5 Ways To Have Hospitality In Your Home

The following hospitality tips are both simple and have a huge impact on the people entering your home.

I have such fond memories from a few homes that have hospitality mastered. The service and genuine care that I felt coming from those people made me want to model that in my home.

We LOVE having people in our home to do life with. I know this is not the case for everyone reading this. But, I do encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try to be more hospitable with your home.

I do believe it is an opportunity for Christian ministry that is vital for strong, godly relationships. Several stories in The Bible include people, including Jesus, gathering in one another’s home.

1) Be prepared for hospitality

I’d argue that one of the most important ways to be hospitable is to be prepared. What exactly does that mean?

Life as a mother is unpredictable and messy. But, there is a time for allowing certain people into your home to see your life how it is. There is also something to be said for the opposite.

In our home, there are certain parts of the house that we constantly tidy throughout the day with teamwork. The layout of our home has the living room and kitchen right inside the front door. So, those are the two areas that we try to do our best to clean up as we go throughout the day. We are fortunate enough to have a “play room” where I can stash the toys in a pinch.

I do recommend having an area like this in your home, that is ready for company at any given moment. There will be times that someone needs to talk or needs prayer unplanned. It is such a blessing if I can be ready for that person whenever the struggles of life occur.

Sure, there is a time for calling someone up on the phone to talk. I believe nothing beats a face to face conversation and praying face to face, however. There is a connection that happens that can’t be felt over the phone. So, tidy up one room in your home often so that you can have a comfortable space for a guest whenever needed.

2) Be available/have relationships

This coincides with #1 on the list. Being available to fellowship with someone and having a space to do it go hand in hand. Plus, you have to have relationships that are rooted in order for people to feel comfortable reaching out to you. If there is no relationship they also wouldn’t have a desire to come into your home to experience your hospitality. Being a part of a side by side mentor group or Bible study would be a great way to make these relationships.

I know as good as anyone how busy life can get. The truth is that we all experience busy weeks or months. We cannot let time pass us by, however. There will be other opportunities but you never know why God placed someone in your life at a certain time. So, be available to welcome that opportunity and get connected. Make time for those around you even if it may be convenient for your schedule.

For example, mid-mornings on a couple of week days are best for me to have people over to my home at this time of life. Because I have small children, I do not have the luxury of having people over anytime necessarily. Knowing that there are times available at a few different points throughout the week makes me more of a reliable friend that is available to others.

3) Have refreshments ready

A wise friend of mine, who happens to be my age, taught this idea to me a few years back. She models hospitality so well in her home. I have felt encouraged by her simply by just being in her home and experiencing the mood and service. One thing she recommends is always having some cookie dough in the freezer, for example, to be able to thrown in the oven for unexpected guests.

This of course isn’t necessary. But, I can tell you from experience that I have been shocked that I showed up at a friends house last minute and they have something for me to enjoy. It kind of shocked me that they thought of even the little things.

There are of course many other ideas for this such as having tea or coffee at ease of access for this occasion. Get creative and next time you make a special treat, double it and freeze for later when you have a guest over.

4) Become selfless

Becoming selfless in terms of hospitality can look a little different for every situation. I know there are times I really don’t want to have a certain guest over due to my own selfish reasons. Whether I am feeling lazy or unavailable emotionally I can miss out on an opportunity to be hospitable with my home if I am not careful.

If you are having a friend over to be an ear to hear for a tough situation, try praying right before the person shows up. A lot of times I find that I become more available to listen, or speak wisdom, if I remember to ask God for help first.

5) Make your space cozy

Something I have loved is when I step into someone else’s home and instantly feel at home. This will probably look different at different times of the year, but screams hospitality none-the-less.

If it is Winter time, maybe there are cozy blankets available and candles lit. Spring time and Summer are my favorite. We have the blessing of large windows in our home and I love having the curtains wide open to let light it. The sun brightens my day. I can say anyone who enters our home would likely feel the same.

Try using a diffuser with CPTG Essential Oils. Essential Oils are powerful and can affect our mood. Use this to your advantage to be using the oils in your home often. One of my favorite Spring and Summer time blends is Juniper Berry, Grapefruit, and Wild Orange. It is such a breath of fresh air that makes me smile, it could do the same for your guest.

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If you have other hospitality tips, comment below! I’d love to hear what you’ve done to model this.

More encouragement from My abiding home:

• Prioritizing Parenting with Small Children
• Powerful Prayers From A Praying Wife
• How To Use Essential Oils In A Daily Routine