Creating Peace in the Home
“I love coming into your home! It’s so peaceful.”
I hear these words all the time. Family and friends know that I desire peace in my home, especially since the world can be hectic, chaotic and rushed. My home is a safe haven of sorts, a heaven on earth while we live here. Creating an atmosphere for Jesus to extend His peace takes strategy and imagination. I see every day, every moment, as a scene in a chapter of our lives. And any good writer knows that you can, with the words and actions you choose, create a scene to be powerful and purposeful. I simply create space for Jesus’ peace to flood my home.
Peace has power and purpose. It frees us up to hear from God and receive and show love to Him. It allows the people within our homes to experience God’s kindness and clarity. When we come into an atmosphere of peace, we can let go of the inner struggle, heartache and confusion we have been holding onto. When those negative emotions are released into an atmosphere of peace, they evaporate in the warmth of God’s love and compassion for us. As people come into our homes, we can literally offer peace to their spirits. This offering is priceless.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14.27 NIV).
4 Natural Ways to Create Peace
Because humans are both spirit and flesh, there are natural and supernatural ways to promote peace in the home. The natural ways put our body at ease. The supernatural ways put our spirit at ease. Both are important, especially if we are offering peace to the young and hurting. Learning to have peace in the midst of the storm takes experience and maturity, so for now we will create a peace that is both tangible and experiential.
“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3.15 NLT).
Natural Way 1: An Organized Home
I know this may sound simple and kind of old fashion, but the clutter of our home will negatively affect those within it. This doesn’t mean that our home should be show-worthy at any moment, but picking up and putting things where they belong will promote peace. Everything has its place. Forming a habit of putting things back up will save time and energy. Teaching our kids to pick up after themselves shows good stewardship of what they’ve been blessed with. And when people come into our homes, they will feel like they’ve entered a place of stability and peacefulness.
“But be sure that everything is done properly and in order” (1 Corinthians 14.40 NLT).
Natural Way 2: A Nice Smelling Home
According to research, our sense of smell is closely linked to memories, and it is a highly emotional sense (ref). As we create peaceful scenes in our home, the smell of our home will enrich the moment, creating lasting memories in the minds and hearts of others. Using candles, wick-less candles (i.e. Scentsy), plug-ins, diffusers and sprays will create beautiful, emotionally rooted, moments of peace that will last a lifetime. We can even get creative, using certain scents for certain moments of time to really package the atmosphere with spiritual and temporal peace.
“I jumped up to open the door for my love, and my hands dripped with perfume. My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh as I pulled back the bolt” (Song of Solomon 5.5 NLT).
Natural Way 3: A Sustenance Home
I know that a lot of people do not cook, but that shouldn’t stop us from offering a beverage and/or snack to our guests. When I have people over, I do a hybrid of some home cooked items with some packaged items. The easiest offering is fruit with cheese and crackers. Super easy and people enjoy the variety. There once was a time when breaking bread together was the catalyst for friendships and special moments. Keeping food ready for visitors is a sure way to bless them. Thirst and hunger satisfied allows peace to come to the forefront.
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (Matthew 25.40 NLT).
Natural Way 4: A Musical Home
I have an Amazon Echo that I play Christian music on, but any form of producing music will do. According to research, music is a phenomenon that is deeply rooted into our minds. Calming and inspiring music can alleviate stress, anxiety and pain (ref). I will play worship music, soaking music and/or instrumental music depending on the mood I want to create. I try to keep music always filling the atmosphere of my home. Christian music that speaks words of biblical truth are awesome at filling my home with the aroma of God’s goodness.
“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away” (1 Samuel 16.23 NLT).
*Read the rest of this article by purchasing my award-winning book, Reframing: 40 Days to Reframe & Refresh Your Life, on Amazon.
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