~ Isaiah 9:6-7 ~
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (NIV)
One of our favorite places to visit is our family land, located some 45 minutes from the city. When we go for the day, the quiet and the calm washes over us, allowing us to forget the chaos and clutter of the world we live in.
My husband always reminds me how peaceful it is there. We don’t have to hurry. There’s no pressure for either of us to finish a deadline. And, it’s serene. We call it our refuge and shelter, created in God’s glorious beauty.
Yet every day it seems someone mentions how unstable the world is. I realize the turmoil is not limited to the area we live in, it’s everywhere. Disarray and worry wreak havoc on our happiness and contentment, often causing us to live in confusion and conflict. All the more reason to seek a quiet place to rest our hearts and minds.
Spending time in a favorite place doesn’t permanently remove us from the chaos, but there is comfort in knowing that we can all have that special place to retreat to, and replenish and restore our souls.
What does it take to have peace in our lives when there seems to be little peace around us? What can we do to bring peace and stability to our families? And how does the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, make the difference?
In Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) the prophet Isaiah predicts the birth of Jesus by saying that He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ. The peace we have with God transcends to ourselves and to one another. His peace covers us and protects us from our own transgressions and offers us a place that is tranquil and filled with His spirit.
God’s word tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 NIV, “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.”
God promises us peace in everything and He frees us from living in fear or worry.
When we make our requests known to Him then peace is ours for the taking.
If we don’t have the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds, it’s because we have turned away from something He has called us to do.
As we think about the Christmas season our focus should always be on Jesus and His birth. There were no luxuries waiting for Mary and Joseph that night so long ago. The journey was tiring and difficult, and there was no place to stay except for a lowly manger.
Everything about those circumstances that night was less than perfect in the eyes of man, but it was a perfect night for eternity. The manger scene was silent and peaceful. And for just a few moments the hurried pace of the the world came to a halt, and the ‘Prince of Peace’ was born.
On that night God gave us the gift of His Son, Jesus, to love us, move us, refine us, save us, and redeem us.
Tweet ThisWe will always be challenged with experiences that bring discouragement, despair, and conflict, but I am comforted that He brings us peace that can only be found on the inside, in our hearts.
To live a life of peace we must push aside the negatives and rest in the assurance that His promises are eternal.
- In the midst of chaos and conflict, how does going to your quiet place replenish and restore your soul?
- How do you experience God’s great and glorious peace?
Blessings to you this Christmas!
*Beginning December 26th this site will be in maintenance mode. Great things are coming to Peacefully Imperfect in 2017.
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