Quiet Time in Summer?
Not Quiet. Not Perfect. Still Good!
Quiet Time - A Thing Of The Past
Quiet time? Sweet friend, I have two boys. ‘Quiet’ left the building approximately 3.5 seconds after they learned to yell ‘BUT WHY?’ at full volume. My prayer chair is now a launchpad for Nerf gun ambushes, and my Bible study soundtrack is a symphony of bouncing basketballs and monster truck “vrooooooms”.
But here’s what I’m learning: God doesn’t just honor the crumbs—He invades the chaos. He’s not waiting for you to find a silent moment (lol, never). He’s in the laundry room when you’re scrubbing grass stains, in the SUV when someone’s yelling ‘HE’S LOOKING AT ME,’ and yes, even in the 47th retelling of the world’s most epic cannonball splash in the pool.
Your Summer Shift -Boy-Mom Edition
During school, my quiet time is calm, centered, and connected. I usually find a time right after drop-off when my mind is awake and my spirit is ready to soak it all in. My time feels structured: practicing my memory verse, digging into scripture, looking over prayer requests, and using my favorite prayer method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication - feel free to ask for more on this!) to finish up my time. It usually lasts from anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time I have.
But summer? Oh, summer. The only thing ‘centered’ here is the epicenter of the wrestling match currently raging in my living room. My ‘quiet time’ now looks like a spiritual obstacle course—where ‘ACTS’ stands for ‘Audibly Crying To Survive’ and the closest I get to adoration is whispering ‘God, you made these children on purpose’ while I put ice on a black eye.
Does this mean I drop prayer time altogether? No! It means I have to shift my focus AND my mindset.
In the Summer, my mornings have no rhyme or reason to them. Some days, we are rushing to pack lunches and throw Crocs on for camp, while other mornings we are holding onto our sanity because we have a long stretch of “we are soooooooo bored” ahead of us. So this means (even though my “I like a plan” mind hates it) that I have to nix the long morning sessions I love and trade them in for short and sweet moments of connection.
Because I have this stack of things I love to include in my quiet time, it’s a little easier for me to chop it up. I simply take each thing I love to do in my quiet time and find little nuggets of time throughout the day to do ONE at a time.
This may look like:
Reciting my memory verse while I walk the dog.
Going to bed 20 minutes earlier to have dedicated prayer time.
Keeping my ongoing prayer list on my calendar as a reminder to stop and take a moment to pray for others.
Finding time to offer adoration by listening to worship music on the way to camp.
Picking a word to study for the month instead of digging into a long piece of scripture.
Using the technology we love to hate and reading a devotional app between moments of being yelled at to “watch this incredible twisty-flip into the pool.”
Letting screen-time be okay for a moment to re-center myself with the things I know God wants for me in motherhood: patience, gentleness, mercy…
Let’s be honest—when summer hits, ‘quiet time’ becomes more of a creative challenge than a checkbox. But here’s the good news: Connection with God isn’t about perfect conditions; it’s about faithful persistence.
Summer Quiet-time Tool Box
After years of trial and error (and approximately 4,872 interrupted prayers), I’ve landed on a few tools that keep me anchored in the chaos. Because if there’s one thing boy mom life has taught me, it’s this: Grace doesn’t wait for silence—it meets us in the noise.
Here are my favorite tools for making this happen:
The Practice Devo App: This app has been a game-changer for me and helps me approach scripture differently when seasons get chaotic. Each day, it gives you a Word of the Day, that word’s definition, a scripture that word is anchored in, and a way to put the word into practice. This helps center me and reminds me that God’s word is alive and practical in every moment! Many of the words are also great to share with kids and bring them into a special moment with you!
Dwell Bible App: This is an audio app that allows you to listen to full passages of scripture as well as devotions and prayers. My favorite way to use this app is at bedtime. They have scripture-based sleep stories that help you drift off to God’s truth (what a beautiful way to say goodnight). My personal favorites are: The Redemption of Ruth, The Lord Is In This Place, and The Beginning. Other than the sleep stories, I love their “Breath Prayers” section as well as their “Lectio Divina” section.
Music: This is one of the best ways I know of to connect with God in a season of craziness. It is also a great way to bring your children into the fun. I keep a playlist going on Spotify called “Sunday Mornings” (we clearly reach for this daily and not just Sundays) which we can pull up easily at home or on the go! Ill link it here!
Keeping Prayer Cards: I keep these in an envelope in my bag or car. I have a small envelope that holds four prayer cards. Each card is assigned to my husband, my boys, and then general prayers for my well-being. These don’t include ALL of my prayer requests, but they are something I can pull out when the time allows… in the grocery parking lot if I have five minutes, in the carpool line for camp, etc. On each card, it has three scriptures assigned to each person and specific things I am praying over them: (Ex. Jones - my oldest- self-control, joy, friendships).
Try the “Stack” Method: This works by pairing a tiny habit with something you already do. For example, bring your bible into the kitchen and read one psalm while you brew your coffee. Or turn a chaotic moment into a sacred moment by praying, “ Lord, help me see them the way that you do” during any “MOM, WATCH THIS” trick.
And here’s the simplest tool of all—one you’re probably already doing:
Turn family prayer time into your spiritual connection too: A heartfelt prayer at dinner or a quick faith question (‘Where did you see God today?’) does double duty. It keeps your own heart anchored while quietly showing your kids that faith isn’t just a ‘Sunday thing’—and that your door (and ears) are always open for their big questions about God.
Some days, these little habits feel like lifelines. Other days? Let’s just say even the ‘stack method’ can’t compete with a full-blown sibling Thunderdome. (We’ve all been there.) That’s when I cling to this truth: Summer spirituality isn’t failure. It’s trust that God’s presence isn’t dependent on your performance. He’s as much in the ‘why is there toothpaste in the toilet?’ moments as He is in the deep dive into 1 Peter. Your worth isn’t measured in minutes spent studying, but in His unshakable love.
I’ll say it a little louder for those in the back who didn’t hear:
A “summer mindset” for your quiet time isn’t lazy - it’s trusting that God sustains us even when our routines don’t. So, tuck this little nugget of scripture goodness into your back pocket this Summer:
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)
And remember, peace isn’t about perfect circumstances – It’s about where your mind rests. Even if "stayed on Him" looks like a 3-second prayer between breaking up sibling squabbles, it counts.
Your Turn—Go!
Drop your summer survival stories (or holy chaos moments) in the comments—I’ll be there cheering you on with virtual coffee in hand.
P.S. Not a Substack commenter? Just hit reply to this email—I read every one!