Creating a joy-filled home doesn’t mean you run around singing and dancing all day. It is a Christian household that puts God first and invites Him into every part of your daily routine. As a mom, we have the incredible job of bringing God’s joy into our space as the foundation for peace within our walls!
Houses are built with concrete, wood and brick. Drywall is put up, paint is applied and flooring is laid down. The physical needs of a family are met. There is a roof over their head and protection from the wind and cold.
Great! But how do we take the four walls of a house and make it into a home that is filled with God’s joy and peace?
God instructed men to be the head of the household. To make decisions and lead. But it is women who are the heart of the home. Typically it is women who spend the most time within the walls of their house. Especially in the early days of parenting when they are with their babies, loving them, caring for them and nurturing them.
It also means that women are the ones who are laying the foundation for a joy-filled Christian home. Their presence within the space can change the way a family functions and how children are raised.
A mom’s behaviour will affect the behaviour of those around her.
The Pressure is Real!
Okay, let’s pause for a second, in case you felt a little bit of anxiety at the thought of being responsible for the way your home functions.
The first two years postpartum can be filled with raging hormones and in many ways, you might feel like a teenager again with mood-swings and unexpected outbursts.
Except this time you can’t run to your room and slam the door, you have to keep it together because little eyes and ears are watching you!
That’s how I felt. Sometimes I was so overstimulated by everything that was going on I wanted to have a little meltdown in the corner. And I knew that wasn’t what my kids needed but my emotional state was so fragile that I couldn’t help myself.
Quite frankly, it can be terrifying. How do we meet the needs of these tiny humans when some days we feel like we are falling apart ourselves? And on top of that, how are we going to build a solid foundation of faith to grow our families?
Please note that if you are experiencing PPA or PPD (postpartum anxiety and/or depression), don’t be afraid to seek help. You can love Jesus and have a therapist! Or ask your spouse, a friend or family member to take your kids for an hour while you spend time with God alone! A healthy mama is a healthy home.
A Joy-Filled Home Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect
Let’s be real clear. We are not talking about creating a perfectly organized, sparkly clean home. It doesn’t have to exude laughter and smiles every waking moment. Throw those ideas out the window.
This home can have tears of frustration, moments of anger and days of doubt. We are human and we are going to have human emotions. Our children are going to have good and bad days, just like the adults.
That’s why we need to have our focus on God. Having a home with a solid foundation, built on His love, joy and peace.
If God is at the centre of this home, then all the good and the bad can be placed in His hands. If He has become the foundation, then He will forgive us for our lapses in judgement and carry us when we feel like we are not enough.
A joy-filled home is a God-filled home.
How Do We Lay This Foundation?
So we know we need our Lord and Saviour to be at the centre of the home. And as a Mom, much of this rides on us. So it means we need to keep a healthy relationship with God.
It means we need to spend time with Him, asking Him to change our hearts, to transform our minds.
Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the fields, and after that build your house.
Proverbs 24:27
Yes, Mama, your heart needs to be aligned with your Heavenly Father. Spending time with God is the best way to do this. This can be challenging and sometimes requires some unconventional methods.
It might mean doing a Bible study with your children. Perhaps everyone can have their Bibles out together and read for 5 minutes. Or maybe you act out the Bible stories together.
(For more ideas check out my post about 5 Practical Ways to Bring God into Your Home.)
This is how we lay the foundation for our family. When Mom is focused on God, then it doesn’t matter if her living room is covered in toys and she burnt the grilled cheese.
When you have drawn close to God, it changes your attitude. It reminds you that God provides joy and peace. And your children will see this! They will see your smile, they will see you pause and laugh with them. And they will feel your love fill them.
Christian Household
This is what we want our home to look like. This is what a joy-filled home is. And it is what our emotionally tapped-out brains need.
We need God to come into our home and transform it! And not like Mary Poppins, who leaves after getting things in order. No, once we start with God, He will never leave us! His joy will continue to fill our space day after day.
As mamas, we have to keep our eyes on Jesus. When our focus is on God and His goodness, it changes the way we perceive things. We still will have moments of weakness and days when we fall short of being a “good mom.” But because we have laid the foundation for our Christian household, we know that God’s forgiveness and grace will cover us.
So build that foundation. Seek God, seek His joy! Turn to your children and tell them how much you love them. Tell your husband you are grateful for how hard He works. Remind yourself that perfection is not the name of the game. You are aiming for God’s love, which is already perfect and through His love you can build a home that is filled with joy!
And remember, you got this Mama!
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