The Gift of Peace
It’s that time of year when things appear to go crazy! Buying presents, attending parties, shopping for Christmas dinner, attending nativity plays…the list is endless leading to anxiety. Yet, Jesus came so we would know and enjoy peace!
Is 9:6-7 says “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end….”
He is the Prince of Peace, and there is no end to His peace. Wow! Imagine that! A peace that has no end. It is a peace that cannot be explained. In Judges 6:24, we read "So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace [Jehovah Shalom)”. Shalom means wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety prosperity and carries with it the implication of permanence. It is therefore possible to have permanent peace!
The peace God gives does not mean the absence of trouble, on the contrary, in the midst of turmoil, etc, He remains with us as the Prince of Peace, He is that peace! as seen in Judges 6:24 above, and also in 2 Thess 3:16; "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way". So, if we have Him in us, then we carry that peace wherever we go and in whatever circumstance we face.
This peace is a gift and like any other gift, we have to decide to accept and use it. So you have a choice during this season. The question is which will you choose? Will you choose to focus on the conflict and stress of the hype around this time of year or will you choose to live and walk in the shalom that is offered to you?
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Thank God for His peace, let us maintain this by daily keeping our minds on Him - Isaiah 26:3 and not allowing anxiety to have the upper hand by doing as Phil 4:6-7 says "Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus”.
