'Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines Reveals Her Powerful Life Motto

May 08, 2017 09:39 AM EDT

"Fixer Upper" star Joanna Gaines has a simple -- but powerful -- life motto: "Always trust your instincts and go with your gut."

The 39-year-old HGTV star shared her mantra in Traditional Home's May issue, explaining that over the years, she's learned to not always "try to please the crowd".

Joanna echoed those same sentiments in a 2015 video for Baylor University in which she shared how she and her husband, Chip, are more concerned with pleasing God than pleasing man.

"I can look back now on the pattern of my life and really believe God has a purpose for me, but He also has purpose for you," Joanna said.

"Whether you're staying home and raising beautiful babies or you're the CEO of a multi-million dollar company, let God speak into your life," she added "Let his father heart come and say, 'This is what I have for you.' I think that's the key - not believing the lies, fixing our eyes on Jesus, and walking in the truth."

In 2016 blog post, Joanna similarly said that she and Chip are grateful for God's faithfulness and protection - no matter what obstacles they may face.

"We've always strived to serve and love people from all walks of life, regardless of who you are or what you do," she wrote. "We are in the restoration business. Our job is to find beauty in all things, whether it's an old house or someone's story."

She added, "We are thankful for this ride of a lifetime- we feel God has been with us on every mountain top and in every valley. Grace upon grace He has given us."

In recent years, Chip and Joanna have certainly put that belief into practice: Earlier this month, Chip responded to a lawsuit brought against him by his former business partners by quoting a Bible verse about overcoming darkness.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it", he tweeted.

Last year, after the couple came under fire from the radical left for attending an evangelical church opposed to same-sex marriage, Chip responded with one powerful tweet: "In times of trouble.. you'll find the gaines family at church."

He later wrote in a post titled "Chip's New Years Revelation", "Jo and I refuse to be baited into using our influence in a way that will further harm an already hurting world."

Chip said he and his wife are all about trying to help people come together, even those who disagree. He explained that he and Joanna feel called to be "bridge builders" and that they want to inspire others to "lovingly disagree." He also urged people not to buy into a popular "lie" that is oft-times perpetuated in culture.

"Listen to me, we do not all have to agree with each other," he continued. "Disagreement is not the same thing as hate, don't believe that lie."

In the interview with Traditional Home, Joanna revealed she and Chip enjoy spending time together and have a one-date-per week policy.

"Since Chip and I try to go on a date night once a week, we don't feel the need to keep holidays like Valentine's Day all to ourselves," she said. "We set the table fancy, we all get dressed up, and we serve a big, beautiful candlelight dinner. It's our kids' favorite too. I'll never forget one year we served lobster, and Chip chased all the kids around the house with a lobster. It was hilarious!"

She also told the magazine that she's "proud" to call Waco, Texas home.

"Texans know how to make people feel welcome," Jo shared. "Waco is such a resilient town...this city has seen its fair share of hardships, but it always bounces back better and stronger."