By Mandy Kelly, Contributing Writer

When I was a single girl, I had lots of time on my hands. Oh, I made excuses that I was busy – and I was! The busyness of single-hood versus the busyness of being a wife, and a mom, are totally different.  Yet, the one thing I had time for as a single, became a passion, and that was studying the Word of God. It is a passion I have brought into my marriage, and my parenting.

My main tool right now for getting in the Word of God each day was found online. I got married a little over a year ago, and walked right into Motherhood. My sweet husband was a widow, and so he brought our three blessings into our marriage. It was quite the change, from being a single girl, to a wife and mom of three! I had lived in Florida, and moved up to South Carolina to keep my kids in the schools, and near family, they were used to. Yet, I was very lonely. That is when I found Good Morning Girls.

Good Morning Girls offers eight week reading plans right out of scripture. The reading plan usually consist of about a chapter a week- broken down into smaller parts to digest daily. We use the SOAP method of digesting scripture. SOAP stands for: Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. This method allows you to interact with the scriptures- NOT just read them! Good Morning Girls offers a downloadable journal that you can use- but many women just use a three ring binder! Here is the break down of the SOAP method

The SOAP Method

S – Write out the SCRIPTURE!

In today’s world, we have lost the hidden art of taking the time to write something down. We now depend on Verse of the Day Apps (which are wonderful!) – but they are nothing compared to the beauty of opening your actual Bible (oh what a blessing that you can hold one in your hands!) and writing the Words of Scripture for yourself. This will help you to MEDITATE and MEMORIZE as well!

O – Observation

What do you SEE in Scripture. Ask yourself “Who, What, When, Where, Why, How” What from the passage stands out to YOU!?!?!

A – Application

Now, here is the fun part! How are you going to take this scripture and apply it to your life as a wife, a mom, and most importantly, the Daughter of the King? What changes do I need to make in light of the passage I have read today?

P – Pray

it back to God! There is nothing MORE POWERFUL then praying the Word of God BACK to God! I love it when i tell my kids something, especially the older ones, and I hear them using it! If God said it in His Word- HE MEAN’S IT! Confess what you have learned, ask for God’s power to help you live it out, and THANK Him for what He has shown you!

Now, that’s the METHOD- but there is so much more! Good Morning Girls also offers Memory Verses, Digging Deeper Questions (Weekly), Apply It Questions (Daily)- and ACCOUNTABILITY!

The accountability through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Text Msgs, Emails, and Personal Groups is Amazing. You can get in with your very own group- you can lead one, or be a part of one! I personally host groups on Facebook, and we share photos on Instagram. It helps me know that other women are getting into the Word of God with me each morning, reading the same passage, and I get to read their insights and learn from what God taught them. PLUS…. as if all that isn’t enough: Three times a week there are blog post that tie into what you are reading, with a video post each Monday. Some group leaders, like me, do weekly post and video’s on their blogs so that ladies get even MORE teaching from God’s Word.

What might be the best part yet- is the children’s resources! Each session, we have resources that you can use with your WHOLE family- whether it is teaching your teenager to have time in the Word with the SOAP method, or doing hands-on, fun activities after you read the devotionals with the kids, Good Morning Girls have some GREAT resources each session for FREE for kids.

Did I mention Good Morning Girls is Free? All of our resources are free. Once a year, we offer a book study, where you might need to buy a book- but everything else is a free download!

Good Morning Girls takes me about 20 minutes in the morning. I do spend some time in the evenings with perosnal study for my own blog, and to help encourage my ladies, however, my personal time with God is about 20-30 minutes. It requires me getting up early, or staying up late, to make it happen. However, I know on days that I don’t get in Word, my husband and kids don’t get the best of me.