Christ, Peace and Patience Hand In Hand

I apologize. I should have posted this part with last week's blog or on Tuesday. 

Christmas eve the Christ candle is lit.  

📖 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. John 12:46

The birth of Christ makes HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE possible. HE IS all these things.  

Some thoughts as I went through the week prior to Christmas and in doing a devotion based on Christmas Carols.

One of them focused on peace...and it struck me...peace comes with patience.

One thing that caught my attention in this devotion was "we all want a quick fix". I never really thought about Christ's birth and God's plan in terms of the opposite of a quick fix!  They had waited for a Savior and finally prayers and prophecy were answered!!!  But the "solution" to the world's "sin problem " wouldn't come to it's culmination for over 30 years!  

Yes, He grew and taught and healed, but the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and resurrection over death was years away!  The peace that came with the baby would need to be coupled with patience as God continued to work out His plan. Just as we need patience as God works His plan in our lives. 

📖  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

And each day I need patience in my circumstances to fully able to rest in His peace.

📖   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

He gives His peace freely, but if I become impatient for my circumstances to change or improve it becomes counter- productive to God's plan.

📖 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.   Isaiah 55:8-9

As we move into 2025 let's grab His peace in one hand and hold onto patience tightly with the other and walk confidently into the New Year, knowing God goes before us and has great things in-store! 

🙏🏼 Lord God, thank you for the gift of Your Son, who came to be our Savior and to bring us peace. I am so grateful that You will walk with us every step of this New Year. I pray we can relinquish our impatience and allow Your peace to rule. Amen♥️

📖 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.   Colossians 3:15