My kitchen table tends to accumulate a lot of stuff. There’s mail, bills, to do lists and whatever snacks the kids left behind on the way to their next venture. The kitchen table is a central location for family meetings and morning coffee discussions. It is always in use. Yesterday morning I put paper bowls out so that the kids wouldn’t dirty up any dishes. As I sat them on the table, I knew that they wouldn’t notice them because of all the clutter. I cleared everything off leaving nothing except for what I wanted them to see. With all the clutter gone their eyes would automatically focus on those bowls as they hurried in to make cereal and they would grab them. Problem solved. I retreated into my room with coffee to grab a little more quiet time before the rest of the house woke up to start their day.

I had to eliminate the clutter so that they could focus in on what needed attention without being distracted by things that were just taking up space. This is what we also have to do in our spiritual life. We must be able to focus in on what God is calling our attention too. Anything else that’s taking up unnecessary space in our brain has to be intentionally moved out. It feels so much better and makes life so much simpler when we can quiet ourselves and turn off the extra noise. Chaos is hovering over our nation and the world. If we aren’t careful it begins to leak into our homes, minds and souls.

When I studied the different names of God, the one that stuck with me was, Jehovah Shalom.

Jehovah Shalom means, the Lord my peace.

He is the God of our peace. He doesn’t want us living in confusion and frustration. If you have been feeling like this lately begin to work towards eliminating thoughts that are taking up the space you need mentally to cultivate peace. Don’t leave all of that stuff laying around in your head. If you do, you won’t be able to see or hear what God is calling your attention to.

I pray for you today. I pray that you will be guided by God’s peace. I pray that peace will be your palace. I pray that your mind will be decluttered. I pray that you allow God to be Jehovah Shalom in your life.