7 Simple Steps to Create a Fall Devotional Plan
Fall is my second favorite after Spring. The moment I feel that first cool breeze (even if it only lasts for 12 minutes here in Texas), I’m lighting my cinnamon candle and pretending I live in a cozy cottage in the English countryside. Never mind that I’m still wiping peanut butter off the toddler and tripping over tiny plastic dinosaurs on my way to start dinner. There’s just something about this season that makes me want to slow down and breathe a little deeper, even if the pace of life doesn’t actually change.
Of course, slowing down is easier said than done when you’re juggling work, a household, and littles who suddenly need everything the minute you try to sit down. Fall brings with it all the things: school routines, church events, work meetings, holiday prep, and somehow your child’s Halloween costume is now a capital-P Project. It’s beautiful, yes. But it can also feel like too much. And in the middle of that, trying to maintain a devotional rhythm can feel like just one more thing on a very long list.
But I’ve learned that time with Jesus doesn’t have to be long or elaborate to be meaningful. It just needs to be real. A quiet moment before everyone else wakes up, a whispered prayer in the carpool line, a Scripture on the fridge that reminds you He is near. So if you’re craving a devotional plan that works in this crazy season, something simple and grace-filled, you’re in the right place. Let’s create something doable together. Not Pinterest-perfect. Just honest, Christ-centered, and life-giving.
How can I stay consistent with a devotional plan when life feels so full?
If you’re like me, you probably love the idea of a beautiful devotional routine. Maybe something that involves hot coffee in a quiet house, your Bible open on the kitchen table, a cozy candle burning, and thirty uninterrupted minutes of deep reflection. But let’s be real. Most mornings in this season of life involve scrambling to find clean socks, refereeing preschool arguments before 7 a.m., and trying to remember if you actually brushed your teeth or just thought about it. Consistency in our devotional time doesn’t always look quiet or neat. But it can still be holy.
Staying consistent with your devotional plan as a busy mom really comes down to letting go of perfection and embracing presence. Time with the Lord doesn’t have to be long to be powerful. Some of my sweetest times with God have been while washing dishes or sitting in my car during lunch break. I’ve whispered prayers while rocking a feverish baby, listened to Scripture through my earbuds while folding laundry, and jotted down one verse in a notebook while waiting for water to boil. These small moments count. They’re real. And they’re enough.
To make your devotional plan sustainable this fall, try anchoring it to something that already happens in your day. That could be right after the kids are dropped off at school, during nap time, or even before bed when the house finally quiets down. If mornings work for you, set out your Bible and journal the night before with your favorite mug waiting nearby. If not, ask the Lord to show you those little windows throughout the day where you can draw near to Him.
It’s not about how much time you have. It’s about making space in your heart. Consistency doesn’t mean rigidity. It means showing up, in whatever way you can, and trusting that God will meet you there.
Read more: 6 Ways to Spend Time with God as a Working Mom
What should I focus on in my devotions during the fall season?
Fall is such a reflective time. The leaves change color, the pace of the year begins to slow, and even our hearts start shifting toward thoughts of home, gratitude, and preparation. It’s the perfect season to press pause and consider what the Lord might want to do within us before we head into the fullness of the holidays. When you’re choosing a devotional focus this fall, think about what your heart is really craving. Are you weary and needing rest? Are you feeling stretched thin and longing for peace? Are you just wanting to enjoy the presence of God again without the pressure to “do” all the things?
One of the most beautiful ways to guide your devotional plan in this season is to choose a theme and camp out there for a while. You don’t need to jump around from topic to topic or follow a complicated study. In fact, sometimes the most powerful growth comes from meditating on one truth for several weeks. For example, you could spend this fall walking through the Psalms of thanksgiving, letting gratitude be your guidepost. Or maybe you study the Gospel of Luke to reflect on Christ’s life and compassion leading into the holidays. You might focus on passages about rest, abiding, or trust, depending on what the Lord is highlighting in your heart right now.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few simple themes you can pray through during your devotional time this fall:
- Gratitude: Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Gratitude shifts our perspective in a powerful way.
- Peace: John 14:27 reminds us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” We all need peace that lasts longer than our coffee.
- Surrender: Proverbs 3:5–6 is a powerful place to rest. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
- Abiding: John 15 is a beautiful passage to study slowly in this season, especially verse 4: “Abide in me, and I in you.”
Let the Word minister to your soul and not just inform your mind. This isn’t about checking off boxes. It’s about letting God prepare your heart for the season ahead. Choose a focus that matches the pace of fall. Let it be slower, more intentional, and deeply rooted in His presence.
Read more: 10 Habits for Spiritual Goal Setting for the Busy Christian Mom
How can I reconnect with God when I feel spiritually dry or distant?
There are seasons in motherhood when we just feel off spiritually. You know what I mean. You still believe, you still love the Lord, but there’s a distance that crept in quietly. Maybe you’ve been running on fumes with work and little ones, and you just haven’t had time to sit with your Bible. Or maybe you’ve been going through the motions and realize you haven’t felt close to God in weeks. If that’s you right now, I want to tell you something you probably need to hear. You are not alone, and you are not a failure. God hasn’t gone anywhere.
Spiritual dryness often shows up in busy seasons, especially when we’ve been giving so much to everyone else that there’s barely anything left for our own soul. That feeling of disconnection can be frustrating, but it’s also an invitation. An invitation to return, to be reminded that your relationship with Jesus isn’t built on how well you perform, but on His never-failing love and mercy. One of my favorite verses for this is Isaiah 55:1. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” It doesn’t say, “Come when you’ve got it all together.” It just says come. That includes you, tired mama, in your messy bun and yesterday’s mascara.
If you’re trying to reconnect with the Lord, start simply. Put on a worship song while making breakfast. Write down one verse that speaks to your heart and tape it to your bathroom mirror. Say a short prayer out loud while folding laundry or driving to work. Sometimes it helps to journal how you’re feeling and ask God to meet you in that space. I like to write out my prayers, even if they’re messy and half-finished. It feels more honest that way.
You can also read through a familiar book of the Bible, like Psalms or John, and just let the words wash over you without feeling the need to study deeply. The goal isn’t to impress God. It’s to be near Him. He sees your heart. He knows your season. And He delights in your desire to return to Him.
7 Simple Steps to Create a Fall Devotional Plan
Okay, so we’ve talked through some of the big questions that tend to come up in this season. You might be nodding along, thinking, “Yes, I want that, but how do I actually start?” I get it. I’ve felt that too. Wanting to reconnect with God but not knowing what that could realistically look like in the middle of work, dinner, laundry, and everything else.
That’s why I pulled together these seven simple steps. Not a checklist to stress you out, just a few ideas to help you create a devotional rhythm that actually fits your life right now. You don’t have to do them all, and definitely not all at once. Pick what works, skip what doesn’t, and give yourself plenty of grace.
Let’s take a look at what might make this season of fall feel a little more grounded and a lot more Christ-focused.
1. Pick a Realistic Time Slot (and Keep it Flexible)
One of the biggest obstacles to devotional time as a working mom is time itself. Between early mornings, long days, evening chaos, and the bedtime routine marathon, it can feel impossible to carve out anything extra. So let’s take the pressure off and start here. You do not need a picture-perfect time with a steaming mug and an aesthetic journal in order to meet with Jesus. You just need a time that’s realistic for your current season. Not ideal. Realistic.
Maybe that means getting up fifteen minutes earlier than usual (and yes, that may mean you need to go to bed earlier, which I know is hard when the only quiet time in your house starts at 9:00 p.m.). Or maybe you’re more likely to have a peaceful moment during lunch in your car, or while your toddler naps on the weekend. Some moms love their morning quiet time, others meet with the Lord right before bed. There is no wrong time to draw near to God. What matters is choosing a time that is most likely to actually happen, even if it’s short.
This is where flexibility is key. You might have one plan for weekdays and another for weekends. Maybe Mondays are crazy, so you use Tuesdays to catch up. Maybe your devotional time shifts each day depending on work, errands, or a teething baby. That’s okay. A devotional plan in the fall should be more like a rhythm than a rigid schedule. Think of it like a gentle heartbeat that anchors your day. Let it ebb and flow with your life, while still keeping your heart connected to Christ.
2. Choose One Focus for the Season
Fall is a season of change, and there’s something really grounding about choosing just one focus for your devotional time. Instead of trying to cover everything at once, pick a single spiritual theme or book of the Bible that speaks to what you’re walking through right now. A devotional plan doesn’t have to include all the bells and whistles to be powerful. Sometimes the most meaningful growth happens when we sit with one truth for a while and really let it sink in.
Ask yourself, “What do I need more of this season?” Maybe it’s peace, because life feels chaotic and your mind is constantly racing. Maybe it’s trust, because you’re waiting on God to answer a prayer or provide clarity. Or maybe it’s gratitude, because the noise of motherhood and responsibility has started to drown out your joy. Whatever rises to the surface first is usually a good clue. You don’t need to overthink it. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you toward what your heart needs most right now.
Once you’ve chosen your focus, build your devotional time around it. For example, if you pick gratitude, spend time in the Psalms and read one per day or one every few days. Try keeping a gratitude journal where you write down one thing you’re thankful for each morning. If you choose peace, you might study passages like John 14:27, Isaiah 26:3, or Philippians 4:6–7. You can even pick a single verse for the whole week and meditate on it daily. Let your focus simplify your time with the Lord. You’re not trying to “do more.” You’re choosing to go deeper in one area that will refresh your soul.
3. Use a Simple Resource
I think we’ve all had that moment where we download a beautifully designed devotional guide or order a thick Bible study workbook and then… it just sits on the shelf. Not because we don’t want to grow spiritually, but because the resource was too involved for our current season. If that’s happened to you, please don’t feel guilty. I’ve been there. What you need in the fall as a busy, working Christian mama is something simple, sustainable, and nourishing. A devotional plan only works when the tools actually fit your life.
So what counts as a “simple” resource? That really depends on your style and how much time you have. If you like structure but don’t want to be overwhelmed, try a short daily devotional book that includes a verse, a reflection, and a prayer. You could even use something you’ve already started but never finished. Another option is a Bible reading plan. You can find free ones online that guide you through a topic, a Gospel, or a short passage each day. If you prefer to journal, a blank notebook and a single verse a day can be all you need. Write down what the verse says, how it applies to your life, and a prayer in response.
If you’re looking for something already curated for your season of life, I’ve created a few resources you might find helpful. My Prayers for the Busy Mom guide is a simple way to incorporate focused, Scripture-based prayer into your daily routine, especially if you only have a few minutes here and there. I also designed my Faithful Foundations: Building Your Home on Biblical Principles study for families who want to connect spiritually without the overwhelm. Both were made with working moms in mind, because I know your time is valuable and your heart is hungry for truth. Don’t overcomplicate this part. Find something that feels doable and life-giving, and let it serve you rather than stress you.
4. Keep a Bible Basket or Devotional Corner (Revised)
Let’s be honest. Sometimes just finding your Bible, a pen that isn’t chewed up, and a clean place to sit feels like too much. I’ve definitely had mornings where I’m carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and a journal in the other, only to realize I have no idea where my Bible went. It’s usually buried under mail or halfway across the house next to a pile of socks. That’s why I love the idea of having a designated spot for devotional time. A little corner or basket that quietly says, “This is where I meet with Jesus.”
A devotional basket doesn’t have to be fancy. You can use a small bin, a tote, or a pretty container you already have. Inside, keep your Bible, a journal or notebook, a few pens or highlighters, and maybe a devotional book or reading plan printout. If you enjoy writing out Scripture or journaling your prayers, tuck in some notecards or sticky notes too. The idea is to have everything in one place so that when you do have a few quiet minutes, you’re ready. You might even keep a tea bag or a lip balm in there. Little comforts can help you feel settled and focused.
If you have a consistent space in your home, try creating a devotional corner. Maybe it’s a chair in your bedroom, a favorite seat by the window, or a quiet spot at the table once the kids are down for the night. Add a cozy throw blanket, a candle, or a fall decoration that brings you joy. During this season, I like to keep my favorite blanket nearby and a fall-scented candle close. It helps set the tone and makes that space feel like a refuge.
Don’t try to make it Pinterest-worthy. Just focus on meeting with the Lord. When your space invites you in, it becomes one more gentle way God meets you in the middle of your busy day.
5. Make it Visual and Cozy
There’s something about fall that practically begs us to create cozy spaces. The warm colors, soft lighting, and cinnamon-scented everything just make you want to snuggle up with something meaningful. And since this season naturally encourages us to slow down and reflect, why not make your devotional time visually inviting too? Your space doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. A simple setup that brings you peace can help you look forward to spending time with the Lord, even if it’s only for a few minutes each day.
You can start small. Light a fall-scented candle or diffuse some essential oils that remind you of warmth and comfort. Add a soft blanket to your chair or keep a little fall-themed mug nearby for your morning coffee or evening tea. Some moms like to place a small Scripture card or printout near their Bible or pin one to a corkboard or fridge. If you’re the visual type, having God’s Word somewhere you can see it throughout the day really helps keep your heart focused on Him. You could even print out a favorite Bible verse in pretty lettering and tape it to the bathroom mirror or inside a kitchen cabinet.
This is also a chance to lean into your own style. If you love that cottage-core aesthetic, add a sprig of dried lavender, a small vase of fall leaves, or a hand-tied ribbon around your journal. If your kids are little and always close by, consider putting a few items in a pretty tray you can easily move from room to room. The goal here is to create a space that welcomes you in, not to impress anyone else. A devotional plan doesn’t need to feel clinical or task-oriented. When your surroundings feel calm and lovely, your time with the Lord often flows more freely too.
Read more: 8 Hygge Home Ideas for Fall
6. Track Progress Gracefully
Tracking your devotional time can be helpful, especially if you’re a list-maker like I am. There’s something satisfying about checking a box or seeing your spiritual rhythm build over time. But here’s the thing. Your devotional plan is not another to-do list that determines whether you’re doing a “good job” as a Christian. You’re not earning gold stars with God. You’re meeting with your Heavenly Father, who delights in you even on the days when you only get through half a verse and a whisper of a prayer. Progress is a blessing, but grace is the point.
If you do enjoy visual tracking, keep it simple and flexible. You can print a monthly habit tracker, use a sticker chart in your planner, or jot a quick note each day in your journal. Write down what passage you read, what stood out to you, or a prayer you prayed. Some moms keep a gratitude list in the same space, which can be such a powerful way to see God’s faithfulness unfold across the season. If you skip a day (or several), there’s no shame or “making up” for lost time. Just pick up where you left off and keep going. You haven’t lost anything. You’re still walking with the Lord.
I’ve also found that tracking can help reveal sweet patterns. Maybe you notice that you tend to connect more deeply with God when you journal at night. Or maybe certain Scriptures come up again and again, nudging your heart in a specific direction. These little insights can help you refine your devotional rhythm as you go. Think of your tracker as a gentle companion rather than a strict coach. It’s there to remind you that spiritual growth happens one day at a time. And God is just as present on the “off” days as He is on the days when everything feels smooth and settled.
7. Invite Your Children into the Process (Even if Briefly)
As moms, we carry this deep longing to pass our faith on to our children. But sometimes that desire gets tangled up in guilt or pressure. We imagine beautifully structured family devotions or long Scripture readings around the table, and then reality hits. The toddler throws a cup. Someone cries because their sock feels weird. The baby needs a diaper change right in the middle of a sweet prayer moment. Sound familiar? Let me just go ahead and say this. Including your kids in your devotional life doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be messy, short, and still incredibly meaningful.
Start small and start where you are. If your children are very young, you can include them in little ways. Maybe you play Scripture lullabies during playtime or listen to a Bible story podcast on the way to daycare. You can say a short prayer out loud together before leaving the house or while snuggling before bed. One of our favorite routines is picking one verse for the week and saying it together at breakfast. It doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful. Kids absorb more than we realize, and when they see us prioritizing God, it builds a foundation in their hearts too.
There are also moments when your devotional time might be interrupted, and instead of getting frustrated, you can gently invite them in. Maybe your child crawls into your lap while you’re reading. Let them sit with you and see what you’re doing. Maybe you pause to explain a verse or pray out loud for something they care about. These are sweet, sacred seeds you’re planting. Your devotional plan doesn’t have to be separate from your calling as a mother. In fact, they can go hand in hand. Let your children see you loving Jesus in the everyday moments. It won’t always be neat or quiet, but it will be real—and that’s the kind of faith that sticks.
Fall is such a natural time to reset. We reorganize closets, pull out sweaters, and decorate our homes with cozy touches, but how often do we pause to reset our hearts too? Your devotional time doesn’t have to look perfect or follow a rigid plan. It can be slow, simple, and sacred. This season is an invitation from the Lord to come back to Him, to linger in His Word, and to let Him restore what feels weary. Just like the leaves fall and make way for something new, your heart can release the clutter and hold onto what truly matters. His presence is always worth returning to.
Whether you’re starting fresh, beginning again after a dry season, or simply looking for a rhythm that fits your busy days, I hope this devotional plan gives you encouragement and clarity. Every little step toward Christ matters.
I’d love to hear how you’re shaping your devotional time this fall.
Are you choosing a theme? Picking a certain book of the Bible?
Let me know in the comments!
