“And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace…”
‘Tis the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and, yet, true peace is desperately lacking. Let me introduce you to some wonderful ways to allow His peace to reign in you during this special season.
Peace in Your Heart
A heart without Jesus is a life without peace. You can have the best this world offers and have no peace in your heart. I’ve known miserable millionaires. I’ve been at the deathbed of good people who didn’t know where they would spend eternity. My friend, all of us have a terminal disease and it’s called sin. Without Jesus, our destination is a tormenting hell and people instinctively know that. No wonder the world grabs for alcohol and drugs to soothe their pain. Accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior is the only way to have peace in your heart.
During the holidays, people are very tender to the Lord. Christmas carols herald the gospel and even the lost find themselves singing every verse by memory. Be quick to share about the Prince of Peace. Be quick to share the good news that the Baby of Bethlehem is now the Savior of the world.
Peace in Your Mind
Did you know that the holiday seasons have the highest suicide rate? Some people experience suffocating loneliness while others are forced into agitating family conflicts. You don’t have to be tormented in your mind with fear, worry, and guilt. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He can bring peace to your mind. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You shall have perfect peace whose mind is fixed on Thee.” Let me share with you two ways to have peace in your mind.
- Look to the Source of Peace: Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you that in Me, you will have peace. In this world you’ll have tribulation, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 This passage reveals several things; tribulations are to be expected, peace is possible, peace is only found in Jesus.
- Take Control of Your Thought Life: The old farmer used to say, “You can’t prevent the birds from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from making a nest in your head.” We can discover three secrets about our thought life from the Apostle Paul. He instructs us to “renew our mind”, “cast down vain imaginations,” and “think on good things.” You can make it a discipline to replace bad thoughts for godly thoughts. By doing this, you are inviting Jesus, the Prince of Peace to rule your mind. His wonderful peace will “guard your heart and mind” just as it says in Philippians 4:7.
Peace in Your Home
Strife can destroy your home. There are forty-three references to strife in the Bible and attached to most of them is a warning of its evils. Much of the strife is stoked by pride and the ever-present need to be right, first, or important. Resist strife. When your wife begins to argue, be silent. It’s hard to have a fight when only one person is talking. Knowing the joy of a peaceful home makes keeping your opinion to yourself easier.
One of our sons loved to stir up strife between his brother and sister. (They were about 6,8, and 10 years old) It was just a game with him. He liked to see how mad he could make them. After several weeks of this, it grew beyond teasing into true strife that would linger throughout the afternoon, so I asked God to give me His wisdom. He did. I explained to the two “angelic” kids how their brother’s goal was to make them mad and challenged them to play “The Silent Game.” They were to ignore all agitating attempts. Of course, he jabbed all the harder at which time I would ring a bell and shout, “STIR IT WITH A KITCHEN SPOON!” I would hand him a big, wooden kitchen spoon, taught him the evils of stirring up strife, and made him stir something for five minutes. Within a few weeks, he quit his teasing ways and our home was filled again with peace.
Strife can destroy your home… Resist strife.
During these hectic holidays, wake up every morning and invite and declare that Jesus is your Prince of Peace. When He rules and reigns in your heart, mind, and home, a Merry Christmas is guaranteed.
