Let's be honest and authentic. We sometimes (or maybe often) find ourselves driving home from work extremely exhausted and the last thing we want to do is expend more energy at home. As a result, maybe we start spending more time in front of the television while sinking into the couch than we do playing with the kids or chatting with our spouses.
I'll be completely transparent and admit that this is what my workweek looked like for most of my first three years of having a family of my own. And until today, I still find myself occasionally in a similar scenario.
Thinking about the empowering of the Holy Spirit often correlates to having the energy and boldness to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons or excel in our careers. But have we ever thought about God's presence and touch empowering us at home? Most of the time, we might not.
But with the culture that now prevails where parents, spouses and even kids are coming home to an exhausted environment where there is very little quality interaction shows us that we need divine intervention at the home. When Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth," I cannot see a reason why God would not empower us to be a "witness" in the home as well. To be a light, an example, a blessing to your family just as much as you are to be a blessing to people outside of your home.
In fact, God's immense value for family should tell us that if He can empower us in ministry and in work, He will most happily empower us in being a family that oozes with life and blessing as well.
Nowadays when I feel I am coming home exhausted after a long day at work, my default is now to start praying and interceding for energy, life and relationship to flourish in my home even in the midst of physical exhaustion and every time I pray that, God always provides me with an extra boost to have even more energy at home than I do in the workplace.
We need God's presence and power in our living rooms and dining rooms just as much as we need it in the mission field. If God can bless your harvests, He can bless your homes and He will if we tap into the Holy Spirit to empower us in every area of life.
