How to Put God First in Your Life

Do your mornings come crashing in even before your feet touch the floor? It feels like there are 100 things happening at once, all vying for your attention. And yet, if you’re like me, you know that if you spend some time with God before trying to jump into your day, everything feels lighter and so much more manageable.

This is what happens when you put God first. He steadies your life, softens the hard moments with the kids, and brings focus at work. With God at the center, joy lasts longer and strength returns faster.

How to Put God First in Your Life as a Catholic Mom

In this guide, you’ll learn some ideas for how to start your day with God. These ideas can help you start building lasting habits that fit real life and become simple anchors that keep your heart with Him all day.

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. – Deuteronomy 5:8-9

God is to come first. We are not to place anything ahead of Him. (not that I have perfected this – like you, I am a work in progress).

Begin Each Day with Morning Prayer and Scripture

Before the rest of your household wakes up, slip into the kitchen or sit on the edge of your bed. Light a small candle by a statue of Mary. Let the soft glow remind you that God is near, even in the quiet before breakfast.

Whisper the Morning Offering, place your day in His hands, and open your heart to His Word. This simple start sets a calm tone, steadies your spirit, and keeps you aware of His presence as you move through chores, carpools, and work.

Check out this pretty coffee mug that has the Morning Offering prayer right on it. This is what I use so that the prayer is right there for me as I sip my coffee or tea in the morning. It’s not a long prayer, takes less than a minute to pray, and if you have a better memory than mine, you’ll likely have it memorized in no time.

Another option I like for prayers is to write them out on index cards. I keep these handy in a small pretty box or place the individual cards in the spot where I will be praying them. You can also use them as bookmarks in your Bible or devotional book.

What if you simply can’t manage a moment of quiet time first thing in the morning?

God doesn’t care about where and when we pray. He just wants us to be in communication with Him. The Morning Offering is short and quick to pray, but in all honesty, some days it is still too much for me.

On the days where life bursts in full force (or my health issues are at a high) before I’ve had a chance to take the time to pray the Morning Offering, I simply pray Psalm 143:8: Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Say this as you make coffee. Or go to the bathroom (yes, really). Or make your kids’ lunches. You can pray and do other things at the same time. It’s okay. Once I started relaxing some of the self-imposed rules I had given myself about prayer, I ended up being able to spend far more time with God.

On these days, once the kids are off to school and daycare and my daughter and son-in-law are at work, I will often head out onto my front porch and engage in a longer quiet time with God. Know that this doesn’t always happen and that’s okay too.

Even though you will see many people preaching the idea that you must get up really early in the morning and spend a long time in prayer with God (with the implication that you’re failing as a Christian if you don’t do that), you can spread prayer out over the course of your day. In fact, this is one way you can put Paul’s words to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:17) to “pray without ceasing” in action.

Saint Thérèse began with small acts of love. You can too. Offer your first moments, then carry that peace into everything else.

Read God’s Word to Guide Your Heart

Scripture gives you a steady voice when life feels loud. Begin with a short passage you can carry in your pocket all day.

• Start here with the:
  • Psalms for honest prayer in joy or stress.
  • Gospels to watch Jesus love, teach, and heal.
  • Proverbs for wisdom that speaks to moms, like Proverbs 31.
    
• One verse, one thought: Read a single line, repeat it, then ask, “How can I live this today?” If you face sibling squabbles, you could choose “Blessed are the peacemakers.” If you feel spent, you can hold onto “The Lord is my shepherd.”
  
• Daily Mass readings: Read a verse from the day’s Gospel or Psalm. Let the Church set your pace.
  
• Liturgy of the Hours, simplified: Pray a brief Morning Prayer. If time is tight, pray just the Invitatory Psalm or the Gospel canticle. One psalm prayed well is better than ten rushed.

Write the verse on a sticky note or in your phone. Return to it at lunch, in the car line, or before bed.

Small, faithful moments feed real love. Over time, the Word shapes your voice, your choices, and your home.

Seek God’s Will in Your Daily Decisions

Big or small, choices shape your day. When you pause and pray before you decide and take action, you invite God into the center. Your heart steadies, your mind clears, and worry loosens its grip.

Picture this. You sit at your desk as the inbox fills. Your hand rests on the mouse, and you whisper, “Jesus, what do You want here?” The room does not change, but your pace does. You choose patience, truth, and peace. You choose to walk with Him.

Here’s a simple rhythm you can try to keep your heart tuned:

• Pause: Take one deep breath. Make the Sign of the Cross.
• Ask: “Lord, guide my mind, calm my heart, help me choose love.”
• Listen: Notice if a thought brings peace or tension.
• Decide: Pick the option that leads to love of God and neighbor.
• Surrender: “Jesus, I trust in You.” Then move forward.

End the day with the examen. Thank God for two graces. Ask where you missed the mark. Notice what brought peace or pressure. Ask for light for tomorrow. This daily check restores trust and keeps small choices under His care.

Use Discernment Tools from the Church

You do not have to figure this out alone. The Church hands you wise tools for the path.

• Spiritual direction: A priest or trained lay director helps you notice how God moves in your life. Bring real questions, like schooling, work hours, or a friendship that drains you. Direction is not therapy. It is conversation about prayer, virtue, and God’s voice. I don’t know what I’d do without my spiritual director. She has made a huge difference in my life.
  
• Saints as guides: Read short lives or quotes from saints who chose well in ordinary days. Saint Ignatius of Loyola teaches how to read the heart. When you feel consolation (peace, faith, love), keep going in that path. When you feel desolation (heaviness, confusion, isolation), slow down, pray more, and avoid quick changes.
  
• Ignatian decision steps: Name the choice. List the options. Pray with each one. Imagine telling Jesus what you plan to do, then notice your interior response. If time allows, sleep on it and review again in the morning light.
  
• The Rosary: When your house feels chaotic, the beads bring order. Pray a decade while folding laundry or during a walk. Let Mary teach you to ponder. In the Joyful Mysteries, watch how she listens, moves in charity, and keeps Jesus at the center. Her calm helps sift what is from God and what is not.

My spiritual director says that God gave us 10 fingers for a reason. You can use them to pray a decade of the Rosary even when it’s not possible to hold onto a set of beads.

These tools do not add weight. They remove pressure. You will worry less, trust more, and act with a quiet confidence that grows with practice.

Involve Your Family in Faith-Filled Choices

God belongs in family plans, not just private prayer. Bring decisions to the table and pray together, even for one minute.

• Prayer over meals: Before dinner, name one decision aloud. “Lord, guide our weekend plans,” or “Help Mom at work tomorrow.” Then pray it as an intention during grace before dinner. Short and honest is best.
  
• Bedtime blessings: Come up with a small bedtime ritual. Trace a cross on each child’s forehead. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom for the next day. Let kids each add an intention.
  
• Family check-in on Sunday: Look at the calendar with God. Perhaps you’ll arrange it with Mass first, then sports, chores, rest, and time with grandparents. Ask, “What helps us love God and each other this week?”

This models for your kids what it looks like to put Him first. They watch you pause, ask, and trust. The home shifts from hurry to purpose. Choices feel less like a scramble and more like a shared yes to God.

Build Habits That Honor God in Work and Community

Faith grows strong when it lives in your routines. Simple, steady habits turn busy days into prayer, service, and grace. At home, at work, and in your parish, you can put God first with choices that fit real life. These habits anchor your heart, reduce burnout, and keep your love steady for the long run.

Make Time for Sacraments and Worship

The sacraments keep you rooted. They calm the noise, renew your mind, and feed your soul.

• Weekly Mass: Put Sunday Mass on the calendar first, then plan the rest. Choose a time that fits naps, sports, or shift work. If the morning is tough, go Saturday evening. Lay out outfits the night before, pack a quiet bag for toddlers, and sit near the aisle for easy exits. Ask your husband or a friend to help with wrangling. God wants you there, not perfect, just present.
  
• Monthly Confession: Mark a date, like First Saturday, and treat it as a non-negotiable. Keep a short examen list in your notes app. Pray for light on the drive. If lines are long, bring a Rosary or a children’s book. Confession clears the fog and resets your course. You walk out lighter, ready to love again without the weight.
  
• Holy Communion: Receiving Jesus is a fresh start. After Communion, rest your head and whisper, “Stay with me, Lord.” Let that peace wash your workday, soothe mom guilt, and heal sharp words. Carry one phrase into the week, like “Be still,” and return to it during stress.
  
• Adoration: Consider spending some time in Eucharistic Adoration. This quiet time with Jesus is like. a soothing balm for the soul. Stay for 5 minutes or stay for an hour. Check your local parishes because there is one near me that is open 24 hours a day (entrance by keypad lock) so it fits into any schedule. My parish does a family Adoration once a month that is set up to be more kid-friendly and geared towards their level of understanding so that’s something else you can look for.

Simple supports help you stay consistent:

• Reminders: Add a repeating calendar alert for Mass and Confession.
• Buddy system: Share Confession dates with a friend or women’s group so you go together.
• Commute prayer: Pray a decade of the Rosary to and from work or school drop-off.

Worship is not another task. It is the well you drink from, so the rest of life can flow with grace.

Serve Others as Jesus Did

Service puts love into motion. It turns faith into action and builds bonds that last.

Start small and close to home:

• At work: Offer the hard task without complaint. Bring coffee to a coworker. Give credit in a meeting. Pray before a tough call.
  
• In your neighborhood: Drop off soup to a new mom. Rake leaves for an elderly neighbor. Smile and learn names on your block.
  
• At parish: Join (or set up) the meal train for funerals or new babies. Help with children’s Liturgy, as a greeter, or on a food pantry or community meal shift. Volunteer at the fall festival and bring your kids along.

Why this puts God first:

• You love as He loves: Service focuses your heart outward. Less self, more Christ.
• You find your people: Ministry teams become friends who pray, swap babysitting, and bring casseroles in hard weeks.
• You avoid burnout: When love moves beyond your to-do list, your energy shifts from hurry to purpose. Joy returns because your heart is giving and receiving.

Need a place to start? Look for:

• Women’s groups: Bible studies, mom circles, or walking Rosaries. These offer prayer, community, and gentle accountability.
• Charities: Check the St. Vincent de Paul society at your parish or a local pregnancy help center. Choose one simple role and show up monthly.
• Family service rhythm: Pick one act each week: Sunday notes to grandparents, First Friday pantry donations, Second Tuesday meal train and so on.

Service and sacraments work together. You meet Jesus at the altar, then meet Him again in your neighbor. This rhythm keeps God at the center of your work, your home, and your community.

Conclusion

Put God first with a simple morning prayer, prayerful decisions, and steady habits that fit your life. Start small today, choose one clear yes to Him, and let peace spread through your home. Share your story in the comments, your witness will help another woman be brave.

May the Lord bless your home and steady your steps. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” Matthew 6:33