Lately my husband and I have been driving by some ecstatically pleasing apartments. I have told him, “Look I really like those apartments.” He said, “just because it looks good on the outside that doesn’t reflect what could be on the inside.” Him saying this caused me to think deeper about what a home is meant to be like, who we are on the inside, and what it means to be good steward of what God give us. Have you ever been in a house that seems cold and uninviting? Unfortunately, I have been to houses like this and it makes me want to leave as soon as possible. On the other hand, homes that provide a more peaceful atmosphere make me feel like I want to stay as long as I can. Homes are meant to be a place in which you feel welcomed, at peace, and a space to warm your soul. A house seems more like a space that is empty, cold, and uninviting.
I have sat and pondered many times why it is that some homes can offer peace and some can’t. While pondering on this thought about homes. My friend Diana came to mind explaining how your car or house looks is a reflection of what is going on in your mind. During that time in my life I was going through so much mentally and emotionally that my room and car always looked like a mess. Once she said that I started being more aware and taking steps to deal with what was going on with my emotions and mind. This helped me to be more organized with my personal life and even organizing the things in my car and room. I share this because when there was no peace in my soul my spaces looked crazy. Eventually I started feeling better with everything around me and everything seemed more at peace.
Going back to what my husband said about, “Just because it looks good on the outside that doesn’t reflect what could be on the inside.” This makes me think about people. How many times have we met people that look good on the outside but yet the more you get to know them the more you realize you know what the inside is not as nice as the outside. Similar thoughts go into where we live, sometimes a home may look great on the outside but is it truly like that on the inside?
I recently heard of a couple who have a church, they began to open their home and invite couples to live with them. I thought to myself why would you do this? You have kids! Aren’t you worried about them and each other. Like what type of people are you bringing into your home? These where my own thoughts of fear. You see so many times we pray selfish prayers and ask God, “Lord bless me and give me more but when the time comes will we be a blessing when someone is in need?”
Austin and I are currently praying for the place we will call our home. When God answers our prayer, I hope it is a home where people feel welcomed, loved, and accepted. A home where they will experience Jesus and not chaos. A home where love runs deep and fear dies out. We are all humans in need of Jesus, a place to call home, and a safe place where we can continue to grow as the people Jesus wants us to be.
There are some great questions to think about your home:
Is this just a house or is this a home?
Is this a cold and uninviting house or is it a home that offers peace?
Is this a home where people feel welcomed and loved or where people want to leave as soon as possible?
Proverbs 3:33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
My prayer for you: May your home be a place of peace and not destruction, a place where love and peace abound. A place where God’s presence is present.
Isaiah 32:18
18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
Dayana Shiplett 