It was a peaceful, silent night when Jesus was born. I bet there was a holy hush in the stable. With amazing awe the shepherd and the wise men came to worship this new little babe, called the Prince of Peace. This week of Advent is all about Peace. We believe Jesus came to be bring peace….to our hearts, to our families, to our world. We think of Him as a peacekeeper, but you are peacekeeper too. That’s who we are as believers. Let the peace of God reign in you. Here is your Advent dailyeword.
In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He was speaking of the Holy Spirit who was soon to come. He sent the Holy Spirit as the Comforter so we could have peace even in the midst of stress, strain, irritation or uncertainty. In the world you shall have tribulation (we live in a fallen world where there will be persecution), but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
The Prince of Peace had come. Our peace is found because a baby came to earth and is the result of resting in God. Rest is what restores our physical bodies, and peace is what restores our spirits. Rest and peace are often foreign to us, especially during the holidays. Busy is what we’re all too good at. Rest is what we need to be good at! For believers, we should live in a constant state of peace! Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace, and it means nothing missing and nothing broken. Life shouldn’t be a busy irritation, it should be peaceful, rest-filled, and restoring our to our souls, full and complete.
How do we get to Shalom in the midst of the daily hassles especially during the holidays? Peace comes when we choose love over hate, joy over frustration, patience over irritability, kindness over being mean spirited, goodness over revenge, faithfulness over manipulation, gentleness over harshness, and self-control over indulgence. Peace is the result! Peace is what we pray for especially during the holidays. We want peace in our homes, in our communities, in our nation and for the world. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Peace by Michael McDonald, Beth Nielsen Chapman
Verse 1
I have come from so far away
Down the road of my own mistakes
In the hope You could hear me pray
Oh Lord, keep me in Your reach
Verse 2
How I’ve longed through these wasted years
To outrun all the pain and fear
Turned to stone from my uncried tears
And now it’s Your grace I seek
Chorus 1
Love won’t compromise
It’s a gift, it’s a sacrifice
My soul renewed and my heart released
In You, I’ll find my peace
Verse 3
Wondrous Child of whom the angels sing
Know my joy, feel my suffering
Shining star make this love You bring
So bright that I may believe
Chorus 2
That my way will not be lost
From now on, ’til that river’s crossed
My soul renewed, and my spirit free
In You I’ll find my peace
Word of the Day: John 14:27
Song of the Day: Peace by Michael McDonald, Beth Nielsen Chapman