Have you ever heard the expression, “Prepare for what you pray for?” Last month, in my post on How to Trust God With Your Love Story, we learned that the single season is a time of preparation for marriage, if that is your desire. If so, the single years are the perfect time to build up your home. Doing so honors God when you build your life and home on the foundation of God’s Word.
“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].”
Proverbs 14:1 AMP
A home built on the Word of God glorifies Him. When we build a home, it involves building a relationship with Christ Jesus as well as building up or edifying our family members and guests as we point them toward Christ.
Here are five things you can do to begin building your home as a Proverbs 31 Woman.
1-Make God’s Ways the Foundation of Your Home.
Learn God’s ways and His expectations regarding your life and the home you are building.
Did you know that homemaking is a ministry and that each of us is a homemaker, even if you work outside the home and even if it is just you? If you are surprised by that news, you are not alone because so was I! I learned this from Melissa Ringstaff, the blogger at A Virtuous Woman during her 30 Days of Intentional Homemaking Challenge.
I also learned that homemaking is not just about the management of the house, that it is about creating an environment that makes a house a home, inviting even for those who do not live there.
In order to be able to do this, we have to accept that this is God’s expectation for us, and we have to have the right attitude about it regardless of today’s negative connotations of homemaking.
“Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built, And by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation].”
– Proverbs 24:3 AMP
2-Make Your Home a Sanctuary
In her book, The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional, Stormie Omartian outlines how to do this. She advises that we ask God to give us wisdom for how to best arrange our homes in a way that will be warm and inviting for you and for your guests.
She also advises that we ask God to fill our homes with His presence, for our rooms to be filled with His love, joy, and peace. That we ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in decorating our homes with the beauty of His presence.
Placing our faith in Jesus creates an environment in our homes that is full of love and acceptance, one that is welcoming.
“And by knowledge its rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.”
– Proverbs 24:4 AMP
3-Have a plan for managing your home.
Plan your day and start it with God.
Creating a routine for the morning and the evening, including creating a schedule for cleaning and other weekly and daily tasks, and having a system of organization in place, will help you to be more efficient.
Develop good habits now so that you will be disciplined with staying on top of tasks and chores. Identify areas of improvement and work on them.
Here are some of homemaking habits Melissa recommends developing:
- Create a housekeeping routine.
- Wake up early and pray. Doing so will help you be more productive and it is a good habit to have if you have or are planning to have children.
- Get dressed if you are a stay-at-home mother or wife. It will help you be more productive and to take your homemaker role more seriously.*
- Make a plan. Make a short to-do list each morning then see how much you can cross off your list.
- Develop a cheerful spirit. Start each day cheerfully; “Develop the attitude that creates an atmosphere of love and joy in your home.”
“She looks well to how things go in her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.”
– Proverbs 31:27 AMP
See Related: How to Prepare for Emergencies
4-Have a plan for practicing hospitality.
This spring, I took a hospitality challenge and I learned a few important things. I learned, for instance, that hospitality does not have to be elaborate or perfect. To be hospitable means to do something to show someone else that you are thinking of them. And that when we do so, we reflect God’s inviting heart, making a big difference in the lives of others.
I also learned that hospitality is effective when you have done something, no matter how small, to show someone else that you are thinking of them. And that doing so meets a need that everyone has, a need to know that they are seen and loved and thought about by someone else.
Dedicate a few recipes for the purpose of serving guests and master them. You will want a dinner recipe which you can also serve for lunch, a dessert recipe or something you can serve with coffee, and a brunch recipe. Keep the ingredients for these and simple recipes on hand so that you are always prepared.
“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
– 1 Peter 4:9 AMP
5-Save
Though it may be tempting to live it up in your single days, plan for your future. Be a good steward over what God has given you, not only in the gifts and talents department, but also with your money by saving and spending wisely. Make sure that you buy the things you need before splurging on the things you want. And remember that the things you need include building an emergency fund. Click for tips on how to be a good steward of what the Lord has blessed you with.
I asked married women what advice that would give to single women during our season of preparation on my Instagram page. What would you add to that? Please comment below.
Blessings,
The beauty of the house is order. The blessing of the house is contentment. The glory of the house is hospitality. The crown of the house is Godliness. And Jesus is enough, always.
-Anonymous
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Aw, this was a very nice post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to produce a really good article…
but what can I say… I put things off a lot
and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.
Thank you so much! I understand; I sometimes have that problem, too. Keep at it. 🥰🤗
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