. . . to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

There are countless blogs, tv shows, and podcasts devoted to keeping one’s home aesthetically pleasing and stylish. There is no shortage of advice on hacks for cleaning or designing to make a home beautiful in every space. We are drawn to the idea of making the place we spend the most time attractive to us and others. But what about the content in our home? Do we treat those with the same care and attention? Often, we are on our best behavior outside our home but our behavior inside the home may not match. We consider our homes as places we can sit back and relax from the pressures of the world. While our homes should be places of rest, they are not void of our calling.

Ephesians 5:18-21 says, “And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.” Does this describe your home? Is it marked by the Holy Spirit at work in words of encouragement and praise to God? Is it marked by the supernatural love of God? All our decorations and best designs will fade, but the testimony of our home is the way we glorify God in daily life and has an eternal impact. This is a great blessing and a high calling only possible through the Holy Spirit.

• Who are the people in your home right now? What is your attitude toward each of them? What are some intentional steps of love and encouragement you can make toward them?
• Why does your attitude in your home matter? What would it look like to live in a way that glorifies God?
• Pray and thank God for your home and your family. Ask Him to help you as you invest in them and seek to glorify Him in your home.