Have a Peace Filled Christmas

by Elizabeth Stewart

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 AMPC

Jesus has a gift for you this Christmas. It's something that will come in handy during what may be a harried holiday season at the end of this difficult year and the beginning of a new year full of unknowns. Before Jesus died on the cross for you and I, He was having a talk with His disciples and He mentioned that He had left them, and us, something in His last will and testament. He left us His peace. He was and is the Prince of Peace. His thoughts, His emotions, the essence of Who He is peace. And that supernatural peace is now legally ours to possess. It's been bequeathed to us by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

However, as with any gift, we have a choice whether or not to open it and use it. Jesus left us us His peace, but if we don't choose to receive it and allow it to rule in us, we will still be pulled hither and yon by every anxious thought, by every wind and wave of circumstance and by every tumultuous emotion. We have a choice whether or not to be a victim to our thoughts and feelings and circumstances, or to be ruled in our mind and emotions by Christ's peace.

Let's get practical. God's word tells us that the way to be peace filled is to be truth filled. Simply stated, the way to let God's peace rule in our heart and mind is to let His Word fill our heart and mind.

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. Colossians 3:15-16 AMPC

God's Word acts as an umpire, judging our thoughts and feelings and helping us to be able to see if they are based on truth or if we they are being influenced by the enemy, the things of this world, or our own willful flesh. God's Word is like the building blocks of a stronghold that God wants to build in our innermost being. He wants that stronghold to be filled with His gift of peace, and the walls of truth to fortify us against tormenting thoughts and feelings that would rob us of His peace. For example, when we are fortified with the truth about God's faithful, watchful care for us it helps to quell the anxious, fearful thoughts that would keep us in emotional knots. 

Let's break it down even further. Think of one triggering thought that is a peace robber in your life. Maybe it's worry about your finances or your children. Maybe it's anger or frustration or unforgiveness or hurt or disappointment in a relationship. Maybe it's fear of covid or fear of the future. Maybe it's the feeling of being overwhelmed or over busy. Whatever it is begin to ask God to help you find a scripture, or even a few, that speak truth to you in that specific area. Then meditate on that truth when that peace robbing thought pops up. If God asks you to take an action in regards to your situation, for example eliminating something from your schedule so you feel less overwhelmed or asking forgiveness in a broken relationship, then obey what God is asking of you.You cannot be both disobedient to the Lord and filled with His peace. As you do these things, you are choosing to receive and to use the gift of peace that Jesus has given you in practical ways in your everyday life - and even in Christmas 2020!