She Dwells

You can tell a lot about a person by simply walking through her house. Pictures, smells, objects, colors, fabrics: each space is a window into its occupant’s heart.

As we dwell on the Proverbs 31 woman, let’s look at where she dwells.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

(Proverbs 31:27)

Elsewhere in the passage, we see that compassion, kindness, peace, and wisdom have all made themselves at home in her home. This girl has poured creativity into each day, purpose into the small moments that would otherwise go unmarked. And because she is our pattern, we can get creative and purposeful right alongside her in our own ways.

She might make it a point to gather friends and celebrate around her table.

Or create a refuge for the kids in her neighborhood.

Or coordinate a family project.

Or send love notes in lunch boxes.

Or scatter candles and fresh flowers all over the place.

Or forget about the cleaning for a while and instead make a great mess.

Or order pizza so she can be deeply present with her family.

Or go through and purge the inessentials.

Or go buy some essentials.

Or adopt a Christian custom from a foreign country.

Or fill the house with good music and have a spontaneous dance party.

Or finally print and frame those photos.

The kingdom of God itself is a dwelling place, and it might look like Pinterest, but it might not. There’s always room for aesthetics and excellence, and there’s also grace for the chaos. Instead of holding one another (and ourselves) to an impossible standard for anyone other than Martha Stewart, let’s speak life and truth and beauty over each other’s hearts and homes. This is how the freedom Christ paid for works itself out in our personal space. Looking well to the ways of our households can have a million different expressions. Pick some of your favorite and make it a priority to dwell well.