3 Steps to Follow the Prince of Peace this Christmas
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Isaiah 9:6
Do you go shopping on Black Friday? Every year I promise myself that I will not be tempted to buy things that weren’t on my list just because it is on sale, yet, just this morning I managed to waste close to three hours browsing the internet sales. The result? I bought nothing on my list and scored a cute sweatshirt for myself. Sigh. I love all the lights, gifts, and endless Christmas parties, but something doesn’t sit well in my spirit when more of my time, energy and money goes to having the perfect holiday and less towards remembering and honoring the Prince of Peace.
Prince of Peace
One of my favorite names of Jesus is “Prince of Peace”. He is so many things, but this name reminds me that when my life feels chaotic, I am no longer allowing the Prince of Peace to rule in my heart and home. If you want to join me in stepping off the hamster wheel of chaos this Christmas season and put the Prince of Peace back at the center where He belongs, join me in doing these three simple things:
Prayerfully Plan
The Bible says that without vision the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) When we take time to cast the vision for every season of our life it ushers in a spirit of peace. Take some time as family to pray about how to spend your time, energy, and resources this Christmas season. Every season is different, and God may ask us to lay down some old ways of doing things, so we can pick up something new. When our entire family is in agreement with our core values for the season on things like how much money to spend, how many parties to attend, and ways to bless others, then it takes the guesswork (and unnecessary fighting) out of our holidays.
Pursue Peace
A core value our household tries to live by is to “follow the peace”. Because Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we are following him when we follow peace. If something doesn’t feel peaceful, then it’s a simple “no”. Or perhaps we’ve said “yes” to too many things and the peace has left our home. In those seasons, we must stop and ask the Lord what needs to go in order for the peace to return to our hearts and home.
Practice Patience
During the holiday season, it is easy to let the fast pace consume us as we get caught up in all of the things that need to be accomplished before Christmas day. Jesus is grieved when we are in such a hurry that we ignore the people that are right in front of us. Jesus himself did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) Every time I read that verse from Matthew 20:28 I am convicted to be a servant rather than demanding to be served. We live in a world that is full of services that promise us we won’t have to wait long to be served. But what if we took a different approach this holiday season? What if we, the body of Christ, asked God to open our eyes to people all around us who are in need of Christ’s love? Lives would be changed, and people would be set free by Jesus. After all, isn’t that who and what Christmas is all about?
PRAY:
Father, we thank you that you are the prince of peace. We thank you that we can follow you and find peace. Please reveal and heal any areas of our lives that do not have peace. Breath fresh life into those areas. Please open our eyes to people all around us who need us to show them your love, so you can usher in peace into their hearts this Christmas season. We submit our hearts and lives to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
APPLY:
Get out a piece of paper and write down all the “things” you are committed to doing this season. Once you are done writing them, circle the words that God highlights and says “yes, I have called you to this”. Those are the words that have peace around them. Then put an X through the words that give you no peace. This is God saying, “Not this year”. Then make a game plan to gracefully resign those commitments. As you step out in obedience and follow God’s peace, he will open doors that you never dreamed could open and the peace in your heart and home will be the best gift you will receive this season.
About the Author
Rachael Gilbert helps Christian women overcome fear and insecurities so they can confidently pursue their God-given dreams through her blog, podcast, and coaching services. She's a wife, mother, writer, speaker, and Christ-follower. To read more about Rachael, go to her website or Instagram. This is the eighth in the series of the Names of Christ.
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