A Heart That Beats for Home

Nikki Smith
  • 5.0 (102)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hey friend! I’m Nikki Smith—wife, mom of three, entrepreneur, and host of A Heart That Beats for Home. Over the years, God has used marriage, motherhood, business, and everyday life to stretch me, grow me, humble me, and draw me closer to Him. This space is a reflection of the journey I’m still on—growing, learning, and leaning into much-needed grace. I have a heart to keep investing intentionally in my marriage of 26 years with the man God has given me as a partner and best friend, to walk faithfully toward the season of empty nesting, and to grow deeper in relationship with my adult and soon-to-be adult children. More than anything, I’m passionate about drawing closer to my Heavenly Father—truly knowing Him in a way that is real and active in my everyday life—and reflecting Him in all my relationships, actions, and plans. Each episode is a real, hope-filled conversation about the things that matter most: building strong families, walking faithfully in the gift of marriage, parenting intentionally through every stage, and keeping Christ at the center of it all. Alongside my own story, you’ll hear from amazing guests who share a deep passion for nurturing strong families where Jesus is glorified. Their wisdom, vulnerability, and encouragement will remind you that you’re not alone in this journey. Whether you’re single, newly married, raising little ones, building a business, or walking through a new season, you’re welcome here. This is a space for women who love their families fiercely and want to lead with purpose—honoring God in the roles He has placed us in, faithfully shepherding the souls in our homes, and nurturing an environment that reflects the fruit of the Spirit and a life that glorifies Him. One day at a time, may we become women who cultivate hearts that beat for home. Thanks for being here, Nikki

  1. 1D AGO

    83. Meeting God in the Middle of the Mess with Devan Holman

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. Some days feel like you’re barely holding the house, the calendar, and your own heart together, and you wonder if you’re failing at life. Today’s conversation will meet you right there. Nikki sits down with Deon Holman, wife, mom of three, and writer of an upcoming 30-day devotional project Messy Days, Mighty God, to talk about finding Jesus in the middle of full schedules, ordinary motherhood, and real-life discouragement. Deon shares the “building project” framework behind her devotional, including three daily pillars that helped her clear the fog during a hard season: time with Jesus, training your body, and intentional nutrition, with Jesus as the true foundation. They also talk about “demo day” (what to tear down, surrender, and release), how to build rhythms that support genuine faith without legalism, and why secondhand inspiration can never replace meeting with God personally. If you’ve been craving joy, spiritual steadiness, and a faith that fits into messy life instead of waiting for the perfect quiet moment… this episode is for you. Connect with Devan: Newsletter: https://devanholman.myflodesk.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18BKGXEuJ6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram https://www.instagram.com/devanholman?igsh=M2ZpZjV1dmo5b3Fj&utm_source=qr Website: www.devanholman.com  Faith, Wellness, & a Whole Lot of Real Life A mix of devotionals, honest reflections, Arbonne favorites, and a little encouragement for  Seeds Family Worship Music: https://seedskidsworship.com/product-category/music/ On Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/5kV2pC0biCYFh3y9HxgNkS On Apple:  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/seeds-family-worship/251295888 Scripture Lullabies: On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3egDut5sE3JIphJpVLO0z4 On Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/scripture-lullabies/464465134 Praise Baby: On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0uIyzjmP48YI0dpgdAjdeI On Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/sleepytime-lullabies/372543219 Abby Houston - Melodically Memorizing: On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CcoMJoJtlZrt2w6XSbj6c?si=9kKzk_T-Tc2JWQq2CQFVog On Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/abby-houston/1173348681 JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    51 min

  2. FEB 12

    82. The Greatest of These Is Love: Raising Kids Who Know How to Love Well

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. Valentine’s week often centers around flowers, feelings, and romance. But what if love is meant to be much deeper and much more daily than that? In this episode, we step back and ask a foundational question: if the greatest commandment is to love, what does that actually look like inside our homes? Not the cultural version of love built on emotion and attraction, but biblical love rooted in action, commitment, humility, and truth. Together we explore: • The difference between emotional love and chosen love  • How children learn love primarily through modeling  • Why apology and humility strengthen families  • How daily decisions shape the emotional climate of your home  • Why boundaries and discipline are powerful expressions of long-term love  • The balance of truth and compassion in correction  • How small, unseen acts of service form lifelong security This is not a formula for flawless parenting. It’s an invitation to faithful love. One day, your children will describe what it felt like to grow up in your house. They may not remember every rule or routine, but they will remember the atmosphere. The tone. The way conflict was handled. The way grace was extended. The way love was lived. We can’t edit the story later. But we are writing it now, in ordinary dinners, random Tuesday nights, and quiet moments no one else sees. Biblical love isn’t seasonal. It’s daily. And it has the power to shape generations. JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    45 min

  3. FEB 5

    81. Excruciatingly Beautiful: When Joy and Grief Collide in Motherhood

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. In this heartfelt episode, Nikki shares an honest conversation about the tension so many mothers feel but rarely name, the joy and grief that exist side by side as our children grow and begin to let go of our hands. From sending a child off to college to watching her youngest drive away for the first time, Nikki reflects on the moments that feel both painful and beautiful at once. She introduces the phrase “excruciatingly beautiful” to describe this season of motherhood where pride, loss, love, and change collide. This episode is an encouragement to every mom navigating transitions, whether you’re holding a newborn, dropping off a kindergartener, or launching a young adult. You are not alone in what you feel, and you don’t have to choose between celebrating your child and grieving what’s changing. Motherhood was never meant to be easy, but it is always sacred, always meaningful, and often… excruciatingly beautiful. Hannah Noelles - American Idol Audition: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DURzx1MkT93/ Song on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6IVVZIm95vjLL9Vmmch30X?si=2fa701e63f1c44aa Song on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/string-cheese/1812956887 JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    34 min

  4. JAN 29

    80. How to Thrive in 2026 Without Burning Out (Part 3): Staying in Your Race for the Long Haul

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. As we wrap up our three-part series on starting the new year with clarity and purpose, this episode focuses on one essential question: How do we stay in our race when the excitement fades and the work gets hard? We explore why we often expect quick results in the beginning but underestimate what steady faithfulness can produce over time. Through personal stories, practical analogies, and biblical wisdom, this conversation invites you to trade the racehorse mentality of burnout and comparison for the pack horse rhythm of balance, perseverance, and long obedience. We talk about learning to be bad before becoming good, how discipline shapes both character and calling, and why progress is still happening even when you can’t see it yet. You’ll be encouraged to evaluate what you’re carrying, quiet the noise of comparison and distraction, and live with the wisdom that your days are numbered. This episode will help you refocus on what truly matters, recommit to the priorities you set at the beginning of the year, and walk forward with confidence, consistency, and peace. Breathing Room by Andy Stanley:  https://series.northpointministries.org/breathing-room Reflection Questions: Am I running like a racehorse or walking like a pack horse?What noise do I need to quiet so I can stay focused on my race?What am I carrying that God never asked me to carry?What does balance look like to me in this season of life?Where do I need to trust that God is still working—even when I don’t see evidence yet?How can I measure faithfulness instead of perfection?Am I living with the wisdom that my days are numbered—and do my actions reflect that?JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    48 min

  5. JAN 22

    79. Get Clear in 2026 (Part 2): Vision That Simplifies Your Yes and No

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. In part 2 of our 3-part series on goal setting and vision, we’re talking about clarity and how clear, God-given direction can simplify your life in a way that feels like peace. When you don’t know where you’re headed, everything gets heavier: indecision, overthinking, people-pleasing, and yeses that don’t align with what truly matters. Today, I share a powerful conversation with my husband that changed how I make decisions. We talk about a “clarity test”, a simple filter you can run every opportunity, request, goal, or commitment through: Does this align with the mission of our home and the direction we believe God is leading our family… or not? I also read parts of my personal 10-year vision (2036), a detailed “movie script” of the life we’re prayerfully working toward: a marriage that stays prioritized, a home marked by hospitality, children and grandchildren who are loved and strengthened, health that supports a vibrant future, a business built with integrity, and generosity that stays joyful. And I’m very clear about this: this isn’t “manifesting.” This is stewardship, planning with faith while holding everything with open hands before God. We’ll walk through the four pillars that keep me anchored (the responsibilities only you can carry), and I’ll share practical examples of how clarity shapes everyday life: how I show up in my kitchen, how I protect time with my husband, how I parent adult kids with grace, how I communicate when things get heated, and how I set goals that match the legacy I want to live. If you’ve been overwhelmed by goal-setting or you’ve felt scattered, pressured, or distracted… this episode will help you step back, get honest, and get clear so your yes can be yes, your no can be no, and your days can finally match what you say you value. Next week in Part 3, we’ll talk about finishing your race strong—how to stay engaged when motivation fades and the year gets heavy.  “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9 Questions That Keep Your Direction Clear (True North): If I fast-forward ten years, what kind of person do I most want to be? What do I want people to experience when they are in my presence? If my life produced fruit I could see only in eternity, what would I hope that fruit is? At the end of my life, what would I most regret having neglected? What do I believe God is inviting me to build, cultivate, or steward in this season? What does faithfulness look like for me right now — not success, not speed, just faithfulness? Questions That Align Your Daily Life With Your Long-Term Vision: Did my choices today move me 1% closer to the life I believe God is calling me to? Where did I say “yes” to something that pulled me off course — and why? What small, ordinary obedience did I practice today? Did I prioritize what matters most — or what was most urgent? Did my schedule reflect my stated values? What went well today? Where did I drift? Where did I align with my vision? What will I do differently tomorrow? Questions That Hold Your Plans Loosely Before God: Am I clinging to my plan — or holding it with open hands? If God changed this tomorrow, could I still say “He is good”? What am I most afraid of losing — and what does that reveal? Am I building my identity on outcomes or on obedience? If my circumstances shifted, would my purpose still stand? “Lord, I make plans in faith — but I trust Your leading more than my blueprint. Shape my steps, even when they differ from my strat JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    47 min

  6. JAN 15

    78. Run Your Own Race In 2026 (Part 1): Why Faithfulness Matters More Than Speed

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. As we step into a new year, many of us feel a mix of hope, pressure, exhaustion, and uncertainty. In this opening episode of Season 3, Nikki invites you to pause, reflect, and reframe what it really means to move forward. This episode kicks off a three-part series centered on running your own race, not chasing comparison, perfection, or unrealistic expectations, but pursuing faithfulness in the life God has entrusted to you. Nikki explores why so many goals fade after the initial excitement of a new year, what “Quitter’s Day” reveals about our habits, and why lasting change is built on consistency, clarity, and grace...not hype. Through a powerful track-and-field story, honest reflection, and a biblical lens on habits, discipline, and stewardship, this conversation challenges listeners to consider not just the new habits they want to add, but the old ones they may need to let go of. Nikki unpacks how our daily choices shape who we are becoming, why faithfulness matters more than speed, and how staying in the race, even imperfectly, leads to real formation over time. Whether you’re feeling energized, discouraged, or somewhere in between, this episode offers encouragement to keep showing up, adjust instead of quit, and remember that growth is a process. This isn’t about a “new you”, it’s about becoming more aligned, more intentional, and more faithful in the race you’ve been given. Next week, we’ll continue the conversation by talking about clarity and how having a clear “why” changes everything about the decisions we make and the goals we pursue. JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    44 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    77. From Perfection to Peace: A Season Finale for the Mom Who Tries So Hard

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. If perfection keeps stealing your peace, this episode hands it back. In this season finale, we look at a year of growth in the real world — inside homes full of schedules, emotions, and people we love. We talk about the shift that’s changing everything for our families: saying less, being clear, and repairing quickly when we miss the mark. We also offer a simple way to reframe those “I’m failing” spirals — because most moms who feel behind are actually giving more than they can see. You’ll walk away with practical rhythms to protect margin during the holidays, a kinder way to measure progress, and permission to simplify the parts of life that don’t matter as much as connection does. You’re doing better than you think. Let’s celebrate the wins, widen the gap between stumbles, and choose joy in the season we once prayed for. If this encouraged you, share it with a friend who tries so hard too — and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s ahead in Season Three! JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    29 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    76. Gratitude, Growth, And Grace - Reflections on 2025

    We would love to hear from you! Text us any feedback. When the calendar starts sprinting and the afternoons turn dark way too early, we get the chance to slow everything down. We can take a deep breath, look back on the year, and see it through three lenses that matter—gratitude, growth, and grace. Not to hustle harder or create picture-perfect plans, but to walk into 2026 with steadiness, a little more peace, and a whole lot more awareness of God’s goodness. We talk about gratitude in the real, everyday ways—celebrating a daughter stepping into her calling, quiet nights by the tree and fireplace, and those little moments at home that shift the whole atmosphere. Then we dig into growth without the pressure—the boundaries we learned to set, the ways parenting older kids stretches us, the wisdom in saying no so our yes actually means something, and the practical helps (like a meal service) that make survival season feel a bit lighter. And woven through all of it is grace… grace for the losses, the weariness, the prayers whispered in the dark, and the strength God provided exactly when we needed it most. You’ll also get reflection questions for adults and kids—easy prompts for a date night, a drive with your teen, or a few minutes around the dinner table. We’ll talk about why rhythms always outlast resolutions, how 10–15 minutes a day can reshape your spiritual life, and how choosing one simple word for the year can anchor your heart. And if you’re walking into this season feeling behind or tired, hear this: you don’t need to reinvent yourself. You need the daily mercies He’s already offering and the courage to take small, faithful steps forward. If this episode encourages you, I’d love for you to tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a gentle landing place, and leave a quick review so more families can find their way here. Episode 6 - Am I Good Medicine for My Family - Do I Pass The Joy Test? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-am-i-good-medicine-for-my-family-do-i-pass-the-joy-test/id1719372285?i=1000645426505 Episode 9 - Reclaim Your Calendar: Does Our Family Calendar Reflect Our Values?  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-streamline-your-life-series-week-1-reclaim-your-calendar/id1719372285?i=1000648329013 Books By Justin Whitmel Earley: Habits of The Household -  https://amzn.to/4nOrlTT The Body Teaches The Soul-  https://amzn.to/3WSQlOI 5 Year Prayer Journal: https://www.dayspring.com/hosanna-revival-one-thing-i-ask-5-year-prayer-journal-edinburgh-theme?ne_ppc_id=21066640061&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21059800542&gbraid=0AAAAAD3t-bW-euiPYlgCwBm3Ry1bFz9ro&gclid=CjwKCAiA_dDIBhB6EiwAvzc1cC4tviyipz95tl-tJRV2QC9hcpWHNPJ1klpv_Yfj7xL91YWIEsj85RoCIDcQAvD_BwE Reflection Questions for 2025: Adults -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_luDmtk8hdLhpFFd4as7vsNqtpFYQmHf/view?usp=drive_link Kids-  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GcFg-pFWh06xSOwybvMj3MaFIA-N_vbj/view?usp=drive_link JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Along @ - https://www.instagram.com/nikkicronksmith/

    47 min
See All (84)

5
out of 5
102 Ratings

About

Hey friend! I’m Nikki Smith—wife, mom of three, entrepreneur, and host of A Heart That Beats for Home. Over the years, God has used marriage, motherhood, business, and everyday life to stretch me, grow me, humble me, and draw me closer to Him. This space is a reflection of the journey I’m still on—growing, learning, and leaning into much-needed grace. I have a heart to keep investing intentionally in my marriage of 26 years with the man God has given me as a partner and best friend, to walk faithfully toward the season of empty nesting, and to grow deeper in relationship with my adult and soon-to-be adult children. More than anything, I’m passionate about drawing closer to my Heavenly Father—truly knowing Him in a way that is real and active in my everyday life—and reflecting Him in all my relationships, actions, and plans. Each episode is a real, hope-filled conversation about the things that matter most: building strong families, walking faithfully in the gift of marriage, parenting intentionally through every stage, and keeping Christ at the center of it all. Alongside my own story, you’ll hear from amazing guests who share a deep passion for nurturing strong families where Jesus is glorified. Their wisdom, vulnerability, and encouragement will remind you that you’re not alone in this journey. Whether you’re single, newly married, raising little ones, building a business, or walking through a new season, you’re welcome here. This is a space for women who love their families fiercely and want to lead with purpose—honoring God in the roles He has placed us in, faithfully shepherding the souls in our homes, and nurturing an environment that reflects the fruit of the Spirit and a life that glorifies Him. One day at a time, may we become women who cultivate hearts that beat for home. Thanks for being here, Nikki

Information

  • Creator
    Nikki Smith
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    84
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Heart That Beats for Home
  • Show Website
    A Heart That Beats for Home

You Might Also Like