5 Quick Ways to Pray as a Busy Mom

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Let’s face it. It can be incredibly difficult to find time to pray as a busy mom. Whether you’re changing diapers, chasing toddlers, or driving older children to and from activities, the quiet moments are few and far between.

While I strive to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), I fall far short. However, I find it easier to keep God at the center of my life when I maintain a consistent rule of prayer. In this season, with a baby and a toddler, I’ve found that quick prayers throughout the day help me the most.

1. Start the day with Scripture

Bibles on a coffee table to pray as a busy mom

Recently, my toddler has been sleeping (or at least staying in bed) just long enough to allow me to have about 20-30 minutes with just the baby after my husband leaves for work early in the morning. I’ve found that the best use of that time is to offer it back to God by reading the Bible. Some days, the baby is sleeping in my wrap so I’m walking around the kitchen while I read. Other days, I’m sitting on the sofa, nursing him with one hand with my Bible in the other. Sometimes, he’ll even lay on a playmat on the floor while I read.

This wasn’t possible in every season so far, and I’m sure life will change again to make this difficult. But when it’s possible, I’m convinced that it’s the best way for me to start the day.

2. Morning and Evening Prayer with kids

Before babies, my husband and prayed the Book of Common Prayer’s Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer.. It only took about 20 minutes. However, with a baby and a toddler, the same prayer offices now take much longer than 20 minutes, making it pretty tough to get through consistently.

So we’ve pivoted. Instead of the full prayer office, we do a quick Bible reading followed by Book of Common Prayer’s short form of Family Prayer.

For the reading, we read a chapter from our favorite children’s Bible, The Story of All Stories. I love how many stories this children’s Bible includes and its beautiful illustrations that capture my toddler’s attention, but what I really appreciate is the “key point” and “key connection” highlights that summarize the chapter and connect it to the Gospel (like a mini kid-friendly Bible study). On more than one occasion, I’ve learned something new from it!

3. Angelus prayer at noon

Statue of the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation

On my phone, I keep an alarm (with a church bell ring tone) set for noon every day. When the bells go off, my toddler and I stop whatever we’re doing and pray the Angelus, a Christian devotion that commemorates the Incarnation of Christ. Traditionally, it’s said at 6am, noon, and 6pm. However, for me, saying it at noon has been a good starting point. I hope to someday add the other two times as well!

I love that the prayer interrupts our day, just as the angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary interrupted hers! It only takes a couple minutes, but it’s a great afternoon reset. Usually it happens at lunchtime, right before nap, when behavior becomes more of a challenge and my patience starts to run a bit thin. Bringing my mind back towards God softens my heart and often gets me through one of the more difficult times of the day.

4. Grace before eating anything

I was in the habit of saying grace before eating meals, but now I make an effort to say grace before I eat anything.

If I’m sitting down for an afternoon snack, I say grace. Evening treat with my husband? We say grace. Popping a tomato in my mouth while tending the garden? Lord, thank you for this beautiful and productive garden! Even if I’m just sampling something I’m whipping up in the kitchen, I try to remember to say a quick prayer of thanks.

Even when I fall short, I’m striving to cultivate gratitude to God for everything He gives us (and to model that for my children). While He gives us a lot more than food, it’s an easy place to start with lots of opportunity for practice!

5. “Arrow prayers” throughout the day

Throughout the day, when particularly beautiful or difficult moments arise, I take a moment to shoot a quick arrow prayer up to God. Sometimes, it’s a spontaneous thought, directed to God. At other times, I reach for other short prayers, like the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”). I also love to pray “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything” from the Surrender Novena. I’m always surprised by how much good a quick prayer or line from Scripture does in turning my heart to God!

What’s your favorite way to maintain or grow your prayer life as a mom? Please share in the comments below!