My life goal is to create a home that makes it impossible to not think about God. This goal is daily on my mind and constantly on my heart.
Lately, I can be found muttering to myself about all the ways that I fail to make this goal a reality.
I have a laundry list of ways that I do not see this goal coming to fruition.
I do not have carpet and I’m living on plywood.
I am exhausted.
I am nursing a quickly growing boy.
I need a nap.
My hedges need trimmed.
There is soap scum on my shower doors.
Unfortunately, none of these things are truly the reason why my home is not reflective of God.
God is at work pruning my heart. He has revealed in large measures my laziness and my lack of care for others. I am chiefly concerned with my own agenda, and what serves the kingdom of Leigh Ann, more than what serves His kingdom and brings Him the most glory.
In order to create a home that makes it impossible to not think about God, it has to be impossible for me to not think about God.
I have a keen ability to think all the way around God. I can consider ways that we can live intentionally while forgetting altogether about the One who created me.
I can mull over ways in which I can teach the Gospel to Samuel while forgetting to preach the Gospel to myself every day.
I can take time to think about how I can bring nature into our home, or how I can create a garden around my doorstep to reflect God’s creativity and beauty without ever stopping to consider the One who I long to put on display.
Nevertheless, these – behaviors or good deeds – are all secondary matters. These are not heart changing, gospel-centered matters. What my home looks like on the inside or outside does not truly reflect a home that makes it impossible to not think about God.
What is reflective of a home that makes it impossible to not think about God is a woman who loves God in a contagious, over-flowing, never-stopping sort of way. It is in the attitude of this woman (me) that a home (my home) will be a little slice of heaven on earth.
How do I move from simply changing behaviors, which is only temporary-lacking in lasting change- to addressing the matters of my heart?
How to Create a Home that Make it Impossible to Not Think About God
1. Sit at the feet of Jesus.
I must be intentional about my time with God. God’s Word is the well-spring of life. It is in His word that I will grow in my understanding of who He is. I need His Word to permeate my heart and soul.
In order to spend time in the Word and quiet my heart, I must rise early or be faithful to do room time with my boys. There is no other time in my day that allows me unhurried time with the Lord.
Not to mention, this is the only time of my day when I am alert and awake, and able to retain any sort of extra information. This is the most important part of my day. I must hold it sacred, and I must protect this time.
Going to bed earlier and allowing myself a nap during the day will help me stay rested so that I can grow more intimate with my Heavenly Father.
2. Pray to the One who hears.
Daily I must empty myself before the Lord. I must kneel before His throne and plead for mercy and ask for grace for my day. I am an impatient, selfish woman. I need His help. I cannot do it alone. He hears our prayers and is inclined to answer our prayers. He is pleased to answer our prayers when we pray according to His will.
At the beginning of each day, and even throughout the day, I must quiet my heart before the Lord in prayer. I must allow Him to speak to my soul. I must allow Him to direct my path.
It is so easy to rise with the alarm clock of a hungry baby, and begin my day full force. I can jump head first into feeding the baby, washing the dishes, doing the laundry, cooking meals, writing for the blog, and checking email without ever once stopping to cry out to God for help-let alone praise Him!
Creating a home that makes it impossible to not think about God is hard.
It’s hard because it starts with me, a sinner. It starts with me being intentional to carve out time with the Lord each and every day so that I might depend on Him and His grace to fulfill these desires.
I cannot create a home that reflects God unless I know God. I cannot know God if I’m not pursuing Him and sitting at His feet listening to Him speak, teach, correct, encourage, exhort, and love.
With that, I think I will take advantage of this quiet and sit at the feet of Jesus – even if it is for only but a moment.
What about you? Do you find it hard to meet with Jesus on a daily basis when you have littles running around? What is your solution?
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In God’s sovereignty I just found your blog! This very post includes many things I have had on my mind lately as well. I know God is working on my heart in this area and He has encouraged me today as I have read your thoughts. I look forward to hearing how you continue strive to live this out each day, in God’s grace! Blessings, Kimberly
“He has revealed in large measures my laziness and my lack of care for others. I am chiefly concerned with my own agenda, and what serves the kingdom of Leigh Ann, more than what serves His kingdom and brings Him the most glory.” Yes, Yes!! I love the title of this post and it has really given me something to think about tonight and how I am going to instill this vision in our home. I should start winding down for bed, holding that morning time sacred really is the only way I get it in, too!
Thanks for quoting me. I needed the reminder! This one sentence mission “create a home that makes it impossible to not think about God” has been so helpful when I get overwhelmed or find myself complaining, etc.
I think that God really wants me to hear this. I have heard something along this line for a week now. One quiet time reading talked about orienting my life towards God. I like the idea of orienting myself in His direction. me, my home, my children can all be oriented with God as my ‘north’ and everything else exists in relation to him. thank you for sharing your heart.