What do we really need most in motherhood? Our immediate needs are true and pressing: we need rest, support, healthy routines, helpful strategies, and the list goes on. But when it comes to our hearts, the one thing we need most might be the one we brush over the quickest:
God and his Word.
No matter our season, we need the truths of the Bible to restore our weary souls. But we don’t have to do it alone! In this series, we’ll look at God’s Word and why it matters to our lives (and how to find time to engage with it!), take a dive into the Abide Bible Study Method, and walk through passages of Scripture that we pray bring encouragement to you in seasons of doubt, frustration, and even joy.
As we study God’s Word as a community, we pray you’ll see just how much your Creator loves you, and wants you to know and love him.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
- Hebrews 4:12
*We understand that some of you may be experiencing challenges in motherhood that can’t be addressed in a podcast series. If you’re in a season of suffering or depression, please reach out to a trusted counselor or mental health professional. You can also find a list of crisis-help resources here.
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The Abide Method: Learn to Study the Bible
At Risen Motherhood, we use The Abide Method for studying the Bible. Similar to the Inductive Bible Study method, this is a way of studying the Bible that puts God first. As image-bearers of God, we can only understand ourselves correctly through the lens of who God is, carefully studying the character and purposes of God, as revealed in Scripture. This is critical to a Christian's growth and maturity.
Engaging in a deliberate and dedicated study of God's word can feel slow and difficult at times. It will mean some frustration, questions and learning to live deep in the "I don't know." But over time, seeking to understand the true meaning of God's word provides a backdrop for gospel-centered thinking, allowing us to discern truth and make wise decisions through a biblical lens.
Ultimately, proper study of the scriptures will increase our knowledge of God transforming us into his image as the affections of our heart follow our minds. "[For when we] behold the glory of the Lord [we are] transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
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R| M Episodes | Abide
Related Articles and Resource List
Below is a collection of resources to encourage and equip you and your children for studying Scripture. While we think they're helpful, the R|M team does not necessarily agree with or endorse every opinion.
Books + Resources
R|M Articles
Memorizing God’s Word gives us a storehouse of truth at the ready to inform, encourage, and preserve us in the midst of motherhood’s demands.
Journals, devotional books, and reading plans can be helpful, but our hope is in the Lord and the work he can do through them.
While we shouldn’t give up quiet times with God, let’s remember that our time with God doesn’t always have to be quiet.
Even when our hearts feel cold, we can come to God’s word trusting in the promise of his presence to meet us.
Whether we read the Bible yesterday, five years ago, or never before, we can come to God’s Word in faith, believing that he meets us there with grace and truth.
In the chaos of our days, we may often feel the need for wisdom and encouragement from God’s word but not have the time to go and find it. What if the word was already there in our minds and hearts, ready for the Spirit to use at just the right moment?
Motherhood imposes on our idea of how and when we should study the Bible. Yet believing the gospel frees us to be faithful with our time and invest it in studying scripture from a place of joy.
While it may not be the first book we think to study, Leviticus is a gift from God to teach and sustain us. Consider grabbing your coffee and mining for its treasure.
Danielle Herbert works as a project manager for a business-consulting firm that manages government contracts in the D.C. area. In this written interview, Danielle shares how she prioritizes time in the Word as a working mom.
This post is part six of a six-week series on how to start and facilitate a women’s Bible study group. Leading a Bible study can sound intimidating—but it doesn't have to be! Today, we’re walking through a few simple ways to lead your Bible study group well.
This post is part five of a six-week series on how to start and facilitate a women’s Bible study group. Today, we're walking through how to love group members well and maximize discussion.
This post is part four of a six-week series on how to start and facilitate a women’s Bible study group. In today’s post, we’re walking through a few things to consider as you gather women together to study the Bible.
This post is part three of a six-week series on how to start and facilitate a women’s Bible study group. In today’s post, we're walking through how to find theologically-sound resources, as well as the right format for your particular Bible study group.
This post is part two of a six-week series on how to start and facilitate a women’s Bible study group. In today’s post, we’re taking a look at the benefits of prioritizing Bible study and learning God’s Word for ourselves as moms.
This post is part one of a six-week series on how to start and facilitate a women’s Bible study group. In today’s post, we’re taking a look at three benefits for studying God’s Word as moms.
When quiet times aren’t exactly quiet, we can be tempted to wonder, “Is all of this even worth it?” We’ve been there too. But the truth is: it is worth it! Because when momma loves her Bible, her children notice.
Podcast Episodes
Can a mom really develop a personal understanding of the Bible in the season of young children? In this episode, Emily and Laura chat with author and Bible teacher, Jen Wilkin, about her passion for biblical literacy. Jen encourages moms to pursue a firsthand knowledge of scripture and gives practical examples of what this might look like. She offers encouragement to set aside larger blocks of time, get involved in a structured study with accountability, and consistently consume the word whenever and wherever you can. If you haven't been sure how an understanding of scripture can impact your role as a mom, you'll be so challenged and encouraged by this interview!
Moms know that you don’t start reading a storybook in the middle! If you skip the first half, your kids miss important aspects of the plot and the character development. Instead, you start at the very beginning and view all of the parts as a whole. But for some reason, when it comes to the Bible, we often toss that concept aside and go straight for the easier-to-understand New Testament books. In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss the importance of reading the Old Testament, citing eight reasons why it really matters! Processing the entire Bible in light of the cross is critical for us (and our kiddos) to rightly understand God's epic redemption story.
The Bible is the timeless word of God, but finding time to study it as a mom of young children can feel nearly impossible. Does it count as a quiet time if we’re surrounded by noisy children? How is it possible that no matter how early we wake up for Bible study, our children seem to wake up earlier? The little years bring real struggles for spending time in God’s word, but there’s hope! In this special bonus episode, Emily and Laura share a chapter from their book, Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments, called, “The Little Years are Not the Lost Years.” In it, they offer encouragement and practical tips for spending time in God’s word and growing in our love for the gospel, even during busy seasons of motherhood.
Going to Bible study in the early years of motherhood can feel like an Olympic feat. In our minds, getting everyone ready requires some gymnastics, enough snacks to feed a sumo wrestler, and the ability to marathon your way across a parking lot. In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss common struggles that keep moms from being involved in women’s ministry and reasons to get yourself out the door. While podcasts, websites, and books are great gifts of encouragement, God specifically gives the local church to train, equip, and nourish his children. Getting there will be worth it.
In the years of little ones, it seems almost impossible to carve out a quiet moment to read our Bibles and pray intentionally. Most moms want to be in the word amidst the busyness, but we just need a little help. This is why founders, Raechel and Amanda, started She Reads Truth – to see women get in the word of God everyday. In this episode, Raechel and Amanda, wives, mothers, and authors, discuss how women need to be rooted in God’s word, taking the first step by just getting started. By changing our expectations of “quiet times” and studying with other women, we can find the refreshing hope of the gospel in the Bible that has relevant application in each season of life.
Any mom who reads to her children knows that you wouldn't start a storybook right in the middle! If you skipped the first half, your kids would miss important aspects of the plot and the character development. Instead, you would start at the very beginning and view all of the parts as a whole. But for some reason, when it comes to the bible, we often toss that concept aside and go straight for the easier-to-understand New Testament books. In this episode, Emily and Laura make a case for the Old Testament, citing eight reasons why it really matters! Processing the entire bible in light of the cross is critical for mom (and her kiddos) to rightly understand God's epic redemption story.
Motherhood is loud. With days full of urgent needs, it can be difficult to complete any task, not to mention the challenge of finding a time to be alone with God. But this is exactly what moms really need! Moments to linger over a refreshing truth or be reminded of who they really are in God's eyes. In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss the importance of "making time" for our most important relationship, including practical tips for getting in God's word (even when it's noisy or chaotic). Listen in, and be encouraged to drop your shame and run back to the Father who loves you.
* In this show we talk about our new jingle. We've since updated all shows for consistency.
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