Devotion: Are You Bringing the Lord into Your Home?

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6–9 NIV)

God commanded us to teach about him, memorizing his Word and helping our children memorize and know it as well. He instructed us to make his Word a part of our daily routine with visual symbols, his words displayed on our person or in our homes. This puts little reminders of the God who created us and provides for us everywhere.

I need such reminders. They help me be more kind, forgive quicker, give grace when I would rather let loose my anger, and pray for my people and the world.

I need such reminders even more when the school year is in full swing. Our boys are educated at home, and they can be rambunctious and loud. That’s normal for boys, but it can be sometimes frustrating for their mama. When my response to their behavior is annoyance or overreaction, but then I look around and see God’s Word on my wall or on a sticky note on the cupboard, I’m reminded to take a deep breath and respond with grace and calm. I’m sure my kids are thankful for that!

Ideally, little reminders like that would work every time, but, of course, they don’t. For God’s Word to work on my heart in those moments, I have to refocus on those reminders or take time to recall some Scripture from memory. Pausing before responding and allowing the Holy Spirit to work is so important. If it wasn’t, we would respond to every circumstance with love, compassion, and grace all on our own.

As I have taught my kids about God’s desires and expectations for us, I’ve told them how I fall short. No explanation was probably necessary because they see my shortcomings daily. (We’re together an awful lot! I mean, a wonderful lot.) I not only need to be honest with them about my shortcomings, but I need to be sharing all those reminders with them, pointing them out when any one of us needs them.

The desire of my heart is to love Jesus with all my heart and look more like him every day. His Word gives me a path to get there. I want my kids to use whatever reminders he calls them to see in their lives, so they can continue to grow into “little Christs,” as C. S. Lewis said.

Lord, help us put your commandments on our hearts. When we search your Word for instruction, give us eyes to see how it applies to our lives and soft hearts so we can accept whatever changes we need to make us more like you. Help us to set your commandments in our homes so that we are reminded of ways to become more Christlike and to share those ways with our loved ones. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. (Psalm 111:4 NIV)

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants. (1 Chronicles 16:8–12 NIV)

Reach for More

Think about your own home and how you might bring the Lord into it in a more visual way. Do you look at a certain spot frequently, a place where you can put some Scripture or a picture to bring the Lord to mind? Something that will help you remember all the Lord has done? Can you think of habits you can build into your days to help you and those in your household remember God and give him glory?

Take a little time to add some reminders to your home today.

Carla Clemens enjoys a crazy, beautiful life with her military husband and four sons. A baby and toddler interrupt her homeschool days in the best ways, and she is always attempting to live with mindfulness of each moment. She hopes to look at the world and each person in it in light of our amazing Creator and therefore, to see each moment presented as an opportunity to love and serve him more. Carla relishes time to ponder God’s Word and have quiet moments with him and her coffee. She loves doing life with other mamas and encouraging them to simply be who God has made them to be.

Photograph © Aaron Burden, used with permission