The first thing I can do as a Homemaker who wishes to bring glory and honor to God is to set the atmosphere in the home. As a homemaker I have the ability to make our home in a way that either steers my family closer to God or tears them away.
“The wife and mother in a family often ‘sets the tone’ in the home. The ‘tone’ God wants her to set is one of joy, optimism, and a delight in the Lord and in her family.” ~ Martha Peace, The Excellent Wife {Page 77}
Setting an Un-glorifying Atmosphere
As a homemaker we will never have a perfect house. There will always be dirty dishes in the sink and toys littering the ground. A home cooked meal may not be on the table by 6 o’clock and the laundry may go un-done for another week.
But those things shouldn’t be our goal of homemaking. Those things don’t mean you are failing at homemaking or bringing glory to God. Cleanliness is not next to godliness. You set an unglorifying atmosphere in your home by what is in your heart. You, as the wife and mother, set the tone in your house. Your husband and children would rather a happy and loving mother and wife and a messy house then a spotless house with a grumpy and nagging wife.
“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” ~ Proverbs 21:9
“The wife and mother who views life as a “cross to bear” influences the others in the home to think the same way. She easily robs everyone else of joy and like the yeast in the bread she bakes, her ungodly attitudes spread to everyone else.” ~ Martha Peace, The Excellent Wife {Page 77}
Steps to Creating a God Glorifying Atmosphere
Creating a God glorifying atmosphere starts with YOU. You can set the tone in your house by what you do and how you react.
1) Make Your Home a Haven
Make your house a place that your husband and children want to come home to. Find out what is important to your husband. My hubby would rather I be dressed with a little bit of make up on and candles lit than have all the laundry and dishes done. He wants to come home to a happy and loving wife.
And while this doesn’t happen everyday, since I have talked to him about it and know how he feels, I can better make the house a haven for him. Every husband and family will be different but what is it that makes your family feel comfortable? Make your home a place that your family can come home to to feel refreshed.
2) Make Your Home a Place to Focus on the Gospel
You can glorify God by making your home a place where your family can’t NOT think about God. Here are a few practical ideas:
- When you are cleaning, put on hymns of worship and praise.
- Let you children see you studying God’s word.
- Invite your children to ask questions and participate in Bible reading and praise.
- Create quiet and restful places where your family can take God’s word and read.
- Along with your husband initiate family reading times when each family member reads quietly to themselves.
- Make a habit of reading scripture and good books together {as a couple and as a family}
Conduct yourself and your home in a way that your family is constantly thinking about God and how they can serve Him!
3) Be motivated by humility and not by pride
Homemaking can be a point of pride for many women. I know that when I enter someone’s beautiful house it’s easy to let envy and pride take over my heart. I think that decorating your house can be for God’s glory but it all depends on your heart attitude.
Be motivated by humility to serve those who come into your house rather than pridefully showing it off. Try and cultivate humility in your thoughts and actions and this will come out in your homemaking.
Get to know what is relaxing to your husband and your children. Every family is different. Learn what relaxes them and shift your priorities to that. Make your home a place that your family wants to come home to. Be loving and welcoming when your husband gets home.
Make your home a place that the Gospel can flourish. Your home should be a jumping off point for the Gospel. Teach your children how to share the Gospel, encourage your family to read scripture, minister to those who come into your house through hospitality and you will be glorifying God in your homemaking.
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