When Peace Feels Far Away - Your Nightly Prayer - November 22nd
Your Nightly Prayer
Audio By Carbonatix
By Tracie Miles, Crosswalk.com
When Peace Feels Far Away
Your Nightly Prayer
By Tracie Miles
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." - Luke 2:14
SOMETHING TO PONDER
We are only days away from the holiday season officially beginning, but Christmas decorations and holiday cards have been out for months. Recently, as I thumbed through the variety of card options on the store shelves, I noticed they all had one thing in common.
Whether the pictures on the cards portrayed lighted candles on a festive mantle, a warm fireplace with stockings hung in a row, a smiling family sitting around the dinner table, or a blanket of newly fallen snow in a moon-lit meadow, they all portrayed a feeling of simplicity and peace.
Although I wish I could say those types of pictures signify holidays at my house, I instead often feel like peace and simplicity are unattainable goals. When my three children were younger, the holidays felt busy, but magical. Now that they’re all grown up, married, and have families of their own, plus in-laws, the holidays often feel more stressful than peaceful. Trying to coordinate schedules, holiday dinners, and shopping for three times the amount of beloved family members often starts bringing a sense of dread instead of peace.
Usually around mid-December, I find myself breathing a heavy sigh and wishing I could just step into one of those Christmas cards. Even for one day. Yearning for the serene feeling of quiet, sweet peace - the peace of perfect families, perfect situations, perfect gifts, perfect meals, and perfect weather.
But God always knows how to prick my heart and remind me that the real picture of peace is not found in any of those things, but only through picturing the holidays through the eyes of Jesus.
Christmas is meant to be simple and peaceful, like Him, not complicated, stressful, busy, and chaotic.
I’ve learned over the years, as the holidays seem to get crazier than calmer, that I need to pause in the midst of my holiday preparations, take my eyes off my to-do lists, and refocus on why we celebrate Christmas at all.
When I take my eyes off the birth of Jesus and instead focus on the birth of all the new holiday projects I think I need to take on, I begin to devote my time and energy to the things that the world thinks are important, instead of what Jesus thinks is important. The truth is, Jesus does not care how beautiful my Christmas tree is, how many candles are lit in my windows, or how many presents I have under my tree.
Instead, He cares about how many people I invite into my home to share in His birthday party, how many times I spread the warmth of His love with others, and how often I willingly put the needs of others before my own. Jesus cares about whether I am keeping my holidays simple, focused, and peaceful, rather than stressful and distracted from the real reason Christmas matters at all.
When I consider the birth of Jesus, as told in the book of Luke, I am reminded of God’s intentional desire to keep His birth simple. He could have orchestrated a royal, majestic, whirlwind of activity for the birth of His Only Son. Had He chosen to, God could have arranged for the birth of Jesus to occur with great splendor and loudness, yet He chose simplicity and peace.
He chose a simple young woman to be the birth mother, a simple young man to be his earthly father, and a simple stable for Him to be born in. Baby Jesus was wrapped in simple blankets and lay in a simple, hay-filled manger. God chose simple shepherds, simple wise men, and one simple star to symbolize His Son’s birthplace. He chose simple angels, although glorious and magnificent, to sing a simple but beautiful and serene chorus throughout the heavens.
God chose to keep the birth of His Son simple, keeping it holier and more peaceful than any other event in history. The Prince of Peace brought peace in all its simplicity.
So often, we allow the busyness of the holiday season to steal our peace. We forget to keep things simple and stay focused on the picture of Peace we are celebrating. We inadvertently overlook those who need a simple touch, a simple hug, a simple gesture of kindness, a simple act of love, as our hearts and minds become blinded by the myriad of details we need to cross off our to-do lists.
The next time I find myself sifting through Christmas cards, I will remember that the real picture of peace at Christmas is much more than meets the eye. Peace is not defined by a holiday absent of stress or strife, or a holiday that looks picture perfect, but by a heart that longs for true simplicity.
When peace starts feeling far away, pause and pray, asking Jesus to replace all the holiday pressures with the gift of peace only He can offer.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Dear Lord,
Help me avoid getting so caught up in worldly holiday traditions that I lose sight of the simplicity you want us to enjoy during this Holy season. Convict my heart when I begin to feel pulled into chaos and fill my heart with Your simple peace. Replace my to-do lists with to-love lists, and guide me in living a life that is pleasing to you, during the holidays and all year round.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. What picture of peace am I chasing this holiday season—one shaped by the world’s expectations, or by the presence of Jesus?
2. Where can I choose simplicity over busyness?
Maybe it’s saying no to an extra event, trimming down a to-do list, or focusing more on relationships than perfection.
3. Who around me needs a simple act of love?
A kind word, a handwritten note, an invitation, or even just a listening ear could reflect Christ’s peace more powerfully than any decorated tree or wrapped gift.
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Simon Lehmann
Tracie Miles is a popular Author Coach who equips and inspires aspiring writers to pursue their publishing dreams and is also a Christian Literary Agent at Tracie Miles Literary. She is the Author of eight best-selling books, including God’s Got You, Living Unbroken, Living Unbroken: A Divorce Recovery Workbook, Love Life Again, Unsinkable Faith, and Stress Less Living. She is a member of the devotions team for the Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today daily devotions, as well as Christianity.com devotions contributor team. Tracie has three grown children, plus a daughter and son-in-law, all of whom live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and enjoys spending time with friends, family and loving on her little grandbabies. You can find out more about Tracie on her website at www.traciemiles.com as well as connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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