Holiness with a Hearthrug
Even holiness can look like kneeling with a child and mending a toy.
📚 Devotional Credit:
From His Victorious Indwelling by Nick Harrison.
Original writings by An Unknown Christian and J.B. Stoney.
Used with respect for journal-based discipleship.
📸 Photo Credit:
Image sourced from Unsplash.
Today’s story compiled by Nick Harrison is tender and piercing. A mother, hungry for deeper holiness, poured herself into the Word, searching diligently for the secret to the Christian life. But in her pursuit of the sacred, she missed the sanctity in the small—a child’s need, a doll’s repair, the loving work of home. She brushed aside her daughter in her holy quest, only to discover that the very holiness she longed for had been waiting quietly on the hearthrug.
It is a striking reminder: we do not draw nearer to Christ by withdrawing from the ordinary, but by recognizing His presence in it. Real holiness doesn’t sidestep dishes, distractions, or dolls—it transfigures them. There is no divide between the sacred and the simple when Christ indwells. What we call interruptions may be His invitations.
And it often takes the Spirit's gentle nudge to show us we’ve wandered—not into sin, but into self. Even our devotion can become a distraction if it elevates knowledge above love. The mother’s story is not one of failure, but of redirection. Her pursuit of holiness didn’t end—it deepened, incarnated in mended dolls, warm dinners, and a radiant home where Christ was quietly enthroned in the daily.
Holiness is not a distant glow we must strive to grasp. It’s the steady presence of Christ, transforming every act, no matter how small, into communion when done in love and trust.
📓 Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture:
My child, I am not hiding from you in lofty places or cloaked in mystery beyond your reach. I am nearer than your breath, abiding in the quiet spaces of your day—the ones you may call mundane, the ones you overlook.
When your heart longs for holiness, listen for Me not only in your study but in your steps. I am there when you bind up a child’s broken toy, when you set the table with a grateful heart, when you fold the laundry while remembering My grace. I take joy in walking with you through dishes and devotions alike.
Let Me renew your mind not only in the pages of Scripture but in the very patterns of your life. Your gentleness with the little ones, your patience in repeated chores, your willingness to stoop in love—these are the moments where My kingdom is seen.
Do not measure your growth by your feelings or your knowledge, but by the fruit of My presence flowing through your surrendered heart. As you yield to Me in the little things, you will find the beauty of My holiness dawning over everything. Let love lead your actions, and you will find the Scriptures lit with a fresh glory.
I am not asking you to do more, only to yield more. And in your yielded moments, I will live through you in ways you may never notice—but I do.
Scripture References:
Matthew 19:13–14; Colossians 3:17; Galatians 2:20; John 13:14–15; Philippians 2:13; Romans 12:1–2; Luke 16:10; 1 Corinthians 10:31; John 15:4–5
🪟 Real-Life Analogy:
It’s like wiping a smudge off a kitchen counter. The cloth is small, the gesture simple—but suddenly, the light catches the surface, and the whole room feels different. The mess wasn't catastrophic, but removing it changed the atmosphere.
So it is with the little acts of love and service. A toy mended, a child comforted, a chore done in love—they don’t just clean the surface; they let the light of Christ shine more clearly through our lives.
Today, as we go about our normal rhythm of life—maybe it’s packing lunches, taking a phone call, or tending to a family need—pause and trust the Spirit of Christ to express His tender holiness through us. We don’t have to conjure up patience or love. Just yield, and let Him live His life through ours, even in the tiniest task.
🙏 Prayer of Confidence:
Father, thank You that holiness is not a reward for my striving, but the outflow of Your life in me. I rejoice that You’ve already made me Yours and given me all I need for life and godliness. Today, I trust You to live through me—not only in prayer and study, but in every small act of love. Thank You that nothing is wasted when it is done in You. Even a mended toy can echo heaven when done in Your name.