In ancient and modern Israel, when someone greets you, they will typically say, “Shalom”. While most people assume that this means just a simple “peace be with you”, the term actually translates into something more along the lines of, “may you be filled with a complete and perfect peace and be full of well-being”. Shalom is more than just peace and happiness, it is a state of fullness; overflowing inner and outer joy and peaceful presence. 

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In the midst of a changing culture, where the standards for what is “right” or “wrong” are constantly changing and the media often dictates our everyday decisions, our homes should be little sanctuaries of Shalom. Just as Adam and Even were meant to guard Eden as a flourishing place of Shalom, we are called to guard the Shalom of our homes. 

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Lest you panic as you look around at the visible chaos of everyday life strewn around you (children running around the house, toys left laying out on the floor, dirty dishes in the sink, piles of laundry on your teenager’s bedroom floor), Shalom is less about having a spotless, quiet, perfect environment and more about the consistent commitment to rhythms of faith that anchor your family to Christ and His Word in the everyday. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27). Protecting shalom is, ultimately, stewarding the gift He has already given us.

Here are a few practical tips for cultivating shalom in your home:

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Build your foundation on the truth- 

Isaiah reminds us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3). Protecting shalom in the home begins with inviting God’s presence into daily life—through prayer, worship, Scripture, and gratitude. Culture around is constantly changing. If you are going to social media to learn how to disciple your children or what to do when your child does such and such, you will always be in a state of movement, spinning your wheels, tossed around by the whims of whatever or whoever is currently trending. On the flip side, when our life is centered on Scriptural truths, which do not change, we find lasting peace based on a foundation that is deeper than mood, stress, trends, or seasons of life. 

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” -Matthew 7:24-27

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Practice confession, repentance, and forgiveness- 

Every household experiences misunderstanding and conflict. Shalom is not the absence of disagreement, but the presence of grace. Unresolved offense erodes peace, while forgiveness—given and received—restores emotional and spiritual unity. It is incredibly important that we teach our children how to confess, repent, and reconcile with others. “God designed the home to be the primary place where [sin] is addressed honestly and redemptively.” -Ken Duffy For more on this practice, we encourage you to read….. 

https://kenduffy.net/p/confession-repentance-and-forgiveness

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Create rhythms of rest and connection- 

A home filled with constant noise, pressure, and busyness will struggle to sustain true peace. God Himself modeled rest when He created the world, and He invites us to do the same. Protecting shalom means establishing rhythms that intentionally slow us down and anchor our weeks. This may look like a consistent nightly meal shared together, a weekly Sabbath practice, scheduled times when devices are intentionally put away (rest for the mind), a quarterly family or marriage retreat, or a daily quiet time. Rest is an act of trust that God is at work even when we pause. The time we invest in protecting rest and connection with the people in our homes will bear exponential fruit in all areas of our lives (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). 

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Give careful thought to the language of your home- 

Proverbs tells us that “the tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21). Our homes are shaped by what we speak into them. Words spoken in anger, sarcasm, or impatience can fracture peace quickly, while words marked by gentleness and truth restore it. Protecting shalom means choosing speech that builds rather than breaks—especially in moments of tension. What is the language of your home? How do you notice your children speaking to each other when they think you can’t hear them? How do you treat guests in your home? How do you speak about other people or family members outside of your home? How are hard conversations handled? Every home will have a certain language. Let’s give careful thought to how we want our homes to sound. 

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Be a keeper of the atmosphere- 

Protecting shalom often starts with us as parents. We have the opportunity and the responsibility to set the tone of our homes. Practically this often means checking our attitudes, choosing truth over feeling, leaning into Christ for our joy, and choosing peace even when it costs our pride. As we model these things for our children, they will learn to follow this example, creating unity and a common vision that leads to peace-filled, joyous homes even in the midst of the daily chaos of life. Being a keeper of the home also includes being mindful of what we allow into our homes in the form of media, outside relationships, conversations, and schedules. We can and should monitor what our children are listening to, watching, who their friends are, and what types of activities they are spending their time on. Shalom flourishes where hearts, minds, and bodies are protected. 

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May our homes be places where God’s peace is not only felt, but faithfully guarded—day by day, word by word, prayer by prayer.

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