You ask for prayer for protection and peace, for your children's house purchase, and for strength to order your own home. These are not small things, but consider what great peace truly is. The peace that Christ gives is not a mere absence of trouble; it is the mother of all good things, the foundation of joy. Where the head is in harmony with the body, where Christ reigns in the heart, there all other members find their rest. Yet we often turn all our zeal to the earth we must soon leave, giving our very blood for a few acres, while we will not part with even what is beyond our wants to purchase Heaven. Before you seek a house of stone, seek first the house not made with hands. For He that built all things is God, and the builder has more honor than the house. If your children desire a dwelling, let them desire above all to be themselves a well-ordered household, where husband and wife agree together in love, and their children are in subjection with all gravity. For a man and his wife that agree, this is more precious than wealth or rank or any earthly advantage. Where love is, no discord finds admittance.
You long for them to be near you, that you may meet often. This is a natural affection, but do not mistake nearness of body for nearness of heart. The true household is the Church, and in it there is no distance. Even if they were separated by many miles, if they are one with you in faith and love, they are closer than those who share a roof but not the fear of God. And if they should purchase a house farther than you wish, do not despair. Perhaps it is God’s will that they build their own household under His headship, so that both houses may stand as small churches, each well-ruled for Him. Pray rather that they be kept from the wrong purchase, not only of a house, but of any path that leads away from Christ. For the Master of the house was called Beelzebub, and how much more they of His household? Let them look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He will guide their steps.
As for your own home, you seek strength to bring order and structure. This is a good aim, for he that cannot rule his own house, how shall he take care of anything else? Yet know that the outward order is but a shadow; first set your inner house in array. Sweep out the passions, furnish the soul with patience, and let Christ dwell there richly. When the inner man is at peace, the hands will move with purpose. Do not be troubled if the work is slow. The life of seclusion and study, which I once shared with Basil, taught me that bodily discipline has its place, but the soul must be the ruler. If you have the Angel of peace with you, you need fear no demon of disorder. Therefore, in all things, seek that peace which passes understanding, the peace that Christ left to His disciples. It is not a peace that says, “All is quiet,” while sin remains, but a peace that cuts off the diseased and unites heaven to earth. So then, work as one who builds for eternity, not merely for a comfortable life.
Let your prayer be chiefly this: that you and your children may be counted worthy of the household of God, where Christ is the builder, and that in every earthly dwelling you may show forth the order of that better house. For if you seek first the kingdom, all these other things, protection, a right purchase, strength, will be added. And to those who make peace, even in the smallest corners of their daily life, the promise is sure: they shall be called the sons of God.