Potty Prayers: A Mother’s Saving Grace

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Potty Prayers: A Mother’s Saving Grace

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. — Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)

“I have got so much to do. I have got to go to 4 ball games this week. My daughter has gymnastics and dance. The house is a mess. We eat fast food every night. My husband is working late. I’m trying to do this work from home stuff to help with the bills, but everything is driving me crazy!” I confided in my Children’s Pastor.

“How’s your quiet time?” He snickered because he knew the answer.

“You’re kidding right? Quiet time is non-existent for me.” I was on the verge of tears. Yet another thing to add to my ever-growing to do list?

As he walked out of the office, I wondered if he’d given up on me. I figured I was a hopeless case. When he came back, he handed me this little booklet called “Open Windows.”

Yeah right! This is not going to help me! It’s going to take a lot more than this little book. I need to be reading my Bible at least an hour every morning; spend another hour in prayer; be at church every time the door is open … “Um…what’s this?” was all I could verbalize.

“Will you promise me you’ll read one devotion a day? I’ll be checking in with you every time I see you to make sure you’ve kept up with it.” He was serious.

“I guess I can do that. It’s a small book. Yeah, I’ll read one a day.”

As I left the church, I struggled with more of the same thoughts. I need more help than this little book can give. Things are out of control. When am I going to even get 2 minutes to read this? When I got home, I thought of the perfect place for this little book (moms will appreciate this) – the bathroom! One thing I know, I will go to the bathroom every day. It’s literally the only peace and quiet I get sometimes, but at least it would give me time to read that one devotion.

“Have you been reading 1 devotion a day?” The Children’s Pastor said even before hello.

“Yes, I have.” I would tell him, although I didn’t see that it was doing any good! I was still running all over the place and stressed beyond measure.

I began to notice a change in me around the 3-week mark. Suddenly, one devotion wasn’t enough – I had to read more! There were days when I would read ahead 3-4 days just because I could not get enough of God’s Word!

My circumstances did not change. I still had all those things to do, all those pressures of running a home. I changed on the inside. My attitude – my view of my circumstances changed and I was calmer inside. Only then could I look at what I needed to eliminate from my schedule. Only then could I see I had unreasonable expectations of myself – instead of looking to God for who I am and His purpose for me.

Through my potty prayers and reading time, I learned a very valuable lesson. God has told us His Word will not return empty and it will not. No matter where you read it – as long as you read a little bit each day – you will be blessed beyond measure!