If you are a stay-at-home Christian mom you CAN glorify God through homemaking.
He has seen fit to provide this job to you and it is your responsibility to glorify Him in all you do. Yes, not many people will see what you do. You probably won’t win any awards or recognition for doing it. And the pay stinks!
But, God does see all you do! He will reward you! He loves you and has given you all the tools you need to complete the task of homemaking and raising children. Remember, He never calls anyone to do something without equiping them.
So, what practical steps can you take to glorify God through homemaking?
Glorify God in the little things
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
It may seem like folding laundry and cleaning up spilled milk are thankless jobs, but those little things can glorify God. If fact, you SHOULD do them in an effeort to glorify God.
A simple way to remember this is to imagine God has told you to fold the laundry. Would you then say, “Meh, I’ll do it tomorrow”? Would you do a shoddy job of it if you knew God had asked you to do it?
All the little tasks that you need to do during the day, complete them as if doing them for God himself.
Do not be idle
“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” 1 Timothy 5:13 ESV
Just like my grandma used to say, “Idleness is the Devil’s playground.” Not staying busy can lead to idleness and idleness can lead to all kinds of trouble.
Stay productive as a homemaker. If you run out of things to clean, then bake a treat for a sick friend or for a neighbor. If you have some time to yourself during the kids’ nap times, read the Bible or a good, edifying book instead of waisting too much time on Facebook or Pinterest.
And for goodness sake, don’t be a gossip! That old housewife trope is tiring, but not entirely false. Stand apart from the other women around you who gossip. If someone turns the conversation towards gossip, gently change the subject, or just walk away.
Be thankful always
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
The life of a homemaker can be hard emotionally, mentally, physically, and even financially.
Some nights you actually get sleep, so you’re not too tired during the day, Sometimes the kids are extra snuggly and abnormally well-behaved. Those are the times it is easy to give thanks.
But what about when things aren’t going well? When you’re not getting enough sleep and the kids are driving you crazy and the bills are piling up on the kitchen counter.
It does not matter the circumstance you find yourself in… you are still to give thanks.
A little tip: when things are really not going well, just pause and thank God for exactly what you are facing at that moment. Not surprisingly, it actually calms the chaos and quiets your soul.
Be a hard worker
“She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.” Proverbs 31:17 NLT (The Wife of Noble Character)
I know many women read Proverbs 31 and think, “Yeah, right.”
Verse 17, in particular, almost makes me laugh. Early in my homemaking days, when the kiddos were still little, I was anything but energetic and strong! Instead, I was dog-tired!
Another way to glorify God through homemaking is to take care of yourself. Be as healthy and strong as you can be in order to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Strive to take the best care you can of your body, the temple of God.
I know finding time and energy is the problem for most women. Don’t obsess about your diet or spend hours at the gym. Just make wise choices as you go through the day. Eat mindfully, go for walks with the children, sneak in a few lunges here and there, work on your sleep routine.
This isn’t about vanity or looks. Taking care of yourself to the extent that you can is glorifying to God.