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Preparing for The Journey | Day One

ByMelissa Ringstaff
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to Day 1 of our series, From Chaos to Calm: 15 Weeks to a Happy Home. Today we’re getting ready to start this journey. I hope you’re as excited as I am! 

Preparing for this Journey - From Chaos to Calm 15 Weeks to a Happy Home: Day 1 @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Good morning, Ladies! I  hope you slept well last night. Are you ready to get your homes and hearts in order over the next 15 weeks? I am so excited about this series! I was really blown away by the number of women who commented and let me know they were planning to join the challenge when I announced it last week.

I know God is going to do a great work in your hearts and I’m anxious to see what happens!

From Chaos to Calm: 15 Weeks to a Happy Home @ AVirtuousWoman.org

From Chaos to Calm eBook

If you’ve been struggling with your home, your marriage, your children, or just life in general this might be the answer you have been waiting for! Inside the pages of this ebook you will spend 15 weeks working toward a goal for:

– peace in the heart
– peace in the home
– peace with our husbands
– peace with our children

From Chaos to Calm: Day One

Preparing for This Journey

Scripture Memory: “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” Psalm 107:28 – 30

As women striving to seek out God’s will for our own lives, is so important that we wake in the morning and humble ourselves before Him and ask Him to give us the strength we need to get through the day. So, this week’s challenge is having a morning prayer and devotion. I do believe that the morning is the best time of the day to get yourself in order. Just as our homes need organizing and maintaining, our hearts need order and maintenance as well.

So, I am setting my alarm for 6:00 a.m. each morning. My early morning routine is this:

  • Have my prayer and devotion.
  • Take my shower.
  • Take my morning walk.
  • Prepare breakfast.

By the time I have completed these four goals, my children begin to stir. I feel better and actually look forward to the peace in my house while it so quiet. I am able to gather my thoughts, plan my day, and most importantly, CHOOSE to live out my day with God’s purpose in mind.

Actions Steps to Take Today

  1. Prepare your prayer corner. Select a religious book on any theme that interests you. Have your Bible ready to read. Put together a prayer journal and a pen. Set out a candle and some matches. Get a box of Kleenex if your nose is stuffy.
  2. Download my free printable Prayer Journal (using the form below) to use during your worship time, if desired.
  3. Pray tonight. Ask God to give you the courage and the will to change those things in your life you need to change. Ask Him to give you energy in the morning when the alarm sounds.
  4. Go to bed as early as possible. A good night’s sleep always helps when you want to get up early. I suggest trying to go to bed between nine and ten o’clock. I know it is hard! BUT, the hours before midnight offer the best sleep – it’s been scientifically proven!

So, set your alarm, and get to bed at a decent hour. You’re getting up early!

Listen to the Podcast:

Press the play button or click here to listen.

From Chaos to Calm: 15 Weeks to a Happy Home is a daily devotion – Monday through Friday for 15 Weeks by Melissa Ringstaff. The Audio Podcast gives you extra ideas to go along with the email series or e-book.

Here’s an image you can use on your own blog… or Pinterest!

From Chaos to Calm: 15 Weeks to a Happy Home | A Virtuous Woman

What are you hoping to gain from this study? What chaos is in your calm?

Free Printable Prayer Journal

Be Still and Know Prayer Journal @ AVirtuousWoman.org
Be Still and Know Prayer Journal

How to Get the Printable

  1. Just fill out the form below and you’ll receive an email giving you instant access to this free printable.
  2. If you are already a subscriber, filling out the form won’t affect your subscription, but you will receive the link to get the printable!
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My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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127 Comments

  1. I hope to get a clearer mind to start my day. To give my whole day to Him, before it even starts. I also feel this will draw me closer to Him.
    Reply
    2. Hi Melissa, my name is Renata and I've been listening ur podcasts, just want to say that they've been a blessing to me, thanks indeed and God bless you
      Reply
  2. I have plenty of chaos so I'm hoping to gain some calm. ;) And discipline and to get back on track with morning devotions. :)
    Reply
  5. Hey Melissa, count me in. I mentioned the series on my blog, too. I need to get back to daily devotions, I did for so long. I've lost the self-discipline to maintain my prayer life. It's been months since I've been still with God. Looking forward to the next post. Peace & Strength, Leigh
    Reply
  6. Hello to everyone joining in on From Chaos to Calm. I've followed before and feel it really made a difference all round. I'm so looking forward to this year's event!
    Reply
  7. Hi, Thank you for the website I came across it from Pinterest and your scripture have blessed me with so many things that I did know where to find them. I love this website since the starting of the week and it feels as if God is talking to me in someways. Thank you so much Lucy
    Reply
  8. hi i came across this by looking up proverbs 31 and the i read abov ur chaos and calm so that really hit home. So i felt blessed with just the first day.
    Reply
  9. I am so thankful I came across your website, it brought me to tears reading 10 Virtues of Proverbs, and I know that I really need to work on all of them... some more than others. I have alot of chaos in my life, and not a whole lot of calm, and I want to switch those two up.
    Reply
  10. I had just came across this today and I am grateful as I have thought about a way in which I need to get my home in order instead of seeming like things are so out of place. As far as what I hope to get out of this study; I just hope to feel more at peace as well as see my inner self connect more with God. I hope to form a habit of "seeking God first" each day before the busyness of motherhood comes throughout each day. Right now what seems chaotic is the fact that my mornings start with kids and other duties as a single mother and I also lack the energy to do other tasks that I need to perform; as if my energy for such things have been taken away and my desire for others have decreased yet in my heart it is still there. I am also just getting out of a period of depression that all this has brought, so there are plenty of things that I know that God is at work in and I am thankful that He has a plan as well as has led me here.
    Reply
  11. So glad I found this study and website. You are truly an inspiration and I am very excited to start my journey alongside you. Ordered the devotion I want to follow alongside this challenge today at lifeway!!! Jenna
    Reply
  12. I've been trying to subscribe to the From Chaos to Calm series by email. All the links seem to be broken. Please help. This looks like an amazing journey that I'd like to take.
    Reply
    1. Hi Tiffanie, currently the From Chaos to Calm series is only available on the website. Unfortunately, the email series has been discontinued for now. I apologize because I thought I had taken down all the links to the email series. So sorry! However, From Chaos to Calm will be coming out on Kindle soon and perhaps as an audio book. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll come back soon!
      Reply
      1. I was having trouble figuring out how to access the rest of the series as well. I see up to day 47 but then am unclear of how to see the remaining days. Could totally just be "user error" though! :) Is it best just to start the series and in January purchase the kindle book?
  13. I have just come across this website...and it came just in time. I need to learn a lot...I have made terrible mistakes and now I am separated from my hubby. I hope with all that I learn here...I can be able to bring my family back together again and live a different and happy life going forward. Thank you for this. God Bless you!!!
    Reply
  14. Melissa, I want to do this challenge, however, I have one little snag in the getting up early area. My Beloved wkes up and wants me to cuddle with him for the 30 minutes or so before the alarm goes off, and while I love that man dearly--my body is wanting to get up and get going, and my mind is spinning with ideas and things to do. What can you suggest?
    Reply
  15. My alarm goes off at 5..509...518.. until i finally pull myself out of bed at 530 for work to be out the door by 630 - which usually turns into 645 and I am late for work and starting off my day poorly. I have so much chaos within my growing family (one son; cooking another) I hope to find some calm to help my family become a family again.
    Reply
  16. I hope to get my home to where it would be pleasing onto the Lord. Let peace reign in my home. Thank you Melissa for sharing!
    Reply
  17. God is Good!! I love to see a group of women busy in the things of God, im starting this tom & but my question is how do you you stay consistent?
    Reply
  18. I came across this and I am going to try to start it tomorrow. Getting up early is difficult since I have a newborn, and 3 other little ones (4, 3, & 1). But my life is so full of chaos that I know God and my husband cannot be pleased. I hope to get on the right track through this study. I definitely need all the strength the Lord will give me! Thank you so much for this!
    Reply
  19. Thank you for taking the time to put this together for us. I am starting this journey now because I believe that proverbs 31 is God's best for me and I through him want to attain it. Amen.
    Reply
  20. Thank you for putting this together. I think I need the community to keep me steady. Getting up early will be a bit hard for a nightowl in my late 50's. I may not choose to get up at 6am but I will definitely begin to craft an early morning routine which includes morning devotions. You are totally right. When we put God in the place He belongs, the center, everything else falls into place. My biggest longings are for sanity and sobriety, which is just my way of classifying a peaceful mind and heart, one "stayed on Him." I keep getting pulled off course by demands on my time and resources and before I know it I'm bogged down and feeling miserable. My life verse if from Proverbs: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your path straight." After almost 28 years as a Christian I am finally getting the message that try as I might, I can't fulfill that verse on my own. I need His help. Every day.
    Reply
  21. Hey Melissa, Thank you so much for this encouraging devotional. I am so excited to work on this series and bring some calm into my home!
    Reply
  22. Hi Melissa, what a blessing to find this series. I look forward to bringing calm to my home & family. Thank you so much.
    Reply
  23. I've posted before, on your 10 virtues post. I've decided to do your "chaos to calm study" as part of my morning devotional. I need you to know how very MUCH you have ministered to me. I don't have a lot of girls in my church that are my age, newlyweds, or new moms and I just have trouble relating with so many of them. I needed this. You have no idea how much I wish I could take you out for coffee anf have a good old fashioned chat. I am learning so much. I studied each of the virtues and the posts you included with them over a 10 day period and I've changed. My whole life has changed. My hus and would attest to it. I'm so thankful God let me find you. Thank you for being obedient and sharing your life with us. I wish you were my neighbor.
    Reply
  24. I am looking for a closer relationship with my Father in Heaven. I am also looking to be a better ME!!!!! Once these two things improve I will be a better wife, mother, sister and friend.
    Reply
  25. Your website is lovely. I look forwards to reading more of your insights and looking forwards to seeing how this turning Chaos to Calm in 15 days thing works out for me. Hope that you have a peaceful and satisfying day. Thank you for your creation!
    Reply
  27. I am a weary mama. I have two young boys, almost 4 and 9 months. I have a puppy, and my husband was recently diagnosed with ADHD. I used to be a teacher/ working mom and am now homeschooling my older son. Many days I feel as if I'm the only one holding things together for my fam and it's a lot of pressure and driving me to feeling insane. I am looking forward to the practical tips I can implement in my life that will help me maintain peace and calm within myself and in my home.
    Reply
  28. Hi Melissa, I have just recently found your website! I was reading Proverbs 31 and during our family situation now I have really wanted to try to have a better attitude, be a better mother to my children and a better wife to my husband. So I got online and just Binged " Virtuous Women" and your website popped up. I haven't heard of it before. But after subscribing to your newsletter I am hooked! I love it! It has already begun to encourage me and that is really what I need right now. I have been a "House wife" for a year now and I have three children 3. 5 and under. Our house has been under a full renovation with an addition larger than the original house, that my husband and I have been doing by ourselves. My husband is a full time Paramedic and full time student. Crazy! Yeah well, we decided to homeschool our 5 year old as well. While juggling everything I feel super lost with homeschooling and I think that this Chaos to calm would be a great help to me and my family. So here it goes!
    Reply
  29. I'm so glad I found your site. I need that time in the morning, it's impossible for me. My kids are up at 4:30 to get to school, my husband at 4:00 if he is working days, and if he works nights he is home at 6 am not long after the last of the school age kids leaves. Then I have two more, my grandkids that we are raising,, ages 4 and 1. The 1 year old has a sensory processing disorder. Just to get everything done in the home, I am up a 4 and not in bed until 12-1:30. You can imagine how unraveled I feel.
    Reply
    1. OH, Emmy, you must be exhausted! My heart goes out to you. You NEED more sleep than 3 or 4 hours every night. You'll end up sick and/or burned out. What time do the little ones get up in the morning? Do you take a nap during the day? I'd love to help you figure out how to manage your time better so you can take care of yourself! God bless you! :)
      Reply
  30. My hopes are to be able to organize not only my home, but my mind. To take time to slow down enough to feel like I'm living each day to it's fullest. So excited!!!
    Reply
  31. thabk you so much. My babysitter sent me this pin because she knows how I need calmness in our lives and not the chaos. I'm learning to trust God and seek him for everything. I know your blog will help me with that devotion time I'm only able to get in the car when all the kids are strapped in their seat;) I'm looking forward to some alone time with the Lord. I homeschool my oldest who is six and have a three your old and a year and a half old. Looking forward to this series. Blessed love.
    Reply
  32. Thank you for starting the 15 week program! I know I didn't find this website by mistake! I have been experiencing so much chaos for the past few months and God says it's enough and it's time to bring peace and restoration back into my life. The most devistating thing that could ever happen to a wife is for her husband to leave her. The statistics are overwhelming in today's society. I am heart broken to say that I am now apart of that statistic. I find it hard to maintaine balanced home for my sixteen year old since I am constantly working to make ends meet. But I know beyond a shadow of doubt that my marriage will one day be restored. Until then I am taking every step forward to becoming a Proverbs 31 woman.
    Reply
  33. Hi Melissa. It is strange how the day that I start to do the chaos to calm series, is the day filled with the most chaos. I completely missed the target yesterday. Will start a new today. I know it is what God wants me to do, and I want to break trough in this. I will need a lot of grace for this. Thank you for your encouraging words. You are a blessing. Annchen
    Reply
  35. Just found this devotion. I think its perfect for getting my new year started on the right track. I am having a lot of different choases at this time in my life and family. Ready for a calm in my storms.
    Reply
  36. I'm excited to start this much needed journey, and can't wait to see the how The Lord will work in my journey
    Reply
  38. Can I find these on the podcast app? I found your Proverbs 31 woman podcast, but not this particular series.
    Reply
    1. Chandra, I believe they should be there. I have not finished the series of podcasts, so you'll only fin around 20 or so I think. They were so time consuming for me to make - about 2 -3 hours for the 10 minutes - I ended up not finishing them, but hopefully I'll get to it one of these days!
      Reply
  39. Good Morning, My name is Amanda. I pray that this will help me decrease the chaos, increase the calm in my home and bring me and my family closer to our lord. I find it easier for me to have a better day, when I know that I have been able to have a chance to sit down quietly, talk to him, pray, read. I know he's listening. I know he's with us everyday. thank you and God Bless.
    Reply
  40. Good morning! I somehow stumbled onto this 15 Weeks from Chaos to Calm on my phone and I would LOVE to know how to get my hands on an ebook or printable of this. I'm having a hard time Accessing it clearly on my phone. This is just what I need - thank you!!
    Reply
  41. I am also anxious for an ebook or downloadable version also. I have only been able to download PDF files through day 46, The rest of the days do not seem to have a downloadable version. I am anxious to share this with a friend who is somewhat isolated, lives in an area without internet access, and I know would benefit from your inspired words.
    Reply
  42. Hi Melissa, I just want you to know how much this series has helped me and other ladies at our church get closer to God, families and take care of our home. It actually caused us to get up and do the things recommended , like buy a beautiful journal that I recently replaced because the other one was filled up. I thank you for your sacrifice in taking the time to do this work for the Lord and us ladies, you truly are a blessing. I am excited to do the series again.
    Reply
  43. I'm so excited about this challenge! I'm getting married in October and have been feeling a bit blown around in the wind with all the busyness and change over the last few months... a year if I'm honest. This challenge feels like the perfect step to getting back to what is important and I was reassured that your first day is about setting aside quiet time. Exactly what I felt the Lord telling me I needed :) Thanks for your hear and for putting this together!
    Reply
  45. I hope to gain peace in my family and my life and that this will help us to reach to God in our struggles instead of no solution or quick fix. And begin a healthy routine. Sometimes each one of us have goals but need different things to motivate us this is my motivation to peace and understanding in my struggles and I plan on sharing with my husband and my daughter. Thank you bless you all in your own situations and most of all thank you lord for placing this opportunity in front of me it let's me know I'm on the right path and I'm being guided. Amen.
    Reply
  46. I am so excited about this! I have tried to do chaos to calm by myself several times and did not have the stamina and am very excited to have this group working through it with me. My struggle is walking up early but every time I do I always feel better. I also just moved into a house for the first time and believe in routines but I'm quite overwhelmed. I know this will help me focus on what is important and get everything else in perspective and create the right routines. Thanks Melissa for doing this series again!
    Reply
    1. Virginia, I'm so glad you're joining in. Isn't it funny how we can realize how much better we feel when we do certain things - like wake up early or have daily devotions, etc.? But implementing those things into our routine is a different story and it can be overwhelmingly hard. Let me know how things go for you!
      Reply
  47. I'm so excited. My younger sister said that your unclutter 30 days would help me. I have a TBI. so I have a hard time remembering and then I get upset. The latest dr report was not to do any "housework". So I became very angry, frustrated, and determined to adjust house keeping to me. THERE YOU WERE A BLESSING FROM OUR FATHER. PRAISE THE LORD. I LOVE IT ALREADY. I already get up early so getting a prayer chair space is what I'm doing. Thank you.
    Reply
  48. I am hoping to learn more self-control. Sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me and I know that I am not honoring God. I want to be a light for my family. I am mom to 5 so there definitely a lot of chaos in our home!
    Reply
  49. I start my day with prayer to do God's will in God's ways. But I have trouble staying focused with one thing when I see something else that needs my attention. At the end of the day I haven't finished anything, but have done a lot of little things. I used to not be this way. I know this is not what god wants, so I feel like I have failed. I hope to learn to stay with one thing until it's done. Thanks, Melissa for doing this series. Linda
    Reply
  50. Hello, I am excited to do this challenge; our household is desperately in need of this sort of help! Thank you so much for all you do!
    Reply
  51. I am looking forward to making changes and bringing calm toy overwhelming chaos! This came at such a good time, I had just prayed God would guide my feet to somewhere I could find some peace!
    Reply
  52. I have had a morning pattern for years. It started when I was homeschooling my now-adult children. I stay with it EVERY day -- weekends, on vacation, at a conference. Sometimes when I'm speaking at a conference, I have to get up a little earlier, but the routine stays the same. God's Word and prayer start my day .... no matter what.
    Reply
  53. I just heard about this website today and I'm excited to see what God has to say. I have shared this website with friends. There are a lot of broken women all over the world and we need this. I thank God for using you to do his purpose.
    Reply
  54. I signed up last week and I am already off to a bad start. I forgot about it and did not see the e-mail until tonight. :( Already feeling over whelmed and playing catch up!
    Reply
    1. Hi Rene! I talked about not getting discouraged in one of my videos. :) Just because things don't go as planned - it's not the end of the world and it doesn't mean you're a failure. Breathe deep and pray for peace. God will fight for you! Exodus 14:14.
      Reply
  57. I've just recently discovered your sight from Pinterest! I love the planner! Only the Lord knows how badly I need this study! It is speaking directly to my heart and situation right now! Looking forward to it!!!
    Reply
  58. Hi Melissa! I´m so happy to have found your website! I admire your proactive attitude, planners and suggestions! So, I´m starting today the 15-week journey, which I consider an answer to a prayer I have been doing for some time. I work an 8-hr home-office day, so sometimes I find it very hard to be organized, to find disposition and focus. As well, I´m a foreigner (I´m Argentinean but I live in Recife, Brazil), so I´m far away from my family and most of my friends, and my working routine makes me feel very lonely sometimes... So, I loved being able to see you “in person” at the video, as it is a better way for me to follow the journey. A nice journey to everyone!
    Reply
    1. Aw, thanks for sharing that with me, Mariana. I'm still trying to not feel awkward doing the videos, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. I know what it's like to be lonely and far away from family. It's hard sometimes! I'm glad you're here!
      Reply
  59. I just stumbled on your blog on Pinterest while looking for an organizer. I am a week late in starting the study. Finding your blog is another example of God's perfect timing!
    Reply
  60. hi Melissa,i just stumbled on this today because i googled 'a virtuous woman". hope am not too late to start mine cos i guess its finished. i am a Nigerian and live in Lagos Nigeria.i am having serious chaos in my marriage and i hope this series brings me the calm i need. i really need peace right now. i have emotional,financial,physical and spiritual challenges.God help me. thank you for this platform!
    Reply
  61. I am a little late to this, but just came across your site and I am excited about this journey! I know it is in God's perfect timing for my life right now! Thank you for all the work you have put into this!
    Reply
  62. I am very excited to start this! I feel like I have let not only my patience with my family go but my relationship with God at times, most of the time, has been a struggle. I can't tell you how happy I am to start this!
    Reply
  63. Hi Melissa, I'm not sure if you check post on this series but I didn't know how eles to get In touch with you. I love this series, it is truely life changing. I am about to start teaching a young ladies class and would love to use this series but make it my own and add some things to it. Would that be okay. I would love to use this series as a building block to teach and help so many other young women to become closer to God and fulfill God's will and purpose. Please let me know if you would mind.
    Reply
    1. Hi Austin, I would love for you to use the series, but if you do use the series you need to use it without altering it. This series is copyrighted and I have a course based on this series coming out soon. Please give proper credit if you use any of my material. :) If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
      Reply
  64. I found this podcast through pintrest while searching for devotional podcasts for women. I hoped that it would be fitting based on the title and description. After watching the first video, though, I wasn't sure.before I devote 15 weeks to this I'd like to get some guidance towards what would truly help. I have just come out of a very horrible 10 year marriage that was based in the world and became very toxic. During this time I walked, or rather slowly slid away from my relationship with God. My life was filled with so much chaos that I felt like I was drowning. Now that I'm single again I want to rebuild that relationship with God so that He will guide and shape my future relationships (and my future in general). All of that being said, it seems like this might be geared more toward married women With children.if this is true could you suggest something l that would work well for me? If my understanding is misguided let me know and I'll jump in with both feet. Thanks for your assistance! Tiffany in TN
    Reply
    1. Hi Tiffany! I'm so sorry to hear about your trying marriage. The series, From Chaos to Calm has about 5 posts out of the 75 that directly pertain to marriage. There are a few that pertain to moms. But the majority of the posts would work for anyone single or married. Only about 41 {I think} of the posts have podcasts and only 5 {I believe} have videos. My daughter has Crohn's disease and after I began making the videos she ended up being in the hospital off and on for the last few months and I just couldn't do any more videos. If you have any other questions, please let me know!
      Reply
  66. I happened upon your site the week of my 46th Birthday (9-29) while looking for ideas to build a personal planner that makes sense to me. Amazing how God will take you where you need to be even when you think you are looking for something else. I am going to give this 15 week challenge a try because the organized chaos that is my life is not as organized as i think. Terrie
    Reply
  67. I tried this devotional about 6 years ago as a newly married woman and didn’t stick with it, but always wanted to finish ever since. Three kids later, I am ready to try again and so excited!
    Reply

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