How to Make Your Home a Dwelling of Peace

✨📖 Isaiah 32:18 - "My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest."

I absolutely love this verse from Isaiah! Every time I read it, comfort floods into my soul. I get that warm, safe feeling similar to when I’m wrapped up in a snug blanket as a thunderstorm approaches. It may get darker and louder outside, but I know inside I’m safe from the storm. This verse reveals our Heavenly Father's •good• desire towards us. As His beloved children, He wants our dwellings to be overflowing with peace, security, and rest. The world may get darker & more frightening around us, but we can rest in His peace. Peace, security, and rest are all attributes of shalom, the Hebrew word for peace.

💛 Definition of shalom -

- completeness

- wholeness

- health

- peace

- welfare

- safety

- soundness

- tranquility

- prosperity

- perfectness

- fullness

- rest

- harmony/the absence of agitation & discord

With Isaiah 32:18 in mind, I have divided the Lord's "vision statement" for our homes into three sections where we’ll dig deeper to find out how we can make our homes places of peace, security, and rest.

🌿 PEACE - wholeness & health

🌿 SECURITY - welfare & safety

🌿 REST - tranquility & harmony

Before we dive into these three sections, every good builder knows that you must first lay a solid foundation.

As Christian women, our foundation is and always will be Jesus Christ. He is •the• Cornerstone that the prophets foretold would come and be rejected by Israel.

1 Peter 2:7-8 -

"The stone which the builders rejected,

This became the very cornerstone,”

and, 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense'"

Although Christ became a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense to those who did not believe, to those who •did• believe He became a sure foundation that can be trusted.

Isaiah 28:16 - "So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.'"

A cornerstone is the first stone laid for a structure. It is the reference stone that all other stones are laid in relation to. He is the foundation of our faith. In Christ, we •already• have everything we need for life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3). As He took His final breath, He shouted in triumph, 'It is finished" (John 19:30). He purchased for us an inheritance; one that we don't need to pray and ask God for. How come? Because our inheritance has already been given to us. Our loving Father has provided (past tense) everything we need through the finished work of His Son. Think about the word, inheritance, in the natural world. When a parent dies, their will is executed to bequeath their personal estate to their heirs. Another term for inheritance is birthright meaning “a right, possession, or privilege one has from birth.” However, the heir is not able to possess the birthright until the parent is deceased. By His death, Jesus purchased an inheritance for us through the finished work of the cross.

🪴 This inheritance includes:

•eternal life

•right standing with God (Jesus became our sin on the cross & took the punishment we deserved from God)

•Jesus’ authority over all the power of the enemy

•healing over all sickness and disease

•power through the Holy Spirit's indwelling

I want to focus on the second part of Isaiah 28:16 which says, "...the one who relies on {this cornerstone} will never be stricken with panic.'" Panic is fear. It is terror. I know firsthand what terror feels like because I experienced a few panic attacks as a child. The best way I can describe it is a dark, ominous feeling that creeps over you until you are overwhelmed with the fear of death. It is a spiritual presence, make no mistake about it. This verse contains a promise from the Lord. The one who believes on Jesus, the Cornerstone, will never be stricken with panic. The answer is in the Person. The Presence of Jesus. He is our 'Sar Shalom' - Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Every demonic spirit of fear, terror, and distress has to bow its knee to Him. There are so many examples of this in the New Testament:

"And whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, 'You are the Son of God!'" -Mark 3:11

Did you catch that? These unclean {demonic} spirits would fall down before Him. Falling before someone is an act of submission. They are showing who has the upper hand and the greater authority...and it is JESUS, our Prince of Peace. The Prince of Shalom. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says that,"...we have the mind of Christ."If we have the mind of Christ and we can know the LORD's thoughts, then we also must have His perfect peace in our spirit man. So, take up your authority in Christ against the spirit of fear. Resist the devil & he will flee (James 4:7). You are safe with Him, friend. You can put your faith in Him. He is faithful. He is secure. He is your Peace. He is your foundation.

Matthew 7:25 - "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the Rock."

Psalms 91:1-2 - "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"

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Now that we've laid down some foundational truths, lets get the walls up!

1️⃣ The first attribute of God's vision for our homes is "peaceful dwelling places."

💛 PEACE - wholeness & health

The ideas of wholeness and health are intricately woven within the biblical definition of peace {shalom}. Wholeness is defined as the condition of being sound; not wounded, injured, or impaired. The biblical idea of wholeness is the state of being perfectly well in body, soul, and spirit according to God's original design for mankind before the fall in Genesis. We have access to wholeness because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. A natural by-product of wholeness is health. So what does wholeness and health look like for our homes?

•Taking communion together as a family•

This is one of my favorite things to do in our home! You don't have to be at church to take communion. The Lord instructed His disciples to partake of communion often. "In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant between God and His people - an agreement confirmed with My blood. Do this in remembrance of Me as often as you drink it.'" The early church partook of communion daily as they went from house to house "breaking bread."

During the Last Supper, Jesus explained the symbolism between the bread and wine representing His Body and Blood. Regarding the bread, He proclaims in John 6:48-51 that He is the Bread of Life: "I am the Bread of life...here is the Bread that comes down from heaven which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living Bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this Bread will live forever. This Bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Regarding the wine, He proclaims in Matthew 26:28, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." I wish I could go into greater detail, but for brevity’s sake, here is an excellent article on the Power of the Holy Communion by Pastor Joseph Prince that I think will be helpful in understanding the healing benefits of partaking in communion as often as possible.

As you begin the practice of taking communion regularly as a family, you'll experience the perfect peace and wholeness of Christ over your home as you do it in remembrance of Him. May His resurrection life flood every crevice of your body, family, and home.

✨ Quick Tips:

-- Visit your local grocery store for your communion supplies. You can use any kind of grape juice in place of red wine. My family likes to visit the International aisle at our supermarket to find Kedem grape juice. We’ve also used Welch's before. For bread, we usually buy matzah, but you can use any bread of your choosing.

-- My husband usually leads our communion time by breaking the bread, pouring the juice, and reciting Matthew 26 as we partake of it. However, you can take communion by yourself anytime you want to.

-- Be sure to include your child(ren) in this time of worship.

2️⃣ The second attribute of God's vision for our homes is "secure homes."

💛 SECURITY - welfare & safety

The ideas of welfare and safety are central to the well-being of a home. If the people inside the home do not feel protected, they won't be at ease. The definition of welfare is "the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, and well-being." One of the best ways to protect your home is by declaring God's Word over it and your family.

•Declare God's Word over your home•

Psalm 91 is an excellent Bible passage to speak in faith over your home (I've included it below), but there are so many Scriptures that you can use! As you complete your daily Bible reading, take note of Scriptures that speak to you about God’s protection and faithfulness. Then, speak His Word in faith over your family and dwelling.

✨📖 PSALM 91

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name. When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.”

3️⃣ The third attribute of God's vision for our homes is "undisturbed places of rest."

💛 REST - tranquility & harmony

A home that is full of rest can be tangibly felt the moment you cross the door's threshold. The peace you feel allows you to take a deep breath in and sigh your heavy burdens away. What makes the atmosphere of certain homes so relaxing?

I think there are two keys:

1. The tranquility of the space - the definition of tranquility is the quality or state of being calm. A tranquil space doesn't have to be a room designed by someone like Joanna Gaines or Erin Napier. You don't need expensive home décor. What does matter is creating a space that is welcoming, tidy, & calm.

•Add touches to your home that are calming•

I love to fill our tiny condo with Scripture art. I found 16 x 20 inch frames at IKEA that were relatively inexpensive. One of my dearest friend's sent me an Etsy shop that sells beautiful watercolor prints containing Scriptures. I found a few verses that were meaningful to my family and, now, they’re hanging on our walls declaring the Word of God over our home. They are visual reminders to us of His goodness, faithfulness, and unfailing love. Little touches like this make a space tranquil and calm.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 - "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

*If you would like to purchase some high quality prints, the Etsy shop’s name is Great Grace United. You can access the shop here. I’ve included an example below of one of Esther’s beautiful masterpieces…

The second key to creating a relaxing attitude in your home is:

2. The harmony among the people dwelling there - There is nothing less relaxing than being in a home where there is tension or strife among its members. We can't control how others act towards us, but we have control over our responses to them. Regardless of situation, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us empowering us to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. We can be gracious in heated discussions and exhibit love & forgiveness to those who have wronged us. We can influence from a place of gentle strength and demonstrate the quiet spirit that our Father finds so dear (1 Peter 3:4).

•Stop the cycle of negativity and foster an environment free from agitation and discord by living in harmony with each other•

Proverbs 14:1 - "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."

Colossians 3:14 - "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Praying in the spirit (speaking in tongues) is so powerful in cultivating harmony in your home because it bypasses your physical mind and natural emotions and communicates directly to God, Spirit to spirit. When we pray in this way over a conflict or disagreement in our home, we’re inviting the “all-surpassing peace” of the Spirit to flood the atmosphere and disarm every spirit of offense, criticism, and bitterness. When we yield ourselves in this way to the Holy Spirit, He instills His love for our families inside of us. We can love unconditionally despite any present circumstance or disagreement.

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So, to recap, we make our homes dwellings of peace when they’re filled with wholeness, safety, and tranquility.

🏡✨ Partaking of communion together as a family produces wholeness and health. Declaring God’s Word over your home brings divine protection and well-being. Adding touches of tranquility fosters rest and stopping the cycle of negativity creates harmony in our homes.

In closing, I hope you are both comforted and inspired that God wants your home to be a place of peace, security, and rest. His Word says, "...He blesses the home of the righteous" (Proverbs 3:33). Let's rejoice in our dwellings of peace and be at rest in the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 - "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

💛 Warmly,

Kate

I’d love to hear from you, friend! Comment below with one way you’ve added peace, rest, and tranquility into your home. I’m always looking for more ways to cultivate a peaceful home filled with God’s Presence for my family and I! 💛🏡🪴