"From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live." Acts 17:26
My husband and I grew up in New Jersey. We “decided” to pile all the high-stress circumstances into one – got married, moved a few states away from our family, changed jobs, and bought a house. You could say we got it all over with in one fell swoop. Lol. When discussing our hopes for a new home, I said to my future husband, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could live in this particularly coveted area, in a brick house near the water?” Then we laughed about it and said, “Like that would ever happen”. Before making the trip out to meet with a realtor, I had had a dream about a house. It was a detailed dream where I could see the inside of the house. I didn’t think much of the dream until our realtor showed us a brick bungalow near the bay in that coveted town. When I stepped inside, I felt like I had been in the house before, and the dream returned to me. The house looked and felt exactly like my dream, minus the creepy dolls in every room. No seriously. It was like something out of a horror movie. lol. The previous owner, who had died, collected dolls, and they were all still in the house when they showed it. Amazingly, my dream and my desires came to fruition. We ultimately moved into that house!
My husband and I weren’t Christians at the time, but unbeknownst to us, the Lord had a plan and a purpose for moving us away from our families to another state, AND I believe He had planted those desires in our hearts. I’m so thankful we listened!
It’s wonderful how the Lord works. The first home I described above was merely a show of God’s kindness, giving us the desires of our hearts before even calling us to Himself. We lived there for five years and brought our first child to that home after he was born. As of yet, His plan had not been revealed to us…
With our family expanding, we decided to move a couple of towns over, but this time we were met with a roadblock to the home we wanted. We kept fighting to get that home, but the realtor kept steering us to a different home, which, by the way, looked exactly like the other home, which the same builder built. This one had pretty fields in the backyard. Yet we were adamant we wanted the other house.
Well, God had other plans… We ended up buying the house; the realtor kept pushing with the fields out back. As I got to know our neighbor, I discovered they were Christians, but didn’t think much of it. She gave me a Bible and told me God would speak to me through it. I picked it up and read a little bit, but the Lord didn’t speak to me. (The reality is, without the Holy Spirit, I could not hear Him.)
About a year later, a new neighbor who had a daughter the same age as mine moved in. She, too, was a Christian and invited me to Mothers of Preschoolers and introduced me to Cindy, the woman who would ultimately introduce me to the Lord. The rest is God’s story. I ended up doing women’s ministry through Mothers of Preschoolers and leading Women’s Bible studies. About a year after I came to know the Lord, my husband did. He is now a Pastor! That’s all to say, the Lord indeed establishes our borders for His perfect plan.
Let’s examine some Biblical accounts to illustrate why it’s important to seek the Lord’s direction before choosing your next home.
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; Genesis 2:15-16
My daughter and grandchildren were in search of a new home. They lived with us for a few months while looking for a new place. During that time, I sought the Lord daily with my hopes and desires, knowing full well that He establishes our borders, but also believing that He would bless me with the desires of my heart and my daughters. We can certainly seek the Lord’s direction while expressing our desires and needs in my daughter’s case. The key is listening to His direction. As we waited for that direction, I had peace about where He would place them, even though our town's rental market was costly and limited. Then the answer came. Everything my daughter and I had prayed for became available in a perfect home for their little family!
But it didn’t end there. As time went on, it became apparent that my grandchild would need specialized help regarding schooling. It turns out, the school associated with my daughter’s neighborhood offered EVERYTHING my grandchild needed and more! The Lord knew about these needs before we even did. He established their borders EXACTLY where it was best for my grandchild to be. Not only that, they have a lovely Christian family a few houses up that have taken such interest in my grandchildren and have been so helpful to my daughter and a source of provision for them.
Listen to the Lord’s direction so that He can provide for you. The example of Adam and Eve certainly showcases that!
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1
If Abram were anything like me, it wouldn’t be easy to leave the area you’ve always known and your family to go somewhere far away. Sometimes we need to go through pain before receiving a blessing. Unlike Abram, we may be called somewhere, not realizing a blessing awaits us. Imagine if we didn’t obey that tug, we could miss out on a blessing.
Listen without fear as you wait for the Lord’s direction before choosing a new home. Trust in His lovingkindness; you will ultimately be blessed where He plants you.
"Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and live there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'" Genesis 35:1
God’s protection comes in all shapes and sizes. This isn’t about choosing a home that isn’t located amidst gangs, although that would be wise. It’s more about God’s protection over us and our choices. The Lord knows our hearts and our weaknesses.
For instance, we might be tempted to buy a home in a neighborhood even farther beyond our means. If we move in that direction instead of listening to the Lord’s direction, it could cause all manner of issues down the road that could be very costly to our finances and relationships.
When the Lord establishes our border, we know there is safety within those walls. Listen for that direction before choosing a home.
"Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, ‘Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.” Exodus 4:19
If you told me all those years ago when I grew up in New Jersey that the Lord would call me to live away from my family in another state AND that I would be a Pastor’s wife doing ministry in that area, I would’ve said, “That’s crazy!” Although I was a Miss Goody Two Shoes then, I was not living a Christian life or aspiring to. Add to that my lifelong struggle with anxiety. I’m also generally introverted by nature. NONE of the characteristics of a Pastor’s wife seemed to fit me or anything I would’ve desired then. If I had any inkling of that foreknowledge, I wouldn’t have moved forward in that direction. Frankly, I probably would’ve run the other way. But God…
The one Person we can follow mindlessly is the Lord. He will never lead us to our demise. He desires good for us. Jesus bought us at a price and wrote purpose into our stories. His purpose. Sometimes that means moving us out of our comfort zones to a different location. For others, it might be downsizing and minimizing, for His purpose to work in their hearts. Whatever His purpose, we WILL be blessed.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
By listening to the Lord’s direction before choosing a home, you may discover His purpose for your life.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Feverpitched
Karen Del Tatto is a blogger, author, women's ministry leader, pastor's wife, mom, and grandmother who is passionate about the Word of God. Her blog Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge and her books Choosing to Trust God: Breaking the Habit of Worry, A 30-Day Devotional and Choosing to Trust God Companion Journal reveal her heart for providing Biblical insights to encourage women to grow in and through their struggles while equipping them to overcome. Karen and her husband live in Rhode Island and enjoy walks in the woods, owling, and spending time with their grandchildren.