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should be a place of safety
Godly protection over your home |
Faith affects our homemaking One of the things that I hope I have been able to put across in the articles I have written is that our faith can and should affect everything that we are and do. This includes home making. Whether or not you live with others, whether or not you are “in charge” of keeping house homemaking is something you should think about. In this first article of three I want us to think about keeping our homes under God's protection. Another time we will turn our attention to our homes being a place where we are most comfortable being ourselves. Then thirdly we will think about our homes being places where it is safe to make mistakes as we grow. |
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Many Christians believe that once we have made a personal commitment of faith that the protection of God is automatic and we are safe “living under the shadow of His wing”. Real life suggests other wise.
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Home should be a place of safety A friend, a wife and mother, asked for prayer. There was trouble with her home. We prayed and I sat and reflected for a few minutes and I prayed silently for some wisdom to say the right thing. God reminded me of another situation only a few months earlier where she had again needed prayer for her home for something different. I became immensely aware of the vulnerable nature of this Christian woman when it came to matters of her home. Many Christians believe that once we have made a personal commitment of faith that the protection of God is automatic and we are safe “living under the shadow of His wing”. Real life suggests other wise though and we can become confused about the promises of God for our safety and protection and that of our loved ones. The fact is that protection in something that has to be “put on” and boundaries “put up”. They are not automatic. Scripture tells us that Satan goes about like a roaring lion looking for something to devour. We are also told not to let the devil get a foot hold. We are also told to resist the devil (1 Peter 5 v8). So how do we make sure we are NOT AVAILABLE and include our homes? First let me be sure you have understood that if something bad has happened to you inside or outside of your home I am not saying that poor faith on your part is the cause. The world is a complicated place and that God- given freedom of choice can leave terrible consequences for many people. But let us be equally sure that there is a part for us to do in keeping safe. Let’s look at three Scriptural ideas that can serve as an introduction to this subject of protection. |
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I pray for protection over each member of my family, our car, our finances, our work, our marriage and our home. |
Putting on protection I said protection has to be “put on”. This is the phrase borrowed from the image of putting on armour in Ephesians chapter 6. The imagery is that of a battle between Satan with his minions against the people of faith. I refer to this chapter so many times because the imagery there is so important. Pray over the topics covered in this brief chapter because what we pray is ultimately for our protection. Pray that the shed blood of Jesus covers us (because it is Jesus who is our Salvation, Jesus who is our Righteousness, Jesus who is Truth, Jesus who is the Word etc and He is available to us because of His shed blood on the cross.) Not only do I pray these for myself but I pray for protection over each member of my family, our car, our finances, our work, our marriage and our home. |
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Putting up boundaries I said boundaries need to be “put up”. How important were those walls around Jerusalem that the Kings of old built, that Nehemiah went to rebuild? For a city the walls made a statement about the strength of the people there in. These walls are sound—don’t mess with us. Or conversely, things are wobbly and weak and we can be easily pushed around. What are the walls of protection around your home? Do you allow things in that are contrary to Scripture? Do you allow language that is displeasing to God? Do you read or watch shameful material in your home? Do you have pictures or ornaments on display (or even hidden away) which are ungodly? Build a threshold which cannot be broken. “But Linda, members of my family are not Christians” I hear some of you say. Build those boundaries firstly with prayer, then by your own conduct and practices, then carefully make it known what displeases you (Could we take that picture down and put this one up instead? I don’t want to watch that TV programme because I don’t think it is very nice, I am going to do XYZ instead. Please don’t use that kind of language in here.) |
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God is not a war time bunker for use at times of extreme air raids but a person with whom we make our daily dwelling. |
Dwelling with God Further, scripture tells us “He that dwells in the secret place of the most High receives protection.” See Psalm 91. The important word here is “dwells”. Why is this the important word? We have to live there consistently, spending time there. Not darting in now and again when it suits us or is convenient to us. God is not a war time bunker for use at times of extreme air raids but a person with whom we make our daily dwelling. So even before we get on with the daily tasks of keeping house and making things homely let us keep that house protected from the prowling of Satan. |
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