Hi, and welcome to the Five Word Prayers Daily, a five day a week daily devotional where we share the word prayers in our heart.

I'm Lisa Whittle, and I welcome you to just five minutes with me, which I trust and pray will be five minutes well spent.

I wonder if you've ever received this compliment when people have walked into your home.

Man, this place feels cozy. Or you made me feel right at home. It's such a powerful statement, really, and far better than your home. Man, this place feels cozy. Or you made me feel right at home. It's such a powerful

statement really and far better than that your home is beautiful, which is awesome to hear. But the

truth is, anyone can have a beautiful home. Anyone can collect things and have a decorating touch

and it look amazing. But we've all been in a beautiful, immaculate home that felt stiff

and not at all welcoming. If we're looking to make people feel comfortable in our home,

really welcome guests in, we aren't looking to decorate a museum, right? There's something I think

that keeps us from making people feel at home, And you might be surprised at what it is.

So on yesterday's show, I alluded to this idea that making people feel comfortable in our homes

is a way we use our home as ministry, but also that at the root of it is really a heart matter.

It isn't about decorating style per se.

I've been in homes that were immaculately decorated and they felt cold and stale.

And I've been in immaculate homes that somehow felt warm and inviting.

I wasn't intimidated to sit on their white couch.

Okay, I'm always kind of intimidated to sit on a white couch, but you know what I mean.

And I've been in homes that weren't elaborate and pretty plain, but I didn't feel welcome there either.

So it's not about how expensive the decor is.

It's really about the people who inhabit the homes.

It's almost like home psychology, if you will.

I always think of the Mary and Martha story when it comes to home welcoming.

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