Home Sweet Home

Sometimes Jeff and I like driving through the neighborhoods nearby in which the homes are, well, out of our price range! We like to just look at the beauty and gawk at the size of the home, the beautiful land surrounding them, and talk about how nice it would be to live in one of them. One day a couple weeks ago, we decided to go for a drive around one of the neighborhoods. As we drove through, staring at the gorgeous homes, I began to feel very convicted. How dare I envy someone else's home when God has provided us with the home He has? I asked Jeff if we could please go home and explained my feelings. He agreed, and we haven't been back.

Now, please don't misunderstand me; I am not at all saying that looking at houses is a sin. I am saying that losing sight of what builds a home and becoming discontent with what the Lord has provided for you and your family most definitely is a sin. As soon as I lost sight of the fact that the home we have ''built" wasn't good enough and began 'wishing' we had one of these mansion homes, I was immediately convicted by the Lord and brought back to the Truth (thank you Jesus for that!).

You see, enormous sized kitchens, granite counter tops, and only the best furniture from Ethan Allen and decor from Pottery Barn do NOT build a home. The Lord says that in Proverbs 24 that Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge are what builds a home. For reference, this is the specific verse I spent time meditating on today (I study out of NKJV):

"Through wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all pleasant and precious riches." ~Proverbs 24:3-4

-Wisdom refers to the ability to take the knowledge we have about God concerning life and applying it in a practical and successful way. This includes wisdom about godly marriages, raising children, finances, friendships...all of it! Taking what we know as the Truth about the Lord and applying it, daily, in our homes. It takes this wisdom to build a godly home-period.

-Understanding refers to discernment. The ability to be discerning in building relationships is so crucial. We need to be able to discern who is allowed into our lives, the lives of our children, and who we allow into our homes. This includes who on the television and radio we invite into our homes. One of the things mentioned by Courtney Joseph in Women Living Well was that her parents did not allow her to watch movies rated over PG. Her mother explained it as, "If you wouldn't watch a couple having sex on the couch in the living room of our house, why would we want to watch it on T.V.?" It makes sense to me! We just need to be able to have this understanding, this discernment, to build a strong foundation in our homes.

-Knowledge about God enables a woman to fill her home and relationships with "pleasant and precious riches" as the verse states. A woman with knowledge about the Lord can encourage and support her husband, lead her children, and be an absolute light in her home and daily life.

These are the building blocks; this is what builds a home. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or a 5,000sq ft mansion on 40 acres, you do not have a godly home without these attributes as the foundation. The wonderful thing is, it is not too late to begin applying this verse and using these tools to tear down the old ratty ways and rebuild, doing it God's way. Trust me, I know it's possible from experience! The Lord has helped me rebuild my home, and let me tell you, we started from scratch! Oh but my God is faithful! He has held my hand every step of the way, and placed a covering over my home, holding it up for me until I could catch up on building it His way. It's truly His way, or NO WAY, isn't that the truth?? How many times does it take for us to realize that our way DOES NOT WORK! LOL!! <3

He just loves you so much. So, so, SO much! He wants you to have a home built on wisdom, understanding, and knowledge so that you may live more like Him! It is truly life changing when you begin to walk with Him, really listening to everything He has to say.

I want to encourage you to read Proverbs 24:3-4 for yourself today. Maybe write the verse down on a few sticky notes and put it on a few walls in your home that you walk by frequently. Then begin to pray that God tear down the walls of your home and guide you as you begin to rebuild His way; He's there, all you need to do is be obedient and ask! <3

Blessings on your day!
<3 Kaila