1 Corinthians 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?
I’m a homemaking, homesteading, homeschooling wife and mother of six who, even with all of the work that goes on around here, sometimes wonders at the end of the day, “Where did my day go?!”
And I admit that when I ponder on that a little too much, I spend the next day allowing escapism to rule my time, avoiding chores that need to be tackled, ignoring little gnawing discipline issues, and eating way too much chocolate.
It’s not God’s way, nor the best for me. He’s had me parked a bit on this verse:
Joshua 21:43-44 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
1. The Lord gave me my home. He brought me a lovely man, a goodly marriage, six beautiful children, interesting farm animals, and a garden that gives me pleasure. My pantry is full and my fridge runs on electric power. I have the ability and freedom to drive where I want, dress how I please and have my own Bible in hand. Compared to the rest of the world, I am obscenely and ridiculously wealthy.
2. It’s my job to “possess” it. This means, lamenting I can’t find the time to study God’s Word, cook from scratch, garden a row of tomatoes, sew a straight stitch, or teach phonics needs to give way to active learning, seeking, praying, and pursuing the means to equip me to do so. Enough of the “but it’s not me” spirit. What a stench that must be in God’s nostrils! Even teaching a child to read is not something the Lord won’t help me do, no matter how equipped I *feel*.
3. The whole point of possessing the land is to dwell in it. The whole point of my learning to cook is to enjoy the pleasure of eating healthy and tasty food on our own large wooden table. The whole point of making my bed and keeping my bedroom clear of clutter is to have a restful place for me and my husband to relax in the evening. If our bodies are not at home, it seems to me that it would be even more difficult to keep our hearts there. And yes, our body CAN be physically home while our mind is o-u-t. Not even a child is fooled by that. Did I mention I am speaking to myself here!
4. The Lord gives me rest in it all as I work to possess it. Avoidance or disdain for even the little things of homemaking do not bring about rest; it brings guilt and discouragement and perhaps even jealousy or anger if another woman seems to get it done and well. Even sitting down on the inside while outwardly up “doing my duties” is NOT restful. It is tiring to focus on self, on how I can’t do this, or am too weary to do that. It’s also a stink to those around. What are they supposed to do? Rub your back and send you to the tub with a mocha? (Hmmmm…that does sound good…). I don’t even reward my own children when they whine; why would God bless me for it?
5. The Lord delivers me from my enemies through it all. Mommy-enemies include bad thinking (“stinkin’ thinkin’”), little time robbers (that add up), selfishness, worldliness, too much focus on outside friends or events, and a low view of her God-ordained position or herself.
Possessing the land is ACTION. It is complete mental and physical and spiritual application. It means focusing on what God wants us to do…which is not what we think, it is rather what He says. The “land” is there and waiting for US to get busy possessing. The Lord’s rest and protection will follow as we trust Him to lead and obey.
Don’t give up! Focus on the Lord’s priorities and all of our own priorities will fall into place quite easily. Then even the little chocolate morsels will be even sweeter, and the days more than not will *go* to glorify God in all things.
Blessings,
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