speak with God, invite Him into my days, seek His wisdom, and share my heart.

I started inviting Him more and more into my everyday happenings—finding that at the core of prayer is a person’s heart and willingness to share freely with God Almighty. We, by our very design, are created to be in relationship with God the Father, made possible through Jesus the Son, and connected through the Holy Spirit. 

For me, anytime is now prayer time—every moment I can be in communion with God is time well spent. From praying as I drive the children to school to singing worship songs as I put on a load of laundry, from appreciating nature in the garden to going grocery shopping, there are so many little moments that we can share with God throughout our days. Nothing is too insignificant for Him, and because of Jesus, we should confidently approach His throne (Heb 4:16) just like children run straight to their parents when something is needed. 

My prayers can sometimes be lengthy, but often, they are an accumulation of short sentences dispersed throughout my day’s activities. Whether you are able to have a regular morning quiet time or perhaps your prayers are “on the go,” let us creatively welcome any and every moment as an opportunity to grow in our relationship with God, seek His will in our lives, and embrace His answers with open eyes, minds, and hearts. 

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Joy A. Mead is a Jesus-loving, American mother living in the United Kingdom with her British husband and their two wonderful children, a daughter and a son. She passionately encourages mothers to persevere and be intentional in their role, grow closer to God through their journeys of motherhood, and to seek Jesus in their everyday living through writing on her blog. Her first book, Taking Care of Mama will be released in Spring 2023 at Wipf and Stock Publishers. Connect with her on her website.

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