Luke 2:15 - 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Reflection: Peace . The stress of the holidays can’t remove it, the demands of life can’t erase it, and our feelings don’t define it. You don’t have to force it, you can’t create it, and it won’t be found in a tropical paradise -- despite what the world says. Fear runs from it, thoughts don’t generate it, and it never, ever flees. Nothing can take it away from a believer, and the non-believer will only experience the reality of it upon belief. Those who have it will grow in knowing the Father, while those who don’t will keep trying to find it in all the wrong places. Peace be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
We have been given the priceless gift of Peace as part of our harmonious relationship with Jesus. How awesome is that? Jesus died for us, and not only did we get the gift of the Holy Spirit, but we also gained Peace as part of that package. The mind fixed on the Spirit will experience life and peace (Romans 8:6). Resting in this unexplainable Peace allows believers to grow in knowing the Father, and who we are in Him. We don’t have to spend time chasing peace as the world does, and we don’t have to fear that a situation will ruffle it. We also don’t have to trust our thoughts to create it. Instead, we get to rest in the Peace of the Spirit, as we constantly commune with the Father. He is the source of unshakable, unchangeable, unimaginable peace. As we keep our minds fixed on the Spirit and rest in his Peace, we will grow in knowing our loving Creator more deeply.
Natalie Johnson
Prayer: Father, I pray that we would rest in You today and everyday, not chasing after what You have already given. I pray instead that our minds would be fixed on You, our source of life and peace. Thank You for this gift, and for the harmonious relationship that we have gained through belief in You. Help us to rest in knowing what’s already been given. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection: Peace . The stress of the holidays can’t remove it, the demands of life can’t erase it, and our feelings don’t define it. You don’t have to force it, you can’t create it, and it won’t be found in a tropical paradise -- despite what the world says. Fear runs from it, thoughts don’t generate it, and it never, ever flees. Nothing can take it away from a believer, and the non-believer will only experience the reality of it upon belief. Those who have it will grow in knowing the Father, while those who don’t will keep trying to find it in all the wrong places. Peace be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
We have been given the priceless gift of Peace as part of our harmonious relationship with Jesus. How awesome is that? Jesus died for us, and not only did we get the gift of the Holy Spirit, but we also gained Peace as part of that package. The mind fixed on the Spirit will experience life and peace (Romans 8:6). Resting in this unexplainable Peace allows believers to grow in knowing the Father, and who we are in Him. We don’t have to spend time chasing peace as the world does, and we don’t have to fear that a situation will ruffle it. We also don’t have to trust our thoughts to create it. Instead, we get to rest in the Peace of the Spirit, as we constantly commune with the Father. He is the source of unshakable, unchangeable, unimaginable peace. As we keep our minds fixed on the Spirit and rest in his Peace, we will grow in knowing our loving Creator more deeply.
Natalie Johnson
Prayer: Father, I pray that we would rest in You today and everyday, not chasing after what You have already given. I pray instead that our minds would be fixed on You, our source of life and peace. Thank You for this gift, and for the harmonious relationship that we have gained through belief in You. Help us to rest in knowing what’s already been given. In Jesus’ name, Amen.