Shelly Wildman
About the Author

Shelly Wildman is a wife to her college sweetheart, a mom to three adult daughters, and a former writing professor who loves mentoring younger women. She is the author of First Ask Why: Raising Kids to Love God Through Intentional Discipleship. Find her on Instagram @shellywildman.

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things we love
& you will too!
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  1. This post is wonderful!! As I am cleaning house today I will ponder this very thought, because truly, this is exactly how we should be. Thank You.

  2. Hi Shelly. I wonder just how many of us there are who are in this same situation. I have three teens at home also, plus four who aren’t teens yet 🙂 It seems like when the children, husband, dog, cat, friends, and family aren’t needing my attention I just want to shut down. Don’t want to talk to anyone, even God! This is so wrong because I need Him to get through these days and an anemic relationship with Him is not going to give me the spiritual nourishment I need to care for my family and live as His disciple.

    I just started reading a book online last night called When I Don’t Desire God by John Piper. I’m reading it free in PDF format and it seems really good so far. I found it at the Desiring God Christian Resource Library.

    Looking forward to reading how you other ladies deal with this problem.

  3. “I wondered, as I talked this through with God, how my life would change if my desire for Him matched my need for Him….”

    Powerful, humbling stuff, Shelly. THANK YOU. Your thoughts perfectly match last week’s lesson in our church’s Bible study (A Woman After God’s Own Heart, Elizabeth George). I will print this out and take it to class next week. Again, thank you for your honesty and your heart for God. It reached out and touched me.

  4. I am so incredibly thankful for these devotionals I get everyday. they encourage me, stretch me, validate what God is saying to me! I am just so THANKFUL!

  5. This is a great post! While I don’t have kids to keep me busy, I am in college. Which keeps me plenty busy, and distracted from God. How many mornings has my desire to sleep a half hour longer overruled my desire to get up and read from my bible or just talk with God? I think the answer is: too many.

  6. Thanks, Shelly, for this great reminder. I am just entering a three day weekend alone . . . will I choose the best ways to spend it or waste it?

    Congrats on being courageous and submitting your guest post.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

  7. Sheesh!! Shelly, I have been reading your Life On The Wild Side for a few months now. My wife gets your posts. I have enjoyed them very much. Mostly with humor as I can relate to some of the situations and conundrums that comes with being the parent of 3 teenage daughters. But now??I don’t know…you made me THINK more deeply about my relationship with my God. I was very comfortable where I was, but now…well, I guess that’s what being a Christian is all about…growing in your faith. And ya can’t grow if ya don’t think about it!! My wife says I don’t take hints very well. That I need a brick upside my head to get my attention.
    Well, thank you for the brick Shelly!!

  8. What a great thought to stop me in my tracks today-how would things be different if I pursued him as much as he pursued me? Thanks for sharing this and reminding me what following Christ should be like: a passionate pursuit!

  9. Woo-Hoo for posting on (In)Courage! I popped over from your regular blog and was really confused because I have both sites on my Blog List. Anyway, great post. Thanks for the important reminder. I’ve been pondering that a bit in my life. How far into my morning/afternoon do I get before I even think about God?

  10. Wow, great post! Something I too have been thinking about a lot lately and have been really struggling with. I do not want to be “lukewarm” in my faith and relationship with God, but finding that balance is a struggle. I guess that is why I also try and pray ‘little prayers’ throughout the day whenever I think about someone, something, whatever! Still hard to get in that much needed ‘quiet space’ so that I can actually listen to what God is saying to me.
    Thanks for the post!

  11. My dear friend, thank you for the reminder. There was a time when I woke up anticipating Jesus and His Word more than anything else. I thought I was going to die of cancer and He truly was my Sustainer.

    If only I would remember that we are all dying of sin without Him each day and would let that motivate me like you have tonight! Thanks!

  12. I was looking for a scripture for my post tomorrow…thanks for referencing that Psalm. It’s exactly what I was looking for.

    And I was excited to see you here! I don’t come by much and was thrilled you submitted. Yay!!!!

    I love you,
    Sandy

  13. Shelly, your words are such a gentle way for God to pierce my heart. 🙂 I don’t even know if I could say my intentions are even that great these days – and I think desiring as much as I need could be a big step in the right direction…