I am a firm believer that home life should be anything but exhausting. In a culture full of distractions, technology, demands and to-do lists, home life can feel like a second job. But the atmosphere we maintain in our home is an expression of the atmosphere we maintain in our soul.

Have you ever been to a small home and felt warm, peaceful and a sense of welcome? Have you ever been in a large home, and felt cramped, claustrophobic or uneasy? Atmosphere is the tone and energy that fills the space within the confines of our home. It is more important than the walls that surround us and the roof over our head. These are the hallmarks to creating a healthy home atmosphere.

Peace And Warmth

Home should be a place of peace. It should be the place you look forward to after a long day at work or after a long trip. It should be a place where relaxing and revitalizing is easy – a place of comfort, warmth, love and reflection. While I have nothing against technology, far too often, homes run more like sports bars. Televisions running in every room, lots of chores to catch up on and household members lost in cyber land. Home should be more about unity and connection than about escape and distraction.

Bringing a sense of peace into our home begins with valuing its calming culture. We must define peace in the context of our home before we can create it. Peace, by definition, is “freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.” Warmth is defined as “enthusiasm, affection or kindness.” Home should be about relieving stress, not creating it.

Fun And Laughter

Cheery homes are welcoming homes. Where the general attitude and atmosphere are those of fun and laughter. While life is not always fun and games, we can always choose to be positive.

Create opportunities for fun and laughter. Watch a funny movie, or have a game night from time to time. Be fun, encouraging and uplifting. Learn to laugh at little things, and pick your battles.

Respect And Honor

A culture of respect and honor is key to maintaining a healthy atmosphere. Speak words of encouragement and life. Refrain from negativity, gossip and excessive venting. I believe it is healthy to “get it out” and vent at times. But we should always be aware of who is around (kids, for example) and how long we camp out on any one venting session. Try to keep it respectable and honoring. Respect each other’s space, time and place in the home. Practice servant leadership, and always do what is right and in the best interest of the whole.

Honoring the atmosphere in the house is vital to maintaining it. Everyone should be in agreement about what the culture of the home is. Be willing to protect the atmosphere by making choices that cultivate it. This could be in the type of people you invite over, the types of entertainment you allow and the overall neatness of the home.

Jesus As The Center

The most important and central foundation of a home should always be the emphasis placed on Jesus being the center. Make yours a home that celebrates, praises and worships the Lord, a home that prays together and contributes beyond itself. It should be a potential place of refuge for those in need when necessary, a place people can leave feeling the Lord’s presence go with them.

When the Lord is the center of our homes, we can expect the peace that surpasses all understanding. We can expect the fruits of His spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control – to inhabit it.

A home is not just a place to sleep, bathe and store our stuff. It is where we create fond memories, love and grow. It is our refuge, our “safe place.” It is where our children grow up, and our mind, body and soul is restored. No matter where life takes us, there’s no place like home. Maintaining the right atmosphere is key to sustaining a healthy home.

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