One-Minute Prayers for Busy Moms

I picked up this book in my grocery store pharmacy. What a fabulous place to sell inspirational gift books! With a cart full of groceries and a happily kicking two-year-old, I couldn't resist this title, ONE-MINUTE PRAYERS FOR BUSY MOMS. Is it possible to pray in one minute? If you're a mom, that may be all the time you have. Yet, the Apostle Paul tells us to "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thes. 5:16). So doesn't this mean we're to keep our heart focused on God throughout our busy days? When we're overwhelmed with our to-do list, we can let God handle the details. When we're bursting to tell someone how happy or sad or excited or lonely we are...then we can lift our thoughts heavenward at any moment. We're not alone. Hope Lyda has written a beautiful book that allows us to peek into her personal relationship with Christ. She covers a variety of topics that moms face every day: how to have a moment of quiet, things we worry about, disciplining our children, finding purpose, and asking why. Each short meditation opens with a scripture from the New International Version of the Bible. Then we read a prayer from the author that we may also pray. For example, the topic, "It's About Respect" offers this opener, "Lord, mold me into a mother worthy of honor. I cannot force my children to respect me, but I can live a life that is fruitful, deeply rooted in Your truth, and overflowing with Your love. I vow to bring my childen up in a godly way." Fresh hope is waiting for readers of this book. I know lots of mothers who could enjoy this as a gift. It would fit wonderfully in a pretty basket along with some other pampering favorites: chocolate, coffee or tea, scented lotions, etc. Moms give so much to others that it's nice when a book comes along that helps us feed our own souls first. By growing in our spiritual walks, we'll have a never-ending source for the renewal we need to keep on keeping on. --Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester