Peace – Do You Have It?
How to Maintain Your peace during this Christmas Season.
Remember our Christmas Party on Monday night. I need you to register. Several of you have signed up, and I can’t wait to see your faces on the screen.
Our schedules for our Refresh Retreats are available for 2023 and you will want to take advantage of every opportunity to get away and Refresh with other like-minded women. We are in one location several times because the house is wonderful, beautiful, but most of all, PEACEFUL!
At the moment of this writing, I’m living in an apartment. We sold our home two years ago. It was supposed to be a short-term move. While I write, a treadmill is operating in the apartment above me. I was hoping for a quiet morning of meditation and prayer. Alas, for the past hour, there has been the steady rhythm of pounding feet on the treadmill. The noise could be stealing my peace.
What steals your peace? Does church conflict? Family disputes? Financial stress? Are you given to anxiety when you can’t control your life, and the pressure of getting everything done is entirely out of your control? This time of year can bring all the things that rob us of our peace.
What do we do with the following verse?
“For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NLT).”
Many Advent practices point us to this week as the focus of peace. Many call the purple candle of this week – “The Bethlehem Candle.” Can you imagine the ride to Bethlehem for Mary? I think of her many times during this season. She was young, and though devoted to God, I know she had many moments of fear, anxiety, wonder, and perhaps even worry. Plenty was going on to steal her peace.
Many reading this email can feel the same way. A lot is going on. I heard a statement yesterday concerning the weariness of those of us in ministry. There is much weariness. For some in leadership, we are in transition, and the future though hopeful and promising is full of changes and unknowns. How in this world we are living do we choose peace?
Living in a state of peace can and will require tremendous effort. Events and people will rob you of this peace, from the repair of a washing machine to the death of a loved one. Peace can be elusive when chronic illness plagues you. Remaining in peace when transitions come and home becomes a new address is exciting but not always peaceful! Peace hides when nights turn to morning and sleep has not come. Peace tries to run when the voices of your accusers or critics seem louder than your supporters. Where do we turn? What do we choose?
Here are a few suggestions from the only source of true peace.
- Ask yourself several questions: What is the truth concerning this situation? Is this about me? Why am I feeling anxious?
- Pray: Lord, help me see the root of this anxiety and lack of peace. Please show me your truth and help me to refocus my thoughts.
- Pray: Lord, help me remember that nothing comes to me that you are unaware. Please show me how to respond and keep my focus on You.
- Pray Scripture. The following are some of my favorites.
Jesus said the following to His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
And then following verses, I have prayed countless times!
As I’m finishing my writing, the treadmill has stopped. It’s quiet. Our lives are like this. There will be times of intensity that will steal our peace – if we let them. Or you and I can choose to refocus our minds. The Prince of Peace has come, and He is living within us. The power that spoke the universe into existence lives within us. Let’s focus on Him and allow Him to be our peace in a very uncertain world. This world is not our home; remember, Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.”
Love you, sisters!
Diane
Jesus who is the Prince of Peace was foretold and this booklet gives thorough look at all of the prophecies fulfilled.
Meet Diane
Diane is the director and founder of Contagious Joy 4 Him, a network of encouragement to ministry wives around the globe. Thirty-six years ago, she married her husband, pastor/professor, Dr. Preston Nix. He is a professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at NOBTS. They have two biological daughters, two spiritual-grown daughters, two grands, and two son’s in-laws.
Diane’s life bears the scars of addiction, abuse, loss, and dysfunction. She remembers being drawn to spiritual things. Searching for the One who could bring peace, she found her Savior, Jesus Christ! And soon after her salvation, she surrendered to ministry. She has never looked back!
Diane has lost all material possessions on two different occasions. Once by a house fire and another by Hurricane Katrina. She has survived a life-threatening illness, with aftereffects that still impact her today. A speaker and author of the book, When God’s Woman Wants to Give Up! Diane sheds light on “never giving up” amid trials. She is also a contributing author to LifeWay’s Ministry to Women blog, and most recently Broadman and Holman’s Daily Devotional for Women and The Psalms and Proverbs Devotional for Women. She is an author, speaker, vlogger, and blogger. Connect with her personally on Facebook and Instagram, or her ministry at Facebook and Instagram.
