Perfect Peace
Advent Week Four, Day Four
Isaiah 26: 3 – 4

Focus: “...You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind os stayed on you...”

Many of the songs we sing each Christmas season have lyrics that speak to the silence, holiness or peacefulness of the night Jesus was born. In many respects, I suppose those lyrics might have been true among people living at the time. For others, however, I’m certain it was much the same as it is for many of us today; there is an absence of peace.

While the holiday season is a time of great cheer for many, it is also a time of great sadness and fear for others. The memories of a deceased loved one, the loss of a child, or any number of other countless tragedies causes the joy and peace of the season to take a back seat to pain.

What will this season hold for you? Will you experience true joy and perfect peace or will you simply grit your teeth and move through the season with quiet resolve? In many ways, the choice is yours to make. God not only works during the happy, successful moments of our lives; but most assuredly he does his greatest work in us during moments of dread and despair, as we trust him!

Even when we have no control over our circumstances, we can consciously set our gaze on Jesus, who keeps us in perfect peace. Do this by thinking on his word or by singing him songs of praise. You can always choose the object of your attention.