• gingermoore95
• Business Growth, Uncategorized

There’s a story tucked into 1 Samuel that many of us as moms can quietly relate to—especially if we are walking the hard and holy road of adoption or foster care.

King Saul was tormented by a troubled spirit. Anxiety, jealousy, and anger marked his days. But Scripture tells us something simple yet profound: when young David played his harp, Saul’s mind found relief.

“Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”
—1 Samuel 16:23

Isn’t it beautiful that God used something as ordinary as music to bring peace into a storm?

The Power of Atmosphere

As moms—especially adoptive and foster moms—we know our homes can quickly shift from calm to chaos. Trauma, fear, or just the weight of everyday life can stir big emotions in our children (and in us). What we invite into the atmosphere of our homes matters.

David didn’t need to preach at Saul or correct his behavior. He simply brought worship into the room. That act changed everything. In the same way, sometimes the best thing we can do is fill our homes with the sound of praise. Worship invites the presence of God, and where His Spirit is, there is peace.

When Worship Stirs the Battle

But let me be transparent—sometimes worship doesn’t make things immediately calm.

We had a child in our home who was in a very dark place. You could literally feel the heaviness and oppression in the atmosphere. When he wasn’t home, I would play worship music in his room, believing it could shift the spiritual climate. One day, he came home and I had forgotten to turn it off. He stormed into the room, yanked the Alexa aggressively from the wall, and shouted, “Get this out of my room!”

The worship music triggered the very forces that were already tormenting him. Instead of bringing peace, it exposed the battle. In that moment, his angry reaction actually confirmed what I had been sensing all along—this was not just teenage moodiness; it was a spiritual war.

As an older teen from a very hard place, I wanted to respect his boundaries, so I made a compromise. I stopped playing worship directly in his room, but I continued to play it in the hallway outside. I wanted the atmosphere of our home to carry the presence of God, even if he resisted it personally.

This experience reminded me that worship is not just background music—it’s warfare. Sometimes the darkness gets louder before it flees.

A Tool for Our Families

There will be moments when words fall short—when our kids are overwhelmed, when they can’t express what they’re feeling, or when we ourselves feel stretched beyond capacity. In those moments, we can follow David’s example. Turn on worship music. Sing. Play an instrument if you can.

And if the reaction isn’t what you expect—don’t lose heart. Sometimes resistance is proof that what you’re doing matters. You are pushing back darkness. You are filling your home with light.

For the Mom’s Heart Too

Maybe you’re the one who feels like Saul—anxious, weary, or under attack. Friend, don’t underestimate what worship can do for you. Put on a song that lifts your spirit. Let the words wash over your mind. God created music as a balm for the soul.

A Challenge for This Week

Next time your home feels heavy, try this:

• Pause.
• Play a worship song aloud.
• Pray silently while the music plays.

Watch how God meets you in that moment.

The enemy hates praise because it turns our eyes off our problems and onto our Provider. When David strummed his harp, he wasn’t just playing notes—he was inviting God’s peace into a broken situation. And you can do the same, mama—even if the battle rages before the breakthrough comes.

Reflection & Journaling Prompts

1. Reflect on Atmosphere

• What “atmosphere” does your home most often carry—peace, chaos, heaviness, joy?
• How could worship shift the tone in a practical way this week?

2. Recognize the Battle

• Have you ever noticed resistance when you prayed, worshiped, or read Scripture in your home?
• How does your story—or mine—confirm that spiritual warfare is real?

3. Personal Encouragement

• When you feel anxious, weary, or overwhelmed, what worship songs have brought you peace in the past?
• Write down a few that you can keep on a “go-to” playlist for hard days.

4. For Your Children

• Think about one child in your care. Where do you sense they carry the heaviest burdens?
• How could you quietly cover them in worship or prayer—even if they resist it?

5. God’s Presence in Your Story

• Read 2 Chronicles 20:22 and Acts 16:25–26 again.
• What do these passages teach you about God’s power through praise?
• Write a prayer asking Him to “set ambushes” against the enemy in your family through worship.

✍️ Journal Prompt for the Week

Take 10 minutes to write a prayer in your journal:

• Begin with worship—thank God for who He is.
• Confess any fear or heaviness weighing on your heart.
• Invite His Spirit to fill your home.
• Declare, even if you don’t feel it yet, that His peace rules over your family.

Quick Music Reference Table