The Unexpected Key to a Peaceful Home (It's Not Your Routine)
Imagine a woman whose routines are perfect. She’s got a calendar that functions seamlessly, home cooked dinner on the table at 5 pm each night, laundry done, toilets scrubbed…check, check, check.
But, her family walks on egg shells half the time. She is usually at the mercy of her hormones, and her mood is contingent on whether or not the day has gone according to her plan. She typically has a good reason for her ugly disposition and attitude. It was a hard day. She didn’t sleep enough. The house was chaotic. The children were difficult.
But hey, the tasks got done!
Some semblance of structure in the home is absolutely important for a family to thrive. We are called to learn to steward our time and homes well, because this glorifies God and blesses others, when done in faith.
And let’s face it, we all want a peaceful home. But is a perfect rhythm or routine going to do it? Is that enough? In today's video, I talk about the unexpected key to a peaceful home, and (spoiler alert) — that's not it.
This Week's Takeaway
You know, it's funny how when I teach on a topic, the Lord tends to test me in that very thing. And today, I’ll be honest. I failed miserably. I was reactive and ungracious, and so I did not set the tone for a warm home for part of the day. I’m so grateful that the Lord is patient (despite my impatience), and that there is forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ.
At the same time, I write this today as encouragement to others and as a reminder to myself of what I know to be true. A significant piece of having PEACE in the home often (though not always) boils down to mom's attitude and her response to life’s circumstances.
There is some truth to "if momma ain't happy, nobody's happy" — but not in a way that we should be proud of. It's nothing to chuckle about, as if it's a claim to the power that we can wield with our emotions.
I would dare to say that the majority of women sin in this way at some point in their motherhood, so I am not talking about the occasional mess up here. But when a woman is characterized by this kind of emotionally tyrannical behavior, it is more likely that she reflects the foolish woman in Proverbs who tears down her home.
All this to say, in reality, we do have power to set the tone in the home, for better or for worse. And it’s natural, in our flesh, to tear down because of our sin. So the question then becomes, how can we increasingly become like the godly and wise woman who builds, rather than tears down the home?
The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. -Proverbs 14:1
This is not an exhaustive list, but I've found three principles from God’s word that consistently move me in this direction.
Embrace God’s calling on your life. Resisting the role that God has you in is a definite way to bring discontentment and joylessness. Embrace the good works that He’s given you to walk in, with gratitude, and do them wholly as unto the Lord (1 Cor 10: 31; 1 Thess 5:18). Choosing to say yes whole heartedly while practicing gratitude is a great way to fight against a grumbling, discontent spirit.
Walk in repentance. It's not if we sin and screw up here, it's when. And Christ came to free us from the sin that robs us of our joy. So when it happens, simply repent and be free from this burden of sin that you carry. It was laid on Christ on your behalf, so that you can be free from it and walk in His forgiveness and mercy. When we walk in repentance, we are being renewed and transformed from glory to glory.
Practice. We ought not be hearers only, but doers of the word (James 1:22). It's not enough to think "I should do X." As I always say — we've got to get specific! What will you do differently to walk the thing out in faith? To work out what God has worked in?
May we all go further up and further in, and away from our fleshly proclivities with the help of His Spirit. I expound on this a bit more in this week’s video, so go check it out at the link below if you want to hear more!
