Building a Thriving Home: Partnering with God

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house [on a foundation of godly precepts, and her household thrives], but the foolish one [who lacks spiritual insight] tears it down with her own hands [by ignoring godly principles]

Reflection:

Our church recently hosted its annual conference, Desperate for Jesus, with this year's theme being "Home," centered around Proverbs 14:1. Following the conference, I felt led to share a devotional to help us all understand the concept of home. For our homes to thrive, we must actively participate with God. There is a cultural shift where women are realizing that striving to be independent and strong can be exhausting, and many are seeking a life of ease and rest in their posture. It's important to recognize what we are turning to as we move away from self-reliance. Turn from independence of self to intimacy with God, which strengthens you. Turn from self-sabotage to suffering on behalf of the Savior, which stores up treasures for you. We are all required to build, and when we build on the foundation of God and in partnership with Him, we start to thrive. We thrive by being mindful of our thoughts. We thrive by discerning what we listen to, effectively separating what is real from what is fake. We thrive when we see the fruit of the Spirit manifesting in the areas we are called to. We thrive when our posture is quieted. We thrive when we have a Godly community that teaches and corrects us to become all that God has called us to be. We are always building something, intentionally or unintentionally. Don't be deceived into building on sand when we have a Savior who offers us the opportunity to build and invest in eternal things. Our homes thrive in partnership with God; it is where His power and presence dwell, and where our power and perspective are aligned.

Reflection Questions:

1. Personal Foundation: What are some godly precepts that you currently use as a foundation in your own home? How can you strengthen these foundations?

2. Intimacy with God: In what ways can you turn from self-reliance to intimacy with God in your daily life? What specific steps do you think you could take to deepen this relationship?

3. Self-Sabotage vs. Suffering for the Savior: Reflect on a time when you have engaged in self-sabotaging behavior. How can you shift your perspective to see value in suffering for the sake of the Savior and storing up heavenly treasures?

4. Mindful Thoughts: How do your thoughts influence the atmosphere in your home? What strategies can you implement to ensure your thoughts align with godly princi