I listened to the hospital's piped-in music playing, "Sleep in heavenly peace..." I was about to sleep myself...not of my own will, but of some strange medication that would send me swiftly to "la-la-land," while the doctor performed an outpatient medical test. Peace? Not in MY world that day, until I surrendered my thoughts and fears to the Lord, until I began to focus on loving and praising Him in the midst of scary circumstances! My shaking nerves quieted down, and I almost fell asleep--before I ever got the sedation!
Thank the Lord, the doctor's report was an excellent one, and I'm back to listening to the shopping mall's piped-in music, which I much prefer! Of course, I know you do too--no one likes these kinds of disruptions at Christmas...and yet, that's just what HAPPENED at Christmas, the first Christmas! A disruption to a man named Joseph--about to be married, and his world fell apart. Peace? No way--until GOD showed up on the scene! And that's what this devotional is all about--the peace that God, through the comfort of the Holy Spirit, wants to give us too! Come, with Joseph, to the Well and let's discover the same gift of peace he found on that first Christmas!
A Helping Word...or Two!
An angel brought this gift to a young man named Joseph. "Fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit... (Matthew 1:20)." Joseph's fears were quieted by the comforting words. He believed the angel of the Lord, and the peace of the Holy Spirit filled his troubled heart and perplexed mind. The gift of Christmas--God's wonderful peace--and it's for us today too! Keep unwrapping...
Peace of Body!
Joseph was a carpenter, a busy man, and he was troubled. He could not afford to stress out so completely that he could not perform his daily work. He would need a profitable livelihood to provide for his coming family. Can you imagine him wringing his hands in frustration? No--he had to put tools in those hands and use them to keep on working--for nine months! God's peace would HAVE to envelop him, for under normal circumstances, it was a trying, puzzling, and fearful situation--STRESS as we know it today--enough to frazzle the nerves, raise the blood pressure, and lower the immune system. What would Joseph do? He would continue to work, to love and trust His God; he would unwrap the gift--and peace would come!
Peace for the body? It was God's gift to Joseph, and it's under our tree too. And so, Lord, when my body stresses to the max from the pressures of life, send me to Your Word! Help me too to hear your voice, "Fear not, My Child!" And as I unwrap Your precious gift of peace; let every fibre of my being be touched by your Spirit, to calm, relieve, and speak peace to the marvelous body YOU made. That's all I want for Christmas, Lord--YOUR peace!
Peace of Mind!
Joseph was a thinker, a contemplative man, and he was troubled. He could not figure out the ways of the Lord; they were too puzzling, too complex for his human mind to comprehend. And then there were the people--"What will they say? What will they think?" Over and over in Joseph's mind must have churned a thousand unanswered questions. And yet the angel's gift was, "Fear not." To not heed those words was to cause needless, frightful imaginations. To heed those words was to bring peaceful, calming trust. What would he do? He would continue to love and trust His God; he would unwrap the gift--and peace would come!
Peace for the mind? It was God's gift to Joseph, and it's under our tree too! And so, Lord, when my mind struggles to the max from the anxieties of life, send me to Your Word. Help me too to hear your voice, "Fear not, My Child!" And as I unwrap Your precious gift of peace, let my mind be touched by your Spirit, that I might be aware of a deep, settled calm, speaking peace to the marvelous mind YOU gave me. That's all I want for Christmas, Lord--YOUR peace!
Peace of Spirit! Joseph was a Godly person, a spiritual man, and he was troubled. He loved God supremely, and yet, he could not discern the ways of the Lord. Would it not be reasonable to ask, "Lord, WHAT are You doing? WHY are you doing it THIS way? HOW in the world can it be?" To his natural man, this thing was impossible! But to his spiritual man, ALL things were possible. Especially when he had just received a gift brought by an angel, a gift which simply said, "Fear not!" What would Joseph do? He would continue to love and trust His God; he would unwrap the gift--and peace would come!
Peace for the spirit? It was God's gift to Joseph, and it's under our tree too. And so, Lord, when my spirit deep within struggles to the max to understand your ways and your plan, send me to Your Word. Help me too to hear your voice, "Fear not, My Child!" And as I unwrap Your precious gift of peace, let my spirit be touched by YOUR Spirit, that I may be keenly aware of a depth of peace far surpassing my own troubled spirit. That's all I want for Christmas, Lord--YOUR peace!
Where do I find this precious gift of peace? In God's presence; in God's Word. Peace for body, mind, and spirit is available for us all--Joseph knew it, and we can know it too. Unwrap this wonderful, priceless gift--the peace of God which passes all understanding--know HIS divine gift in your life this week. And not only will you "SLEEP in heavenly peace," you will LIVE in heavenly peace--HIS peace, and HIS Christmas gift to you this week!
"'Twas the Night before Easter!" - popular parody at Peggie's Place! . . . More Easter resources
