What makes a home a haven?
Does it have to look like itpopped out ofBetter Homes and GardensMagazine with unbelievable decorating?
Is it a certain number of square feet, a separate bedroom for each child, or the neighborhood you live in?
No. It is not the things we have or the things we do not have that make our homes a haven.
It’s YOU!
You are the key to making your home a haven.
Which home do you live in?
Home #1
In this home, the woman of the home is distant and distracted. She is pulled into her computer, television, books, or text messages and it’s hard for the family to connect with her. Her calendar is very full and her daily demands are so high it’s hard for her to focus and live in the moment with her husband and children. She is often late and rushing everyone and feeling guilty about being distracted but stuck in this rut of feeling overwhelmed and too busy.
She is crabby. She is short on sleep, she hasn’t had a minute alone in yearsand she really can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel to get a break. She is hopeless.
She is discontent. She doesn’t like her home. She doesn’t like her husband. She doesn’t like one or all of her kids. She doesn’t like her church. She doesn’t like her neighbors. Truthfully, she doesn’t even like herself.
She doesn’t pray. It’s counter cultural. She’s never lived in a home with a mom who prays. She doesn’t know other moms who pray. She wants to try praying but doesn’t know where to begin so she never begins.
Home #2
The woman of the home is engaged. She is aware of what everyone is doing right in that moment. If a child needs help or correction – she is right there to give it. If her husband needs a hug or a listening ear she is right there to care. She is playful and makes time to play checkers or read a book out loud with her family.
Sheis wise with her time management.She guards her family from getting so busy that they lose their connection with each other. She dissects her calendar and eliminates things that are unnecessary. She is prepared when it is time to go somewhere to alleviate the stress that comes from late minute rushing.
Shehas a pleasant demeanor. She does not stay up late watching television, reading, surfing the web or working. She goes to sleep at a reasonable hour so she can wake cheerfully for her family. She knows that some seasons of life are harder than others so she is patient with her season of life and is confident that she will reap what she has sown. She works diligently trusting God with the results of her labor.
She is content. She knows that no home, husband, child, church or neighborhood is perfect. So she chooses to be content with what God has given her for today.
Sheprays. She knows that she is weak but God is strong and that she cannot fulfill the role of wife, mother, homemaker and sometimes employee, on her own strength. She is completely dependent on God and practices this dependence by daily praying for all of these things.
She walks in the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22,23
Life is not a bowl of cherries. We all long to live in Home #2 but Home #1 is hard to escape.
It is very easy to become frazzled, frustrated and foolish with my words and actions.
I know that within my own strength, I cannot be peaceful and patient.
This is where Christ changes everything.
We do not have to be perfect to please God. Hear me on this…If you have lost your temper and have lost your way, take heart. Jesus loves us no matter what we do good or bad. His death on the cross means….he meets us right where we are. Sinners in need of grace.
But we don’t want to stay where we are. As we mature in Christ, we want to move forward by repenting of our sins this past week and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit this coming week.
Making our home a haven won’t happen by accident. We must seek and pursue it.
We must be intentional!
While many things that happened in your home this past week may have felt out of your control, there was this one constant.
God.
He was there with you.
And the flicker of our candle on the counter morning, noon and night reminds us – there is a God who loves us that we can turn to over and over and over with our worries, fears, stress and struggles.
Week 1 – CHALLENGE:
Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning but you can start yours at dinner time or whenever is convenient for you. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home.
Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace and patience within your home.
Let’smake our homes feel more like a warm hug than a cold shoulder this week!
Chime In:
Are you taking the challenge? What is your home and season of life like right now and what sort of changes are you praying God brings to your home?
Walk with the King,
*To see the list of weekly challenges, go to this post here.
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