Extend the Gift of Peace This Christmas

3. Tell God what you need.

4. Thank Him for all He has done.

If we can catch ourselves quickly enough, I believe the restoration of peace can be quick and partially painless. As we grow in our faith and are attentive and obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading in sketch situations, sometimes conflicts can be completely avoided. But, we often don’t go through these steps. Instead, we blame, seek justice, and let our anger back-build in silence. “True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or good feelings,” The Life Application Bible explains. “It comes from trusting God to work everything out in a way that is best for you as you fulfill your role in God’s work in the world.” In other words, put down all reactions and pick up the four steps Paul outlined for the Philippians. When we do:

Extend the gift of peace this Christmas by allowing the Peace which resides in us from the moment we believe in Christ to have the power to transform our lives. It’s possible to let offenses go, forgive without receiving an apology, and put our hope for impossible reconciliation in the hands of our God, who is famous for doing impossible things. He promises:

Jesus healed the soldier’s ear immediately. Peace is who He is. His Peace resides in us, through the Holy Spirit. We will be amazed at the miraculous healing of peace which surrounds our lives, if we will believe Him, listen to what He says, and allow Him to work through us in miraculous ways.

This Christmas, I believe the Lord is calling for many of us to give the gift of peace. Lay down offenses, rescind the search for justice, let go of the desire for apologies, and instead offer the gift of peace through kindness. It’s a radical way of thinking, and by no means cause to allow abuse of any kind. But for many of us, in our everyday lives, we could experience miraculous reconciliation, if only we would lay down our desires in exchange for God’s will for our lives.

Extend the gift of peace this Christmas, by allowing Peace to work miracles in and through you. 

Additional Resource
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers. Copyright 2013.

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Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Rekeisha Dunlap

Meg is a graduate of Ashland University. She is a writer, author, editor, and digital content creator. She stepped away from her job in Internet Marketing in 2008 to raise her daughters, which gave her passion for writing a chance to shine through her blog, Sunny&80… Life within the Love of Christ. Meg has served as a Children’s Worship Team Leader and Middle School Leader for her local church. She founded and led the Breakfast Club Bible Study for Tweens, has served as a Young Life Leader and Committee Member, and led Women’s Bible Study. She has also volunteered as a content creator for her local church, studied Bible/Ministerial Training through Global University, and completed COMPEL PRO Writers Training. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the team at Salem Web Network. You can find her entire library of books on her Amazon Author Page.