Oftentimes we have a genuine desire to reach a lost world and to serve God through our local church, but we lose sight of our first calling and assignment as parents and spouses; our own homes. It was never Jesus’ intention to build huge ministries and churches and forsake our own families. The good news is, it's never too late to make the necessary adjustments.
In a previous article, we mentioned that there must be repentance; acknowledging that you have been wrong even with good intentions. Then, intentionally invite Christ into your home. Don’t just assume He’s there. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (ESV). Surrender control and let Jesus truly be Lord of your home.
Practical steps that we can start doing TODAY:
- If you have small children at home, give them the opportunity to start a time of prayer in their own words. Children are quite spiritual, simple, and often get straight to the point.
- Learn together to listen to the Father. We're accustomed to always being on the move, always talking, but God gave us practical advice; “Be still, and know that I am God...” (Psalm 46:10, ESV). It is wonderful when we learn that prayer is like a two-way street; where we don't just talk; but also learn to listen. Provide time as a family to be still and listen.
- Enjoy “being” and not so much “doing.” There is a big difference between simply being together and being busy together. We mistakenly think that the more we do for God, He will love us more. This is neither biblical nor healthy. God loves us because we are His children and there is no greater privilege on this earth than to be called a child of God. In the same way, with our own children, we love them for who they are and not for what they do.
- Sit on the sofa at home with your children and enjoy their presence; simply watch them and listen to them.
- Impart blessing. Giving a blessing to our families is biblical and life-giving. The home is the first place where God invites us to impart blessing to our children and spouse. Use simple blessings from the Bible like Psalm 29:11, “The Lord gives His people strength; the Lord blesses His people with peace” (ESV). Start with your spouse. Look into each other’s eyes and affirm your love; do this in front of your children. Hug your children and bless them; to “bless” is to empower someone for success. Recognize those gifts, talents, and abilities that God has placed in each one.