Advent Week 2: Peace
Author:
December 07, 2023
Last week we began the Christmas season by celebrating the first week of Advent, and ushering in the time of eager anticipation of Christmas day and the arrival of the messiah. Last week focused on the idea of Hope and the hope we have in Jesus, this week’s candle represents Peace.
The Bible talks a lot about peace, especially in the gospels around the story of Christmas and Jesus’ birth. He is hailed as the prince of peace, the peace on earth, and so on. So how do we seek out and intentionally walk in His peace when it feels like anxiety rules and worry is the baseline? The Bible gives us a step-by-step instruction on exactly that.
Philippians 4:5-9 says “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It also says this in Colossians: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
The Lord tells us exactly how we can dwell in His peace. He tells us to not walk in anxiety, but rather a spirit of thanksgiving. He tells us to think on and walk in things that are from Him and not the world. Gratitude is the roadmap to peace, and one of the greatest tools we have to combat worry, anxiety, fear, and any other lies the enemy attempts to throw at us. The practice of gratitude is the foundation for peace.
One of the sweetest parts about Christmastime is the moments of pausing and reflection, where we look back on the year and remember all that has happened. We celebrate the good and acknowledge the not-so-good. The challenge that the Lord presents us is walking in the spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude all the time.
This may have been a tough year for you. This may have been an AWESOME year for you! It could have been full of love or loss, prosperity or destruction, peace or worry. But, regardless of the trials or victories you walked through this year, we have the choice to be grateful. We have the opportunity to choose gratitude and the peace of Christ. And He wants us to! The Bible says, “Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
So as we continue in this season of Advent, this Christmas season, I want to challenge you and really encourage you to spend time in the Lord’s presence, thanking Him for all He is and all He’s done. Fix your mind and your spirit on Him and let’s abound in the peace only He provides.
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