“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

“A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do—is to enter into it.” D.L Moody

• Good morning friend! Remember to call your prayer partner today. In the midst of the holiday season, it is so important to keep praying with one another. Now is a time when most of us need extra prayer to get through the stress and busyness, so don’t give up!
• Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and he longs for you to enter into His eternal rest today. Pray for His Spirit to bring you fresh revelation as you pour over His Word.
• Open your Bible and read Luke 2:8-20. Write verse 14 in your journal along with the meaning of peace/shalom (below in the devotional).

The Shalom Peace of Jesus

Peace. Do you long for spiritual rest today?

When the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, they were praising God and saying peace had come to earth. What could they possibly have known that caused them to rejoice so greatly? History tells us there was much political unrest and fear in the Jewish world at the time. So why rejoice, and what did it signify?

The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. Its deepest definition is “the spiritual harmony brought by an individual’s restoration with God.” The peace Jesus came to bring wasn’t what the world, including the shepherds, were looking for at the time. Physical safety and political harmony were a longing and a priority, but not necessarily an immediate result of His birth. This was why they were disappointed and didn’t recognize Jesus, yet the purpose of His birth was far greater. The true reason why Jesus came was to bring salvation and peace between us and God! The sacrifice of His life on the cross became a bridge between our ugly sin and a Holy God. His resurrection made the Holy Spirit available—bringing us eternal peace!

Hallelujah! What a Savior! Saying “yes” to Jesus brings us rest: rest from our own works, rest from our sin, rest from anxiety, anger, and depression, rest from obligations, rest in our relationship with Him and with others, and even rest from spiritual striving! This is the true meaning of peace. Jesus paid it all.

How we desperately need Him today. As it was 2,000 years ago, so it is now. There is much political unrest and confusion all around, yet we can access personal tranquility, right smack dab in the middle of all the chaos! Is your heart frenzied with all the holiday fuss? Does our current world situation bring you fear and unrest? Take a deep breath; there is hope. God has already provided!

Rejoice! You can be the embodiment of peace as you access Jesus by letting Him reign in you through His Spirit. There is a place in our hearts that can be quieted by no one but Him. Pray with me today:

Dear Jesus, I need Your peace. According to the Word of God, I believe You are the One who brings perfect peace because You are the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)! I ask in Your name to calm and quiet my busy soul. Make my heart one with Yours. Help me keep my mind on you (Isaiah 26:3). Fill me to overflowing with Your Spirit, and bring eternal peace to my body, soul, and spirit. I receive and rejoice in the REST which only You can bring! Thank You for coming to make peace available. I celebrate You, I love You, and I am grateful for the gift of Your life to me. Amen.

Let the SHALOM of Christ rule in your heart!

Blessings and Love,

Mari Jo and the Help Club for Moms Team

Questions to Ponder

• Ponder Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Because He trusts in you.” Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you to the brim and overflowing every day as you are aware of His presence, moment by moment. Tell Him you want more of Him and His truth. Make it your goal to submit your thoughts to His Spirit as you go about this busy holiday season.
• Think about it: Are your thoughts dwelling on Jesus and are you trusting Him? Write your pondering in your journal.

Faith-Filled Ideas

As you pray for the peace of Jesus this Christmas, make every effort to keep peace in your own home. Become a peace-loving mom simply by being nice to your family. Try to avoid things or situations which may steal your peace and make you grouchy. When you get stressed, decompress with your favorite relaxing activity such as a long bubble bath, a walk outside in the brisk air, or simply a nap. Be sure to plan downtime and relaxation in your family’s schedule, too.

This devotional comes from our book “Holidays with the Help Club.” You can find it HERE!

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Mari Jo Mast

Mari Jo lives in Colorado Springs with her loving husband, Kim. Together they have seven beautiful children and nine precious grandchildren!

Mari Jo encountered God’s unconditional love and grace in the year 2000, which radically freed her from the bondage of legalism and exhausting performance. She desires to faithfully obey and purely reflect the character of Jesus in her life and longs for readers to encounter the Presence of Holy Spirit in her writing.

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