By: Sarah Geringer
Today's devotion is an excerpt from my book Christmas Peace for Busy Moms.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Colossians 3:15 NIV
The first Christmas story includes a story about extended family.
When Mary found out she was pregnant, she went to her relative Elizabeth's home. Elizabeth was near the end of her own pregnancy. These two relatives in miraculous circumstances gained peace and joy from one another's company.
Time with relatives during Christmas is often a joy, blessing and source of strength. It can be a refueling of peace.
Time with relatives during Christmas can also be a challenge and an opportunity to spread peace to people who are difficult.
Peace in our extended families is possible at Christmas, but it isn't possible without Jesus, and it isn't possible without intent.
If you set out early in December with the commitment to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, you will be a peacemaker instead of a peace-disrupter at family Christmas gatherings.
Irritating words will turn into moments to breathe deeply in God's peace.
Offending actions will become opportunities to take the high road of peace.
Conflicts will become stages for peacemaking.
Remember you are called to peace; you were not set in your family by accident, but you are called to be a peacemaker in the unique family God gave you.
This Christmas, will you purpose in your heart to bring peace to your extended family? Will you allow the peace of Christ to rule in your heart so it can overflow to all your family members, even onto the difficult people?
Will you choose peace over conflict so you can point your relatives to the Prince of Peace?
Prayer:
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When Mary found out she was pregnant, she went to her relative Elizabeth's home. Elizabeth was near the end of her own pregnancy. These two relatives in miraculous circumstances gained peace and joy from one another's company.
Time with relatives during Christmas is often a joy, blessing and source of strength. It can be a refueling of peace.
Time with relatives during Christmas can also be a challenge and an opportunity to spread peace to people who are difficult.
Peace in our extended families is possible at Christmas, but it isn't possible without Jesus, and it isn't possible without intent.
If you set out early in December with the commitment to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, you will be a peacemaker instead of a peace-disrupter at family Christmas gatherings.
Irritating words will turn into moments to breathe deeply in God's peace.
Offending actions will become opportunities to take the high road of peace.
Conflicts will become stages for peacemaking.
Remember you are called to peace; you were not set in your family by accident, but you are called to be a peacemaker in the unique family God gave you.
This Christmas, will you purpose in your heart to bring peace to your extended family? Will you allow the peace of Christ to rule in your heart so it can overflow to all your family members, even onto the difficult people?
Will you choose peace over conflict so you can point your relatives to the Prince of Peace?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for my family. I thank you for both the easy relationships that strengthen and encourage me, and the hard relationships that challenge me to grow. Make me an ambassador of your peace this year. Fill me with your peace so I can share it with family members who need to see you in me. I invite you, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to rule in my heart today so your perfect peace can overflow to my loved ones in the days ahead.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings and God's peace to you,
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