Waiting in Peace

Week 4: December 22–25

Sunday, December 22


WAITING IN PEACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE


Christmas is a yearly reminder and celebration that God came!

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God…emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:5-7

The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6.

In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:19-20

And until He returns, we can wait in peace.“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:27


Father, help me to claim the peace that you brought into the world.

AMEN


Monday, December 23


WAITING IN PEACE THROUGH CONTEMPLATION


Jesus chose to humble Himself and come to the world, to walk around like one of us, to identify with us. God could have sent Jesus any way He wanted. He chose to come as a vulnerable baby born to a poor family from an inconsequential small town.

He did that for you.


What is your internal response to this?


What are you hoping for this Christmas?


What do you long for from God?


Thank You, God, for coming to dwell among us and for bringing peace to my heart.

AMEN


Tuesday, December 24


WAITING IN PEACE THROUGH WORDS


One verse of the old hymn, “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,” has these words written by John Greenleaf Whittier:

Drop thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace.

Peace on earth, goodwill to men, was the angels’ message to the shepherds. As we wait during Advent, do we let the strain, stress, and strivings of the season drive us?

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You (God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” Prayer and trust are essential to serenity and peace. The daily peace we seek is found in accepting God’s gift of grace and is maintained through attentiveness to the Holy Spirit who lives in us. It is an interior work of the heart to “turn our strivings into works of grace” as expressed in the Getty hymn we sing, "Holy Spirit."

The good news of the Gospel is that Christ is our peace. What better time than Christmas to tell people to not be afraid, and that peace can be found in a relationship with Jesus.



Father, give me eyes to see those who need to hear the message of Christ and courage to tell them where true peace can be found.

AMEN




Wednesday, December 25

THE WAIT IS OVER!

This Christmas Day, take time to immerse yourself in God's word and experience the peace that is found through spending time with Him.

In the version of the Christmas Story in the book of John, we are reminded that the Word became flesh and “moved into our neighborhood” (The Message).

Read the Christmas story in John 1. Contemplate His title and role as the Prince of Peace.


Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

"The Prince of Peace" by Keri Cartee

*Click picture to view video


Father, Thank you for your indescribable gift and for providing the Prince of Peace for me.

AMEN & AMEN

Contributors:

Staci Waldvogel, Kathy Nolen, Keri Cartee, Jeanne Wear, Brooke Gibson, Danielle Bell & Kristen Torres

Prayer Team: Staci Waldvogel, Kathy Nolen, Keri Cartee, Jeanne Wear, Jim Averett & Scott Smithson

Dawson Memorial Baptist Church1114 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 871-7324. Prayer Line: 795-PRAY www.dawsonchurch.org