Jesus Calling Bible Christmas Devotional - Week 3: Peace

8/3/2019 Jesus Calling Bible Christmas Devotional - Week 3: Peace

1/18


2/18
http://bit.ly/t9lPEThttp://bit.ly/tFE7Tzhttp://on.fb.me/uY51u7http://bit.ly/v8fJbEhttp://on.fb.me/a13dru


3/18

Week Three: Peace

Introduction to Week Three:

Centuries ago the prophet Isaiah looked ahead to the birth of the Messiah and

called the One to come, "the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Immediately after Jesus

arrived in Bethlehem, an old man named Simeon took the infant in his arms and

proclaimed, "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace" (Luke 2:29). And

the Master Himself told us, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you" (John

14:27). But if that's all true, then why does it so often seem as though peace escapes us

. . . especially as Christmas draws near?

This week, we turn our attention to the divine peace that Jesus came to give us.

Although He reigned as the Prince of Peace, He faced a great deal of conflict in the time

He spent among usjust as we do today. So how can we experience His peace, even

when circumstances war against it? Whatever the challenges or unexpected events that

seem to interrupt our holiday celebrations this holy season, let us focus on Jesus, the

Prince of Peace who offers us His peace. And so let us bring peace to others.


4/18

2

Day Fifteen: The Lord of Peace

Read Isaiah 9:6; see also 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Ephesians 6:15; Romans 8:31.

Prayer:

As I sit in Your presence right now, Jesus, I desire the peace that surpasses all

understanding, but I dont know how to get to that level from hereespecially

remembering some of the past decisions Ive made. They absolutely haunt me, even

though Ive confessed my sins and experienced Your complete forgiveness. Your Spirit

lives within meof that Im sure. And Your Word clearly proclaims that peace is a fruit

of the Spirit. Why, then, do I feel so unsettled in so many areas of my life? Can You help

me with this?

Were You always at peace when You were in the world? Were You truly never

worried or afraid? If the gift of peace is a supernatural working of the Holy Spirit, can I

ever achieve peace as a mere mortal? The consequences of my sins rob me of peace.

Since I know this condemnation does not come from You, I need You to heal me of these

feelings. Take away the lies, the accusationsanything that hinders Your truth in my

heart. I pray for a deep and abiding peace, God, a confident assurance that You are in

control of all thingspast, present, and future. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me.

Samantha

Devotion:

I am the Lord of Peace, the only source of genuine Peace. I give you this gift, not

as something separate from Myself, but as part of My core essence. As you open your


5/18

3

heart and mind to Me, My Peace is presentreadily available to you. However, this

glorious gift is not something you can grab on the run. You need to take time to focus on

Me and enjoy My Presence, putting everything else aside for a while. You live in the

midst of intense spiritual battles, and My Peace is an essential part of the armor I provide

for you. To stay on your feet during combat, you need to wear sturdy warfare bootsthe

Gospel of Peace. This good news assures you that I love you and I am for you : I am on

your side.

Many of My followers forfeit Peace because they view Me as someone who is

constantly scrutinizing their livespeering at them through critical eyes. On the contrary,

I gaze at you through eyes of perfect Love. When you feel like a failure, talk to yourself

and tell yourself the truth: My death on the cross covers allyour sins. I love you

regardless of how well or poorly you performsimply because you are Mine. Rejoice in

this Gospel-Peace; it is yours to enjoy at all times and in every way.

(From Jesus Livesby Sarah Young)

Contemplate:

When the angels appeared to the shepherds of Bethlehem to announce the Savior's

birth, they said in a loud voice, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good

will toward men!" (Luke 2:14). How are you bringing peace to your Christmas

celebrations this year? What are you doing to be an ambassador of Christ's peace?


6/18

4

Day Sixteen: Peace in the Garden of Your Heart

Read Micah 5:4-5; See also Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am exhausted. For such a long time, circumstances have

blasted me until I can barely remember what its like to be carefree or pain-free. No

matter where I go, I cannot find rest. Relaxation eludes me at every turn. I need peace

the kind of peace that You promisedbut it keeps getting crowded out by heartache. Im

scared that my problems will overwhelm me. My friends and family have offered to help

as they can, but something tells me that they cant solve these issues for me; that if I do

not work them out myself, they will not be solved correctly.

Havent You promised not to test us beyond what we can bear? Why, then, have

You allowed such hardship to envelop me at this time? I am suffocating beneath it. What

is it You would have me do? How can I find peace in the midst of these overpowering

circumstances?

Owen

Devotion:

I have promised to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. Your

deepest, most constant need is for My Peace. I have planted Peace in the garden of your

heart, where I live; but there are weeds growing there too: pride, worry, selfishness,

unbelief. I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of those weeds. I do My

work in various ways. When you sit quietly with Me, I shine the Light of My Presence


7/18

5

directly into your heart. In this heavenly Light, Peace grows abundantly and weeds

shrivel up. I also send trials into your life. When you trust Me in the midst of trouble,

Peace flourishes and weeds die away. Thank Me for troublesome situations; the Peace

they can produce far outweighsthe trials you endure.

(From Jesus Callingby Sarah Young)

Contemplate:

Take a few moments to find and gaze upon a small garden. Very likely, unless it's

in a greenhouse, at this time of year that garden looks a lot like a barren patch of dirt. But

in a few months, the life that now seems so absent will break through to the surface and

reveal that God has been at work in it, despite any appearances to the contrary. Now take

a look at your own life. How may God be tending to the garden of your soul, even if

things look bleak and lifeless?


8/18

6

Day Seventeen: Your Sunrise from On High

Read Luke 1:67-79; see also Psalm 90:14; Hebrews 4:16; Philippians 4:19.

Prayer:

Hard situations have been piling up in my life like snowdrifts. Seriously, I could

make a list of whats broken about my life, including the dreams that have been buried. I

feel just that overwhelmed today. Im crying out to You in the midst of the blizzard, God,

even as Im being pelted by fear and deluged by doubt. I wake up in the middle of many a

night wondering how to handle the day ahead. My crumbling marriage, my mothers

failing healthso many frustrations and disappointments. The biggest frustration is that

Ive really tried in my marriage. Now we seem further apart. And Mothers health issues

require so much of my time. Many people offer helpful advice. After trying everything

theyve suggested, I have nowhere else to go except to You. Once again.

Dearest Father, Im not even sure what to ask You to do. Save my marriage?

Restore my mothers health? Grant me strength? Take Your pick. Im out of suggestions.

Is that what You want me to do: stop making suggestions as to how You can answer my

prayers? If so, I will wait in silent expectation for Your reply.

Addison

Devotion:

I am your Sunrise from on high! While you were still sitting in darkness and the

shadow of death, My Light shone upon yougiving you a reason to live, a reason to

hope. Now you are Mine, and you can approach Me confidently because of My tender


9/18

7

mercy. My heart is full of unfailing Love for you; it overflows from My heart into yours.

As you receive good things from Me with thanksgiving, you experience rich soul-

satisfaction. I want you to sing for Joy and be glad in response to all that I give you. You

can relax and enjoy My Presence since you know I am taking care of you. In your time of

need, I will provide mercy and grace to help you.

I want you to enjoy not only My Presence but also My Peace. I came into your

world to guide your feet into the way of Peace. When you are anxious or fearful, it is as if

you are doubting My promises to supply all you need. My followers tend to think of

worry as natural, even inevitable. At worst, they consider it their personal problem or

quirkharming no one but themselves. But the truth is, your tendency to be anxious

grieves Me. Awareness of My pain can help motivate you to break free from this hurtful

habit. Seek to bring Me Joy by walking trustingly with Me along the path of Peace.

(From Jesus Livesby Sarah Young)

Contemplate:

As you read these words, what worries you the most? How can you take that Big

Worry and exchange it for God's Peace? What would it take for you to trust God with this

thing that's making you feel so anxious? How can you begin to scrub this Christmas of

worry?


10/18

8

Day Eighteen:

Read Luke 1:46-55; see also 1 Samuel 15:24; 16:7; Psalm 81:10.

Prayer:

Lord, depression washes over me in waves, and I dont understand it. Theres

really no reason for me to be down when I have You, but I am. Im ashamed of my

feelings and hesitant to voice them out loud to You, even though I realize that You know

them already. Ive kept them a secret for so long. Oh, I can put on a pretty convincing

everything-is-okay smile. People at work, at church, and even my family have no idea

about the loneliness I feel. There are probably a few people I could confide in, but Im

afraid they wouldnt understand.

Im tired of the struggle. Why do I always have to try so hard to be happy? It

seems that the harder I try, the emptier I feel. I am weak, Lord. Im depressed. Im sad.

Life shouldnt be this difficult, should it? I want to rejoice always, because thats what

the Bible says I should do. I long to obey Your Word. Please encourage me today.

Tanya

Devotion:

Let Me bless you with My grace and Peace. Open your heart and mind to receive

all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the

optimal condition for being filled with My Peace. It is easy to touch up your outward

appearance, to look as if you have it all together. Your attempts to look good can fool


11/18

9

most people. But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being. There is no

place for pretense in your relationship with Me.

Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with Me about your struggles

and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weaknesses into

strengths. Remember that your relationship with Me is saturated in grace. Therefore,

nothing that you do or dont do can separate you from My Presence .


Contemplate:

Mary had to be one of the most misunderstood individuals in the whole Bible. If

her fianc didn't believe her story about her supernatural pregnancy, who else would? We

don't know much about Mary, but we do know at least two things: she had a broad

knowledge of the Old Testament, and she deeply pondered things that puzzled her (see

Luke 2:19, 33, 51). How can Mary's example help you to find a richer experience of

peace this Christmas season?


12/18

10

Day Nineteen: Looking for a Place to Land

Read Luke 12:22-32; see also 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Psalm 40:12-13; 143:4-8.

Prayer:

My thoughts are flitting around like a moth on a light bulb. I just want them to

settle in one place so I can sleep! But sleep wont change the facts: so many people

depend on me, and I simply cant let them down. The responsibility weighs on me. I cant

stop thinking about what I need to do or how I can make things better. If I stop, who will

take care of all these things, all these people? The many balls I juggle would fall to the

ground. Yet I need to stop thinking so I can rest.

I know I should trust You more, Lord. But it is really hard for me to stop

worrying. Plus, I feel like a failure when I do less. There are so many dangers in this

world and so many expectations. I cant ease up, or I will fail. I cant ease up, or I will

disappoint someone. Peace is a luxury I cannot afford. But I long for rest from this

craziness. Lord, how do I change these patterns Ive had for so long? What if I let go and

my life falls apart? Will You be there to pick up the pieces? Will You take care of the

things that I cannot?

Robin

Devotion:

The Peace that I give you transcends your intellect. When most of your mental

energy goes into efforts to figure things out, you are unable to receive this glorious gift. I

look into your mind and see thoughts spinning round and round: going nowhere,


13/18

11

accomplishing nothing. All the while, My Peace hovers over you, searching for a place to

land. Be still in My Presence, inviting Me to control your thoughts. Let My Light soak

into your mind and heart, until you are aglow with My very Being. This is the most

effective way to receive My Peace.


Contemplate:

Make a list of all the things God had to do to bring about the birth of Jesus. Start

as far back in history as you need to, and consider every aspect of the nativity: Jesus'

lineage, His birthplace, His training, etc. Once you have your list, meditate over it and

then pray, asking God to remind you that your troubles cannot compare with the

challenges God had to overcome to bring about that first Christmas.


14/18

12

Day Twenty: A Continual Gift

Read John 6:49-51; see also Exodus 16:1420; Philippians 4:6, 7, 19; Hebrews 4:16.

Prayer:

I feel like I am always in such great need. Im unsettled and anxious, wondering

what each today will hold and if my needs will be met. There are so many demands on

each day that I dont know how I can take care of them all. When I am in that place of

insecurity, I feel like Im holding my breath. I want to know Your peace, Lord, so that I

can breathe again. But I have trouble trusting You to give me that peace. I struggle to

come to You with my needs and anxieties. I long to take one step at a time, knowing that

You already have prepared me for what I will encounter. I long to rest in that promise. I

long to find soothing relief in the daily ration of tranquility that You desire to give me.

When I begin to make improvements in my life and come to a place where I feel

comfortable, I find myself in a state of complacency. I become confident in my own

abilities and entirely self-reliant. That is how I find temporary certainty and calmness, but

that is not how You want me to obtain Your peace.

Amanda

Devotion:

Peace is My continual gift to you. It flows abundantly from My throne of grace.

Just as the Israelites could not store up manna for the future but had to gather it daily, so

it is with My Peace. The day-by-day collecting of manna kept My people aware of their

dependence on Me. Similarly, I give you sufficient Peace for the present, when you come


15/18

13

to me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. If I gave you permanent Peace,

independent of My Presence, you might fall into the trap of self-sufficiency. May that

never be!

I have designed you to need Me moment by moment. As your awareness of your

neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency. I can meet

every one of your needswithout draining My resources at all. Approach My throne of

grace with bold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart.


Contemplate:

For many of us, Christmas cookies provide a holiday treat that invariably put a

smile on our faces. This season, why not bring a little "extra" to your enjoyment of

yuletide goodies by letting them remind you of God's bread from heaven, manna, that

miraculously fed the ancient Israelites in the wilderness. And then take it one step further:

remember that Jesus called Himself the "bread of life" who came down from heaven to

give eternal life to all who would freely eat of His gift.


16/18

14

Day Twenty-One: Walking Down Paths of Peace

Read Genesis 2:2-3; see also Psalm 23:13; 2 Peter 1:2.

Prayer:

Ahhh, rest. I love the sound of that word! And Im so grateful that You not only

call us to rest, but that You modeled it for us from the beginning! You are Almighty God,

the One who never sleeps or grows weary. Still, You decided to rest from Your work.

That says a lot. IfYou saw fit to stop working to enjoy a time of rest, how much more

important is it forme?

Yet I have to confess, Im not very quick to respond. Day after day, You invite

me to break away and spend time with You. To go on a walk and breathe in the quiet of

nature. To turn off the computer and the TV for a while and enjoy my family. Even in

Your Word, You continually bid me to be still and recognize whats essential. But other

things clamor for my attentionand I struggle to say no. What if my boss doesnt want

to wait? What if that new client has e-mailed me back? What will the neighbors think if I

dont mow the lawn today? Thankfully, You dont give up on me. Please show me the

way to Your peace and rest in the middle of my busy life.

Stephen

Devotion:

Lie down in green pastures of Peace. Learn to unwind whenever possible, resting

in the Presence of your Shepherd. This electronic age keeps My children wired much

of the time, too tense to find Me in the midst of their moments. I built into your very


17/18

15

being the need for rest. How twisted the world has become when people feel guilty about

meeting this basic need! How much time and energy they waste by being always on the

go, rather than taking time to seek My direction for their lives!

I have called you to walk with Me down paths of Peace. I want you to blaze a trail

for others who desire to live in My peaceful Presence. I have chosen you less for your

strengths than for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for Me. Depend on Me

more and more, and I will shower Peace on all your paths.


Contemplate:

Go for a long, quiet walk today. Carve out the time. Find a place. As you walk,

ask the Lord to direct your heart into peace. But don't leave it thereask Him also to

reveal to you someone in your sphere of influence who desperately needs His peace. And

then petition the Lord to make you into someone who could help bring His peace to the

restless heart of that person. Finally, give thanks that the God of Peace sent the Prince of

Peace to allow peace to reign in your heart . . . even in the midst of the holiday rush.


18/18
http://bit.ly/t9lPEThttp://bit.ly/tFE7Tzhttp://on.fb.me/uY51u7http://bit.ly/v8fJbEhttp://on.fb.me/a13dru

Documents

Jesus Calling Bible Christmas Devotional - Week 3: Peace