He Makes Our Hearts Home

He Makes Our Hearts Home

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.”

John 14:23

What are some of your favorite words? Here are a few of mine: children, laughter, togetherness, and home. In Pennsylvania Dutch, the word home is haymet. And when visiting an Amish home, people shouldn’t be surprised that what they’ll find is humble simplicity. There is nothing in an Amish home that will be displayed in the pages of Good Housekeeping magazine. Instead, what is there reflects the values of the home—family, daily work, and humility.

One might assume that all Amish live in old farm houses, but some live in newer homes, and the size varies. One Amish family I visited built homes that they later sold to English. Their house was wired for electricity, but while the Amish lived there, the outlets were covered up. The home was beautiful, with fine wood floors, large windows, and custom cabinetry, yet even then it was built this way for the purpose of providing for the family who would live there. And when the current house sold, the family moved into a small cabin and started the process over again.

The exterior of most Amish homes is white or natural. Porches are common, but not for curb appeal. They are a wonderful gathering place for families when the weather is nice. Amish homes also have several rooms that are connected—or that can be opened into one large room—when families host church services. Most window coverings are white, and the floors are bare. Most Amish homes do not include closet space because they don’t have much to store.

In the Bible, Jesus says that He and His Father will come to make Their home with us. He is speaking about our hearts, but what about your actual home? Would Jesus be comfortable if He visited? Is there anything in your home that you’d be embarrassed about?

Our outward homes are extensions of what’s inside us. The things we maintain and collect are indications of what we feel is most important. What does your home say about your heart?

Dear heavenly Father, like my home, there are places in my heart that need decluttering. Help me, Lord, to focus on humble simplicity.