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God’s Peace

This coming Sunday, the second in the season of Advent, we light another candle next to last weeks candle of hope. This week we will add the candle of peace and sing verse 2 of the carol A Candle is Burning...

…a candle to signal that conflict must cease:
for Jesus is coming to show us the way;
a message of peace humbly laid in the hay.

As this and many other carols proclaim, God revealed Himself to people through the person of His Son. Jesus came to earth in a peaceful way, as a baby in the humble circumstance of a manger.
For my theme this week I was planning on writing a devotional about peace, beginning with the old testament prophecy of Jesus coming.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase in his government and peace there will be no end. Isaiah 9:6-7.

And how the angel’s pronouncement to the shepherds linked that child to the promise of peace.

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased”. Luke 2: 13-14

And how, in the final discourse with His disciples, Jesus promised us the gift of peace.

Peace is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. John 14:27

And how Jesus, when He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, hailed them with words of peace. Knowing that they were afraid, He comforted them by saying:

Peace be with you. Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 26

But to get to the heart of this subject of God’s peace, the Holy Sprit nudged me towards sharing with you about the presence of God’s peace in my own life. It took me many years to acknowledge that I was a Christian in name only. I wasn’t allowing God into my life; I wasn’t reading the Bible and growing closer to God; I wasn’t asking Him to guide my path. In my core-self I felt anxious and uneasy, just as when two clashing musical notes played together create a discord.
It was at Advent that I decided on a daily plan to read through the new testament, starting with the Christmas story. That was the beginning of an inner transformation. Opening myself up to God released the tension in my soul and brought me into harmony with Him. I am so thankful that I can testify that His promise of peace is real! I can claim the scripture that says:

Now that we have been justified by faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

Are you at peace with God? Does the Holy Spirit nudge you with a feeling of disquiet? He longs to bring you to Himself so you can experience wholeness and harmony and be at one with Him. Take a step in that direction and notice what changes in your very core. And…

May He who is the Lord of peace give you continued peace in every possible way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Shalom

Prince of Peace with Shine on Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjS8vf-L_3s

Prince of Peace (Children’s choir)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnlg3zfTXZE