Advent 2022 – Day 20
Friday, December 16th
Peace of Christ
By David Lane / Season of life: 70, Semi-Retired Engineer
Scripture
Jesus said, “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life… And if God cares so
wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he surely
care for you… So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” ~ Excerpts from Matthew 6:25-34
My story is not about a major life crisis that caused worry, anxiety and lots of prayer. My story concerns my son when he was a senior in high school, faced with a major decision about college that only he could make. I could not make the decision for him, but I knew what the right decision was. I was worried and very anxious about the situation.
One day during this time of worry, I was working outside, walking alone in the woods in Claiborne County. I prayed, “Please, Lord, make this happen. I know it is the right thing. Please make it happen.”
My prayer was immediately answered. The Lord told me that I was worrying more than praying. He told me he had a plan and that I needed to find peace in knowing this. Just trust this and be at peace. My worries went away and I found peace. A peace I still find in prayer during trying times.
Closing Prayer
Lord, I give thanks for this time of year when we welcome the coming
of Christ. May the Peace of Christ be with us. Amen
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Reflections
What worries do you want to turn over to Jesus in this season of your life?
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Spend a few moments reading the entirety of Matthew 6:25-34.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Circle the phrases that stand out to you most in this passage. What do these particular words tell you about who God is?
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Lord God, may I “repeat the sounding joy” of who You are today!