21 Ways To Thrive By 45Shembull

Take Back Your Home

When everything gets away from us and we give a grumbly "yes" when we should give a solid "no," or when bickering and raised eyebrows get the best of us, it's time to take back our homes.

Maybe your home isn’t in utter chaos. Maybe everyone in your home is talking with such love and kindness you could bottle it up and sell it on the streets. On the flipside, maybe you’re pulling your hair out as you stare at your dirty dishes and want to drop-kick a cat because you are so blasted tired and annoyed by your people.

If you find yourself in the latter, Proverbs tell us we build our home in wisdom and understanding. Two ways this happens is through prayer and good ol’ conflict resolution.

Prayer. Stop and pray. When you want to scream, pray. Start praying when you want to yell at your kids, or better yet, pray with your kids. Pray with your spouse. Pray over your day. Give it up to the Great Redeemer of our tired and broken moments. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Conflict Resolution. Resentment and anger fester in our relational strife. If you need to have a hard conversation in order to move forward from your mess, then get to it. Don’t hesitate. If you are in the wrong, offer the apology that will prompt healing both in your heart and the heart of your husband, child, or friend. While most of us flee conflict like a cat from a bath, everyone wins when we champion peace and grace in our relationships. Ephesians 4:31-32 reminds us, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”