Advent16

• Advent 1671
• Advent 16

Advent 16: Stamped. Posted on December 16, 2019 by Jan Wilberg. 3 Comments At the downtown post office, one of the clerks is a deaf man. He is very tall and heavyset. T he spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion – to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of. Of my favorite stories to tell children. Jonah was given a job to do; to tell the people of Nineveh to repent. But Jonah ran and went the opposite direction bought a ticket to ride on a boat, God caused a storm to come up and the sailors knew, the calamity of the storm was because of Jonah, so they threw him overboard.

Prepare Him Room

Let the peace of God, to which also you are called in one body, rule in your hearts. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Peace [pēs] noun: freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

It’s amazing how just reading the definition of peace can calm our hearts! If ever there is a time we need peace, it is right now. There is so much going on around us that troubles our minds and hearts. But worry robs us of our peace. When we give our concerns over to God, He gives us peace. (Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.) There is a mantra that I say to myself when I’m overly concerned about something:

Don’t worry, but worship, don’t panic, but pray; trust in the Lord.

Advent 1671

It’s natural to be concerned about a difficult circumstance we’re experiencing, but God doesn’t want us to be consumed by it. It may sound trite, but when I pray about the particular situation that is causing me distress and start singing praise songs to the Lord, I’m filled with a sense of peace that can only come from Him! The circumstances may not have changed, but my demeanor has, and I am able to move forward. Jesus came to give us peace in a troubled world. He acknowledged that in this world we will have troubles, but the good news is that He will give us a peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:6,7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.)

I’m sure Mary and Joseph were worried about where they would spend the night when there were no rooms left in town. But God prepared a room for them, and their hearts were at peace. When we prepare Him room in our hearts, peace follows. We may be surrounded by a disruptive storm, but Jesus can calm that storm. Just as the eye of a hurricane is tranquil, Jesus can be our peace in a storm when we make Him the center of our life. Prepare Him room in your heart this Christmas and the Prince of Peace who came into this world will calm your soul.

Advent 16

Lord, calm my heart and mind when I am feeling stressed and anxious. As I give over my concerns to You, may I feel Your peace flood my soul as I rest in Your presence. Amen