Deciding that Your Family is for the Lord
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord—with peace, joy, and quiet confidence in His presence.
Inspired by eManna
Photo credit: Unsplash
Today's devotional speaks directly to those entrusted with the care of a household. It reminds us that in God's economy, spiritual leadership isn’t passive—it’s active, confident, and decisive. Joshua's declaration—“As for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah”—wasn’t a mere wish or suggestion. It was a bold stand of faith, anchored in God’s covenant and authority. The devotional encourages heads of households not to wait passively for children or family members to “come around,” but to proclaim and live out the reality that their family belongs to God.
This isn’t about coercion. It’s about spiritual headship. It’s not that we force belief, but that we boldly declare our household identity under Christ’s Lordship. When a head of household stands in faith and spiritual authority, trusting in the sufficiency of Christ’s indwelling life to shape the atmosphere of the home, it changes everything. The Spirit works in alignment with that declared position, and others in the home are drawn toward the same path—not by manipulation, but by the steady witness of God’s peace, love, and truth manifest in daily life. The household becomes a sanctuary, a place where the Lord reigns—not just as a distant idea, but as the present, living King.
Personalized Journal Entry – Written in the Voice of the Holy Spirit
You are not leading your family alone. I am in you and with you, and I have entrusted this household to you as a sacred calling. As Christ is the Head of you, so you lead your home—not in fear, not in fleshly striving, but in restful confidence that I am working in the hearts of each one under your care. I am the One who establishes households in My order and fills them with My life.
When you declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” you are aligning your will with Mine. I have already drawn your family to Myself through your union with Christ. Your words spoken in faith are not empty; they are backed by My authority and carried out by My grace. Your house does not belong to the world, nor to wandering idols of fear, achievement, or self-will. It belongs to Me. I have set you apart, and those under your care dwell in the overflow of that consecration.
Do not be discouraged when others seem indifferent or resistant. I am at work beneath the surface. My Word does not return void. You plant the atmosphere of My presence when you choose My peace over frustration, My joy over gloom, My wisdom over reaction. You are not responsible for their transformation—that’s Mine. But you are invited to take your place and declare the reality: this house belongs to the Lord.
Stand firm. I have made you a living witness. Walk as one who knows that My presence sanctifies your home. Every prayer you whisper, every scripture you share, every act of kindness empowered by Me—these are seeds I cause to grow. Remain in Me, and I will cause your household to reflect My glory.
(Joshua 24:15, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 5:23, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 7:14, Isaiah 55:11, Galatians 2:20)
Prayer of Confident Trust
Father, thank You that in Christ, I have all I need to lead my household in Your love and truth. I trust that You have placed me here with purpose, and You are actively working in my home through Your Spirit. I choose to stand in agreement with Your Word, resting in the reality that my family belongs to You. Thank You that I don't carry the weight of changing hearts—You do that. I will simply live as one who knows that You are reigning here, now. May this home be a place where You are seen, honored, and enjoyed.
Photo suggestion for Unsplash:
A warm, inviting family room with sunlight coming in through the window—peaceful, lived-in, and welcoming.
Caption: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord—with peace, joy, and quiet confidence in His presence.