The wrapping and unwrapping of gifts is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. In the wrapping, I find peace and solace in the preparation of the gift itself. Unwrapping the gift gives us the “anticipation of.” It is the hope of what the gift might be. It is also in the excitement of unwrapping where we discover love and joy. These are all gifts of our Eternal Advent.
As we move into the second week of Advent, we focus on peace.
Last week, we discovered how “hope sparks light” which leads us to the other gifts. Today, as we unwrap the gift of peace, let us begin to notice all the places we find it.
When the great company of angels appeared in Luke chapter 2, they first praised God by saying, ”Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Those lowly shepherds must have been scared to death. I would say they had very little peace that night and the angels knew it.
My study note reads, “Peace is not assured to all, but only to those pleasing to God — the objects of his good pleasure. The angels proclaimed a deeper, more lasting peace than that — a peace of mind and soul made possible by the Savior. Peace with God is received by faith in Christ.” Wow!
“Peace with God is received by faith in Christ.”
It has been hard to find my peace this year. Likely because Thanksgiving came later and crammed Christmas into a shorter window of time. Recognizing peace as a gift, I have been praising God, thanking Him for it, even though I have very little of it.
Like many of us, we are waiting for so many things. My nature is to rush ahead of God. When I do, anxiety takes over and peace runs and hides. But, finding myself in this Eternal Advent, I am intentionally slowing down, removing things from my calendar and scaling back. I have faith that God will restore my peace because finding my peace will lead to the other gifts; love and joy. And, I do not want to miss the love and joy of Christmas.
As we continue to unwrap the gifts of our Eternal Advent, I want to assure you that peace is waiting on us, just like Jesus is. Here are some tips that may help you find your peace this Christmas.
- Pay attention. Where do you feel peace? Where do you not? Peace and God coincide. When you have lost your peace, have you taken your eyes off Jesus?
- Breathe. Slow down and take a few deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. This is the fastest way to rid yourself of anxiety and an excellent way to reconnect with God.
- Pray. As you breathe, ask God to restore your peace. Breathe in the peace of Christ, being confident God not only hears your prayers, but answers them.
- Praise God. One of the best ways to restore peace, is by praising God. Praise is our gift back to God. When the angels showed up in Luke 2:14, they were praising God.
Praise proceeds peace.
As we quickly rush toward Christmas, I am paying attention more to where I find peace. Reading scripture, especially the Christmas story, singing carols and praying often, keeps me connected to God. Peace is here and I am eager to not only find it but hang on to it. I am certain, if I can find my peace, love and joy will follow.
Peace is a gift from God and one worth paying attention to. This Christmas, let’s take time to unwrap all the gifts of our Eternal Advent. Then, in response to those precious gifts, let’s give God the gift of our praise. “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Make this song your prayer. (If you can’t see it, open this message from your browser.)
Come back next week, as we unwrap our next gift, “goodwill toward men.” That’s God’s love for us. -M
One thought on “Our Eternal Advent (week 2)”
Peace that passes all understanding. Love you! God answers prayers. Love you