Monday's Resolution {Preserving Peace}

We are picking apart Jonathan Edward's 70 Resolutions, one week and one resolution at a time. Don't forget to start where he did- "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake."

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33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing, and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9

We all long for peace. In our hectic, loud, and sin-torn world, peace is a rare gem to be treasured.

As a Christian homemaker, I especially long to keep our home a refuge of peace for my family and anyone else who makes their way through the door. What can I do to make, maintain, establish, and preserve peace?

A few practical ideas:


Speech. "A soft answer turns away wrath" Proverbs 15:1b. Oftentimes conflicts are created by our words- we snap, speak without thinking, or respond rudely to one another. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my tone. What is the sound of my voice communicating to my daughter? To my husband? Love, respect, patience, joy? Do I startle or scare them? Or is my tone speaking delight in them, and a desire to fellowship with them? Only the perfect man has a totally tamed tongue {James 3:2}, and we know that only Christ is a perfect man... there will always be room for improvement in this category!

Service. I create a home of peace when I seek to meet the needs of others first. "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?" James 4:1. When I lay aside my selfish interests to meet the needs or desires of another, they will be blessed, and peace will reign. 

Simplifying. Just keeping life simple, from my schedule to the amount of possessions in my home, can remove stress and bring clarity. My husband likes a clean and orderly home. So do I! It is much easier for us to think, rest, and communicate when these externals are cared for. Members in a family fulfilling their roles and responsibilities can cause peace to flourish.

How do you promote peace in your home and abroad?