The One Habit That Brought Joy Back Into My Home in 6 Days

It’s not the laundry, the noise, or the chaos that’s stealing your joy. It’s the way you’re thinking about it. And until you fix that, no routine, planner, or quiet time will bring peace to your home.

Today, I’m going to share the overlooked habit that shifted the entire tone of our home—in exactly 6 days. It might feel extreme at first, but stay with me. This one practice is biblical, simple, and works fast. I’ll give you practical ways to actually do this.

This is the exact system that helped me bring joy back into my home—without changing my circumstances.

Your Thoughts Create Your Atmosphere

The often overlooked, core habit of real-time mind renewal is the key to finally actually bringing joy back into your home. Every negative, fleshly, or worldly thought—replaced with a biblical truth. Not just in your head, but spoken aloud.

Most women overlook this because it feels tedious, or kind of impossible or maybe even too simple. Or perhaps you think you’re already doing it—but you probably aren’t. And honestly, part of the problem is: no one really shows you how to do it. So that’s what I’m doing today.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” And 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” This is not a passive practice—it’s an active, continual, and absolutely life-changing one.

You’re not waiting for your feelings to change in order to renew your mind. You’re choosing to believe God’s Word BEFORE your emotions catch up.

The Battle Plan

But how do you actually do this as a busy mom—with little ones, constant stimulation, and never-ending interruptions?

It starts with a battle plan. A plan to engage in thought-by-thought spiritual warfare—every three minutes if needed. I warned you it’s extreme… but only at first, until you train your brain.

Recently, I’ve been reading Rachel Jankovic’s new book and in it she explains the most relatable scenario.

You know those beautiful, almost idyllic moments at home—like the kind you may have dreamed about since you were a little girl. Maybe you’re baking cookies with your children, sunlight is pouring in through the window, and you’re aware that this is something precious—you’re super aware, even in the moment, that this is something you will think back on and say “those were the days.”

But then, seemingly out of nowhere, something disrupts the moment. Maybe you feel the pudge of your stomach spilling over your jeans and suddenly feel self-conscious or unattractive and mad at yourself for having that extra cookie last night. Maybe you remember something your husband said that hurt your feelings and start thinking about how he doesn’t love you the way he ought to, or you notice a chore your child didn’t do after you asked them to 3 times already, or that thing you have to do later and you really don’t want to—and frustration and dread bubble up and pull you away from the moment.

These thoughts—they steal this precious memory from you.

In those moments, what would it take for you to fully receive the good, the true, and the beautiful—without surrendering to the subtle temptations that so often sneak in and steal your joy? What would it take to guard the goodness of the moment from the little distractions that try to steal it?

Because the enemy would love to keep you from engaging deeply in these sacred, powerful moments. He would love to distract you—because a woman who is fully present and fully grateful is a lot harder to neutralize.

And she says that when a mom treats her work like drudgery, everyone in the house feels it exactly as that—heavy and burdensome. But when she is full of joy, everything she does becomes an encouragement. Her joy fills the whole home.

The System That Changed My Home

So here’s the exact system with some practical tools to actually renew your mind as a Christian mother and guard the goodness of this life raising those sweet little ones and bring that joy back into your home.

1. Create a Lies vs. Truth Journal

• Left side: Lies you often think.
• Right side: Specific Scripture that directly counters it.

Examples:
“I can’t do this.” → “His grace is sufficient.”
“I’m failing them.” → “God chose me to mother these children.”
“I miss my old life.” → “I am a new creation.”

Speak these truths aloud daily until they become your default response. You’ll notice that you will start to actually rewire your brain to think the way Christ thinks.

This shift—of replacing stress with peace, frustration with calm—completely changed how my home feels. But it wasn’t just one change, it was a full system that I now walk through step-by-step in my free workshop, From Survival Mode to Peace-Filled Homemaking in 7 Days. If you haven’t watched it yet, I’d love for you to join me. The link is below.

2. Set a Mind Renewal Timer

You can’t fight what you’re not noticing.

Every hour or even every few minutes if needed in this season, I’d set a timer and when it goes off I’d stop what I was doing and ask:
“What are my predominant thoughts right now? Are they true? Are they helpful? If not, what would God say instead?”

Then I’d speak the truth aloud. Because sometimes we can convince ourselves that something is true but that truth you’re choosing to focus on may not be helpful—and usually the Lord would think differently.

3. Use a Trigger Phrase

This is about training yourself to interrupt the lie. Then, replacing it using Scripture. A phrase that gets your eyes off yourself and back on Christ.

When my mind goes there—into those depths of despair, or feeling sorry for myself—I say something like:
“This isn’t mine to carry. I choose to believe the truth instead.”
Or: “Nope, not today.”
Or: “In Jesus’ name, I rebuke that thought. I submit my mind to Christ.”

It’s so simple but it can interrupt your unhelpful thinking. The key here is to replace your thought with something true. That’s why I love memorizing scripture so I can just have a verse I’m working on to keep my mind busy in these moments.

Offensive Approaches to Mind Renewal

These are the habits that don’t just protect your mind, but go out ahead of your day and shift the entire spiritual climate of your home.

1. Blessing Your Home Out Loud Every Morning

Literally speak God’s promises and blessings over your home at the start of each day.

Most moms pray silently—but declaring Scripture aloud changes the atmosphere. It aligns your own heart with truth. It teaches your children the power of their words. And it invites God’s peace into the chaos.

Scriptural anchor: Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

2. A Daily Blessing to Your Husband

Each day, choose one tangible way to honor or support your husband that requires cheerful humility—not obligation.

I actually have a challenge called the Bless Your Husband Challenge with 30 days of little blessings for your husband and Bible studies to go along with it. I’ll link it below if you’re interested.

Serving your husband is seen as outdated or even oppressive in our culture. But the truth is—it softens hearts. It warms a home. This one habit can reignite connection, joy, and unity in your marriage. And when your children see it, they grow up with a beautiful model of honor and love.

3. Pausing to Kneel and Pray Aloud with Your Children Midday

In the middle of your day—especially on the hard days—stop what you’re doing. Kneel. Gather the kids. And pray out loud.

This is not reactive, but rhythmic. Kneeling forms their posture toward reverence. Praying aloud centers your family in God’s presence. And doing it together reminds them that we don’t just talk about Jesus—we walk with Him.

Scriptural anchor: Psalm 95:6

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

4. Writing a Daily Encouragement Note to a Family Member

Take 60 seconds to leave a handwritten note for your husband or one of your children. A sticky note. A little card on a pillow. A truth tucked in a lunchbox.

It’s overlooked because we’re busy and constantly talking—but when you write it down, it becomes a tangible act of love. A legacy of warmth. A moment your loved one can return to on hard days.

It also gets your eyes off your own struggles and onto someone else’s heart.

Scriptural anchor: Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

5. Scripture Memory

I use the Simply Charlotte Mason method and I have a whole video on my Scripture memory method as well as how I keep tabs in my Bible and specific verses highlighted for spiritual warfare purposes.

You Can Change the Tone of Your Home

Renewing my mind using these tools rewired not just my thoughts—but the entire tone of our home. And I want that for you too.

If you’d like to learn more about the exact process I still use to create a peaceful, joyful home—even in the chaos of raising little ones—I walk through it all inside the free workshop. The link is in the description. So if you feel like you’re stuck in survival mode, it’s not too late.

You can feel calm, present, and in control again.

The joy of the Lord really can return to your home in one week—starting with the next thought you choose to believe.