Abiding in Christ: The Root of a Fruitful Christian Home

When I first became a mom and homemaker, I struggled (to say the least). At the time, I only focused on the heart, not how to practically make things better. This didn't help get dinner on the table, which contributed to the anxiety that bubbled up each evening (that anxiety I would pray God would help me with…).

Some have the opposite issue and go straight to hunting for the right planner or routine to help them manage their homes, forgetting the heart (AKA, not regularly spending time with the Lord or addressing their own sin that contributes to the chaos).

As Christian women, we need to avoid the pendulum swing (prayer closet vs. habits), and remember that abiding in Christ is the very source of our life, and it infuses into every nook and cranny of our practical day-to-day lives (like how we steward our homes).

(She) Is Like a Tree

Blessed is the (woman) … whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law (she) meditates day and night. (She) is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that (she) does, (she) prospers.
–Psalm 1:1–3

If we want to have fruitful homes and prosper in our homemaking, it starts at the roots. In John 15, Jesus tells us that He is the vine, and we are the branches, and we all know that a branch falls dead on the ground if it is not connected to the source. The leaves shrivel up, the branch has no more life to give, and its only use at that point is kindling for a fire (or for the imagination of a little boy who wants to play sword fight).

Yet, He promises that if we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit, to the glory of God. And as the keepers of the home, if we bear fruit by sinking our roots into the Maker of heaven and earth, it directly affects the fruitfulness of our homes (because this is what we put our hands to each day).

She Flourishes & Grows Like a Cedar of Lebanon

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
–Psalm 92:12–15

Did you know that Cedars of Lebanon are precious and greatly valuable trees? They grow up to 120 feet tall and 30–50 feet wide, with branches stretching even wider to provide shade for anyone who would sit underneath. They are known to have roots that reach deep into the soil for water.

King Solomon filled the temple with the Cedar because it was known to repel pests, resist decay, and be incredibly durable (they can last 1,000–3,000 years). The oils that repel insects are also pleasantly fragrant.

Scripture compares the righteous to the Cedars of Lebanon: deep-rooted, unshakable through adversity, planted by the Lord, fragrant with the aroma of Christ, and fruitful in ways that glorify God and bless those around us.

The woman who prioritizes sitting at the feet of Jesus each day and drinking deeply from His wells will surely flourish and grow like the Cedar of Lebanon.

Bearing Fruit in Every Season

Whatever season we are in, remember this vision of a deep-rooted, flourishing, fruitful Cedar that is planted and tended to by God. Let this inspire you to get up each day, open your Bible, and sit at the feet of Jesus in faith, knowing He is waiting to be gracious to you.

Or, if you're in an especially intense season with little time and sleep, perhaps you can write down a verse on a card and put it where you will see it regularly and meditate on it throughout the day and night. His word never returns void but gives us life as we take it into our hearts and minds. The promises are just so glorious for those who would come and stretch out their roots each day to drink deeply from the Lord.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit…
–John 15:5

The Lord loves you, so draw near and enjoy His nearness, refreshing grace, and new mercies that give you the strength you need to steward your home each day.

A Practical Next Step

Something I’ve noticed is that whether I’ve been sitting at the feet of Jesus shows up pretty quickly in how I respond to my children.

In this Q&A video, I share what Jeremy and I have learned about first-time obedience, plus a dinner table rhythm we call Trials and Treasures. And at the end, I share some changes coming to The Rooted Home Podcast.

Free Workshop: When Your Home Feels Like It's Running You

If your home has been feeling like it's running you, I made a free workshop for exactly that. I walk you through finding the one area that's draining you the most and building one simple rhythm around it, and there's a workbook to go along with it so you can work through it step by step. → You can find the free workshop here.