Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Nov 21, 2024
Our homes say a lot about us. How we spend our time there, how we decorate and what we do within its walls says a lot about what we believe.
As Christians, our homes should be marked for God and reflect Jesus in everything we do. It should be evident that Christ is alive there.
In order to build a godly house, we must center it around God—His will, His desires, His Word . He should be the hub, instead of just a spoke.
Ideally, our homes should be places of worship, rather than just a structure where we eat, sleep, and play. Here are several practical steps to building godly homes and serving our families well!
Worship God without rivals
Many things compete for God’s position on the throne of our hearts. In our culture, we serve the idols of convenience, entertainment, prosperity, and self.
These things keep us from truly honoring God and receiving His blessings upon our homes and families.
Are we too focused on short-term goals of financial gain and “me time” instead of things that will last for eternity? If we truly want to live Joshua 24:15, we must remove what replaces God’s rule in our home.
Practice Biblical Love
Biblical love is not the romantic, emotional love we see portrayed in Hollywood movies. It is action driven. It is unconditional. It is the same kind of love that Jesus demonstrated for you and me on the Cross.
To put the biblical definition of love into practice in our homes, we need look no further than 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not exact its own means. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of having been wronged. It does not rejoice in injustice but rejoices when truth prevails. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures in all circumstances.
When we apply this verse to the treatment of our spouses and children, we win their hearts to Christ and peace will reign in our homes.
Respect the Bible
We are so quick to consult parenting websites and pop psychology when we are going through turmoil in our families. But what does the Bible say? It must be clear to our children that the Bible is the ultimate authority in our home.
As we form the foundational principles of our family, all of our beliefs, ethics, and rules must come from Scripture. Our methods of discipline, our positions on cultural controversies, and our view of humanity can be centered in God’s redemptive story.
Our children need to know that the truth is unchanging, sure, and pure. This truth does not come from Facebook, popular opinion, or even past family tradition, but from the Word of God.
By referring our children to the Bible in everything we do, by valuing it and applying it, we show that it is sufficient to answer life's deepest questions .
This especially includes upholding God’s design for marriage and gender as outlined in Genesis. We cannot compromise its truth, but must preserve it so that order is established in our homes.
Adopt a Biblical Worldview
Psalm 139:17 says, “How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Having a biblical worldview (how we make sense of the world around us) involves thinking like God thinks.
We are the guardians of our homes and have the authority from God to refuse entry into this space.
Every Netflix show, iPad app, YouTube video—and even friend—that enters our home must first pass through us. What are we allowing? We have a responsibility to protect our children from the enemy’s attempts to gain access to their hearts and minds.
Fill their minds with books, shows, and music that help them fix their eyes on things above. I highly recommend investing in a Christian streaming service. For typically less than $10 a month, you and your kids can enjoy quality, entertaining and educational programming from a biblical perspective.
Teach your children the Word of God
In his sermon to the Israelites before entering the Promised Land, where he tells them to love and obey the Lord, Moses immediately follows this with the command to saturate their children with the same teaching.
We can teach our children the law and works of God both formally, through a daily routine of Bible reading, and informally (Deuteronomy 6:6).
With all the moments we have throughout the day, we can take advantage of these unexpected opportunities to pour out God’s Word to our children.
The other day my daughter was upset with her brother because he had more than one type of toy, so I took her straight to Exodus 20:17. We can use specific verses to convict our children of their behavior and show them what is right and wrong.
We can also intentionally talk about what the Bible says during family meals, on car rides or walks, when we put our children to bed, and when they get ready in the morning.
Fill your home with praise and worship
There is something about the power of music. When that music is filled with Scripture and centers us on the truth of God’s Word, it is even more powerful! It reminds us of who we are in relation to God, emphasizes the right things, and helps us memorize the truth.
Whether it's contemporary praise and worship, traditional hymns, catchy children's tunes like "Our God Is So Great," or Bible memory songs, listen to them often in your home.
Decorate with reminders of God's promises
One of the most repeated commands in the Bible is to remember. Remember what God has done. Remember who He is. Remember that He is with you.
But we quickly forget. One way to combat our forgetful minds is to repeat the Scriptures.
In Deuteronomy 9, the Israelites were instructed to write God’s commandments on the doorposts of their homes. Today, this can be accomplished by adorning our homes with scriptures that speak of His love, truth, grace, and faithfulness.
In each of our children’s bedrooms, there is a framed verse that hangs on the wall near their beds—Joshua 1:9 for my son and Jeremiah 1:5 for my daughter. They serve as powerful reminders not only of who they are, but also of what God has done for them!
Pray the Scriptures over your children
There is a real battlefield for your home and for the hearts and minds of your children. Prayer is our greatest weapon against the strongholds of the enemy in their lives.
When we pray the Scriptures for our children, we are praying God’s own words for them! We are fighting the spiritual battle alongside them, appropriating God’s power on their behalf.
I pray regularly that my children will love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, be convicted of their sin and lead to genuine repentance, and stand firm on God’s truth in a culture that lies to them.
As mothers, we should also pray for our children's protection, obedience, spiritual growth, interactions with siblings and friends, and the ability to show kindness and forgiveness.
Model of joyful service and hospitality
We must serve our husbands and children with a cheerful heart, not reluctantly. Proverbs 14:1 says, “A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.”
When we act as if our closest neighbors are an inconvenience or an interruption, we destroy our homes and are unable to practice true hospitality.
Hospitality should be a natural extension of the service you already demonstrate within the walls of your home.
We have a wall art in our living room that says, "In our home, let love dwell and bless those who enter within." We want to bless all who pass through our home and show them the love of Christ through our generous and hospitable actions.
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