mom life

Spring Clean Your Bible Study Routine: Refresh, Re-Engage, and Re-Energize

Spring Clean Your Bible Study Routine: Refresh, Re-Engage, and Re-Energize
I'm sure you've been there...or maybe you're there now. 

Stuck in a rut with your Bible study routine—or maybe you don’t have a routine at all? 

I get it. Life gets busy. Between kids, laundry, meals, and all the little fires that need to be put out each day, it’s easy for Bible study to become just another box to check (or one that gets left unchecked altogether). 

But just like we deep clean our homes in the spring, sometimes we need to do the same with our spiritual routines. A fresh start can breathe new life into our time with the Lord, helping us to grow in godliness and be the wives and moms He’s called us to be.

Why Your Bible Study Routine Might Need a Spring Cleaning

If your quiet time has started to feel dry, repetitive, or just plain nonexistent, that’s a sign it’s time to shake things up. 

Maybe you've been relying on quick devotionals ("something is better than nothing") instead of digging into Scripture yourself. 

Maybe you've lost your passion for studying because you don't know where to start. 

Or maybe you’re simply in a busy season, and your study habits have slipped away altogether. 

Whatever your situation, the good news is that God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and He is always ready to meet you—no matter how long it’s been.

Think about your home in the middle of winter. It gets cluttered, dusty, and in need of a good refresh. 

The same thing can happen with our spiritual habits! We can fall into routines that aren’t serving us well, and without realizing it, we start feeling distant from God. 

That’s why spring is the perfect time to reset—to clean out what’s not working and replace it with fresh, life-giving habits that help you stay consistently engaging with and growing in the Word.

How to Refresh Your Bible Study Routine

Okay but...how exactly do you go about “spring cleaning” your Bible study time? Here are a few simple but powerful steps to get started:

  1. Reevaluate Your Routine (or Create One!) – If you don’t have a set Bible study habit, now is the time to start! Even if it’s just 5-10 minutes a day, having a consistent rhythm makes all the difference. If you do have a routine but it’s feeling stale, ask yourself: What’s working? What isn’t? Do I need to adjust my time, location, or study method?
  2. Declutter the Distractions – Just like physical clutter makes it hard to focus at home, distractions can keep us from diving deep into God’s Word. Are you constantly reaching for your phone? Do the kids always seem to need something the moment you open your Bible? Try setting up a quiet, designated space, even if it’s just a corner of your bedroom or a spot at the kitchen table before everyone else wakes up. Yes, you might lose a little sleep, but it will be worth it!
  3. Choose a Fresh Approach – If you’ve been relying on devotionals, try reading straight from the Bible using an inductive study method like SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) or Verse Mapping. Studying the Word for yourself (instead of only reading someone else’s thoughts) will deepen your understanding and help you grow spiritually.
  4. Make It Exciting Again – Sometimes we just need a change of scenery or a new tool to spark joy in our study time! Get a new journal, try using highlighters and sticky notes, or listen to an audio Bible while taking a prayer walk. Find little ways to make your time with God something you look forward to.
  5. Tie It to Your Role as a Wife and Mom – Your time in the Word isn’t just for you—it’s for your family, too. What you learn and apply will shape your marriage, your parenting, and your home. If you’re struggling with submission, patience, or showing love to your husband and kids, let your Bible study focus on what God’s Word says about those things. Ask Him to refine your heart so you can be the helper your husband needs and the example your children follow.

What to Actually DO During Your Bible Study Time

It’s one thing to set aside time for Bible study—but what should you do during that time? Here’s a simple, effective flow to guide you:

  1. Begin with Prayer – Ask God to open your heart and mind to His truth. Pray for wisdom, understanding, and a heart that is eager to learn and obey.
  2. Read a Chapter or Passage – Choose a book of the Bible and read it systematically (instead of hopping around). Take your time—this isn’t a race.
  3. Make Observations – As you read, ask yourself: What stands out? What do I learn about God? About people? About the context? Write these things down.
  4. Journal Questions and Insights – If something confuses you or you want to study a certain topic deeper, jot it down. Write out insights that feel like God is speaking to your heart.
  5. List Out Applications – What is this passage teaching you about your role as a wife? A mom? A woman of God? Write down one or two ways you feel called to live out what you’ve just read.
  6. Close in Prayer – Ask God to keep His Word fresh in your heart throughout the day. Pray that He would shape you, transform you, and help you apply what you've learned in your marriage, parenting, and daily life.
This process keeps you engaged, intentional, and growing every single day.

BUT NOTE THIS! If you only have 5-10 minutes, you likely will not be able to do all of that in one sitting. THAT'S OKAY! Begin with prayer, then do the next step from where you left off the day before, and then close in prayer. You don't have to do it at once. 

That's where so many of us get stuck and quit. Don't quit. Just do as much as you can with the time that you have.

Sticking with It for the Long Haul

Spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying up—it’s about maintaining a fresh and inviting space. 

The same goes for Bible study. To keep from slipping back into inconsistency, find ways to stay accountable. 

Maybe that’s joining a study group, setting a reminder on your phone, or asking a friend to check in with you. And most importantly, pray! Ask God to give you a hunger for His Word and the discipline to stay committed.

Know that even if you don't "feel" like you're getting anything out of it, or you don't "feel" motivated to read or study, it's still an important discipline to develop and an instruction to follow, regardless of whether we feel like it.

Sweet friend, your time with the Lord is worth it. Jesus is worth it!

A refreshed, re-engaged, and re-energized Bible study habit will not only transform your heart, but will overflow into your marriage, your motherhood, and your home. Let this be the season where you fall in love with studying Scripture again.

So, are you ready to spring clean your Bible study routine? I’d love to hear how you’re making this a priority in your life! 

Share your thoughts in the comments, and send this to a friend who could use some encouragement today.

Decluttering Your Heart: Deepening Your Walk With God And Your Husband

Decluttering Your Heart: Deepening Your Walk With God And Your Husband
You know what time it is...

Spring cleaning season is here, and while you may be busy dusting shelves and tossing out clutter, have you paused to consider that your heart might need a little decluttering, too? 

Just like a messy home can make it hard to find peace, a heart weighed down by sin, distractions, or unaddressed emotions can keep you from walking closely with God - which in turn can wreak havoc on your marriage

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to 
lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.
This is an instruction, which indicates that we have control over whether or not we do this. 

If we want a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord, and a stronger, healthier marriage, we have to make space for God by intentionally, purposefully, obediently letting go of the things that get in the way.

Maybe you're struggling with bitterness or unrealistic expectations toward your husband; a grudge you’re holding against a friend; or just the never-ending to-do list that keeps pushing time with God to the bottom of it (which means it rarely, if ever, happens). 

Whatever it is, there are some steps you can take to declutter the things in your heart that aren't serving you, your faith, or your family, and free up some space to invite Christ to fill you with godliness and fruits of the Spirit. 

The first step in decluttering your heart is identifying what’s there

You can do this by prioritizing your time studying Scripture. 

When you spend intentional time in the Word, the Holy Spirit brings to light the things you need to surrender (Psalm 139:23-24). 

If you don’t make space for Scripture in your life (daily if possible), you won’t even recognize the clutter you're carrying.

Spend time reading and studying the Bible, and then take a few minutes to journal out a few things you feel the Spirit is revealing to you that you need to let go of.

The next step is to actively let go of sin and negativity

This is where you apply what you study. 

If God’s Word calls you to forgive, you forgive. If it calls you to trust instead of worry, you surrender your anxieties in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). 

It’s not enough to simply acknowledge the clutter; you have to remove it. And just like with physical clutter, this is an ongoing process—not a one-time event.

As you take steps to declutter your heart, you’ll find that your time with the Lord feels more joyful and meaningful, your marriage will benefit from your softened spirit, and your joy in Christ will grow. 

The final step is to replace the clutter with fruits of the Spirit

In Matthew 12:44-45, Jesus tells us:
Then it [the demon] says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.
When you simply try to stop doing or to release something, without replacing it with a godly alternative, you leave your mind, heart, and soul susceptible for the enemy to fill that space with even more clutter. 

For example, you can try to stop thinking negative thoughts about your husband, but if you don't replace them with positive thoughts instead, you'll find yourself coming up with all sorts of other destructive assumptions to dwell on.

How do you cultivate the fruits of the Spirit? By practicing the core spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and worship. 

If you need help getting started, I invite you to check out my free Quieting Your Mind Guide. This guide was created to help you learn how to experience deeper, more meaningful and fruitful connection with God in your quiet times. 

Make time this week to sit with the Lord and ask Him to show you what needs to go. Then, be obedient in clearing it out and adding spiritual disciplines in so you can walk more freely with Him.

Practical Ways To Show Love To Your Kids, Community...and Enemies

Practical Ways To Show Love To Your Kids, Community...and Enemies
Now that Valentine's Day is well behind us, let’s talk about spreading love beyond our marriage. 

We tend to focus on romantic love during Valentine's season, but Scripture calls us to love everyone - including our enemies. THAT one is tough.

As moms and just women who live in community with others, we have so many opportunities to show Christ’s love to our kids and the world around us. 

The best part is that it doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming.

Start with your kids. Show love through intentional moments—for younger kids that might be:
  • reading a favorite book together,
  • playing a game
  • asking about their day
  • having a dance party
  • baking together 
For older kids, it might mean: 
  • sending an encouraging text
  • leaving a sticky note on their mirror
  • looking into their eyes as they share about something important, rather than looking at the phone or the clock
  • going on a coffee date
Love is in the details, and it’s often the small, consistent acts that mean the most.

In your community, think about how you can be a light. Maybe it’s:
  • baking cookies for a neighbor (or buying some if you aren't a baker!)
  • volunteering at your church
  • simply smiling at the cashier who looks like she’s had a long day
  • leaving a larger-than-usual tip if you go out to eat
  • writing an encouraging note and leaving it on the counter in a public restroom
These acts of love don’t just bless others; they also fill your heart with joy.

As adults, we don't often think about our "enemies", unless there is someone against whom we might be holding a grudge or hanging onto bitterness. 

Some ways you can love your "enemies" might be to: 
  • pray intentionally and fervently for them (if you're no longer in contact with them)
  • smile and show kindness (if it's someone you still see occasionally)
  • send them an anonymous gift (Amazon works great for that)
  • write them a note of forgiveness
This week, make a plan to show love intentionally. Write down one way to bless your kids (each of them if you have multiple!), one way to love someone in your community, and one person you'd consider an "enemy" to whom you can show Christ's love. 

Keep it simple and achievable—this shouldn't add stress to your life.

Let’s be women who live out God’s love in every relationship. 

This not only glorifies God, but as you step out in faith and obedience, you will grow in spiritual maturity and wisdom. 

One act of love at a time can make a world of difference.

Your One-Step 2025 Refresh!

Your One-Step 2025 Refresh!
The start of a new year feels like a blank page, doesn’t it? There’s something so refreshing about knowing you can turn the corner and start fresh. 

But if you’re anything like me, you might also feel a little overwhelmed. 

There are a million and one new ideas for organizing your home. A thousand posts about how to reinvigorate and stir new passion into your marriage. Hundreds of suggestions for how to create routines that will help you to move your body and drink more water. 

Or maybe it's your your faith that feels a bit stale, and you’re wondering which influencer to follow to rekindle that passion for God. Maybe you feel a little guilty because last year's resolutions didn't stick through the year. 

Let me reassure you: God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), and He’s ready to meet you right where you are.

And friend - when you meet with Him consistently, that one single step will refresh EVERY other area of your life.

Here is my encouragement to you: instead of jumping into an ambitious Bible reading plan that feels daunting, start with one passage or chapter a day and ask God to open your mind to His wisdom and grant you understanding. 

Couple this with prayer—an honest conversation with Him about your fears, your desire to grow spiritually, your needs for your marriage, kids, work, and friendships, and your desire to surrender everything to His perfect will. 

Trust that He can and will work in your heart as you first make it a priority to seek Him in Scripture, and second make it a priority to lay everything at His feet in obedience to Him.

Consider setting a faith-led goal for the year. Maybe it’s to study one book of the Bible deeply (you don't have to read the entire Bible in a year in order to grow!), memorize Scripture (perhaps one verse a month?), or pray regularly with your husband (or pray for him, if praying together isn't an option). 

Whatever it is, make it personal and meaningful. And remember, you don’t have to do this alone!  Surround yourself with women who will encourage and support you in your journey. 

If you know God is calling you to take this one step to draw closer to Him, I would love to invite you to enroll in the Wives of the Word: Bible Study Methods for Women course! Doors are currently open, but only until THIS Friday, January 10, 2025. 

This is your opportunity to start 2025 refreshed, with the tools and confidence to study Scripture deeply (even on the days you only have a few minutes), apply God’s truths to your marriage, parenting, and life, and grow into the women God has called you to be - while I hold your hand and guide you step-by-step, and with the encouragement and support of other women learning alongside you. 

Enroll now and take the first step toward a life of spiritual renewal and joy! Doors close Friday, so don't miss out!

Let’s start this year with hearts renewed and ready for what God has in store!


A 2025 Fresh Start For Your Heart: Finding The Peace And Purpose You're Craving In The New Year

A 2025 Fresh Start For Your Heart: Finding The Peace And Purpose You're Craving In The New Year
Sweet friend, I see you there – maybe scrolling through your phone while trying to catch a quiet moment, feeling that familiar ache in your heart as another year draws to a close. 

That yearning to feel more present in your life, more anchored in your purpose, more confident in your decisions. 

I know that deep down, you're longing to be the calm, joyful presence your family needs, instead of feeling constantly overwhelmed and stretched thin. 

You're tired of running on empty, of second-guessing yourself, of wondering if you're making the right choices for your family. 

Most of all, you're craving that clear connection with God – that gentle, guiding Voice that helps you navigate the beautiful chaos of being a wife and mom with grace and wisdom.

I've walked this road too, and I want to share something that might surprise you: that peace and purpose you're seeking? That calm assurance and joy that feels just out of reach? 

It's not hiding in another planning system or self-care routine.

The transformation you're longing for starts in the quietest, simplest moments with God – even if those moments look nothing like the picture-perfect devotional times you see on social media.

Can I share something deeply personal with you? When I was in that same overwhelmed space, desperately seeking answers and direction, I discovered something that changed everything. 

It wasn't another productivity hack or morning routine – it was learning how to truly connect with God in the small pockets of time I actually had, not the perfect quiet time I thought I needed. 

Here's what I've learned: the secret isn't in having hours of uninterrupted study time (but wouldn't that be nice?). It's in learning how to make the most of whatever time you do have – whether that's 5 minutes or 50.

Here's the thing: I know that the peace and direction you're searching for isn't found in doing more or trying harder – it's found in learning how to quiet your heart and connect with God in the midst of your beautiful, messy reality

And sweet friend, I want you to know something important: God isn't standing there with a stopwatch, disappointed when you can only give Him five minutes between making breakfast and getting the kids ready for school. 

He's waiting to meet you right where you are, even if that's just a few precious moments while you're waiting in the school pickup line. Those few minutes, when you know how to use them well, can become the foundation of the transformation you're craving.

When you learn how to truly unpack God's Word – even in those small moments – something beautiful happens. Those Scripture passages you've read a hundred times suddenly spring to life with new meaning, speaking directly into your marriage, your parenting, your daily struggles. 

That's why I'm so excited to invite you to my free Routine to Revival workshop coming up THIS WEEK. 

This isn't just another Bible study method that will leave you feeling overwhelmed – it's a simple, grace-filled approach that will help you discover God's wisdom for your specific season of life

You'll learn how to make the most of those precious minutes you have, turning them into powerful moments of connection that will ripple through your entire day, affecting how you respond to your husband, how you parent your children, and how you navigate life's challenges.

Imagine walking into 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose and peace. Picture yourself starting each day – even the chaotic ones – anchored in God's truth, drawing from His strength instead of trying to power through on your own. 

Think about how it would feel to finally have that clear connection with God you've been longing for, to feel His guidance as you make decisions for your family, to see His fruits of patience, joy, and peace flowing naturally into your relationships. 

This isn't about adding another task to your already full plate – it's about finding the source of strength and wisdom you need to pour into your family from a place of fullness rather than exhaustion.

The workshop will take place January 2nd, with another optional session on January 3rd and a final opportunity on January 10th (registration closes January 2nd). 

Sweet friend, I know this could be the fresh start you've been praying for – not just for your Bible study routine, but for your whole life as a wife and mom

I'd love to walk alongside you and show you how these simple moments with God can transform everything

There's even more waiting for you in this workshop than I can share here, but I know this: God has beautiful things in store for you and your family this coming year, and it starts with these small, intentional moments in His presence.

 
Read Older Posts Read Newer Posts

This is my story!

 
As a Christian, it can be embarrassing to admit I've been married three times. 

As a woman who feels called to teach about marriage and submission, it can be almost unthinkable that God would put this on my heart after two failed marriages.

But God often uses the broken to accomplish His purposes - and He does not clothe us in shame, but in righteousness.

I have lived the life of the controlling wife. I have lived the life of the controlled wife

Neither brings the blessings God has for marriage.

Through my mistakes and failures, I've learned what submission is, and what it is not.

I am learning and growing every day in my role as a biblically submissive wife, a bonus mom, and a homemaker who cares for her home and family in joyful wellness!

Join me on my journey as I share some of my lessons, tips, and ideas to equip you to live in joyful submission and wellness!

Let's chat!

Contact

Copyrights © 2025 held by respective copyright holders, including Melissa Smith.