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The Way to Peace
Andrea Lende • February 2, 2021
Luke 1:78-79
The Way to Peace
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/The-Way-to-Peace-epq35s
Luke 1:78-79
“Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us].”
“To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.”
Zachariah was speaking to the people around him at his newborn baby’s ceremony.
He was prophesying as the Lord gave him words.
He talked about how loving and merciful the Lord was to give us His Son.
He said Jesus was sent to be a Light.
He was a Light to those who could not see.
He was a Light to those who did not believe.
He was Light to guide the unknowing to Himself.
And as He brought each to Himself, we would be led to a place of peace.
This is mercy.
Our God’s mercy is never ending.
It wasn’t just for the people two thousand years ago.
His mercy has a never-ending flow.
He is the Source of mercy.
He deeply cares for each one of us and desires to give us a peaceful heart.
I love our verse which says, “to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.”
He guides us to peace.
He leads us to peace.
In a straight line.
No swerving.
No swaying.
But a straight line to peace.
As the Lord fills us with His Holy Spirit, our souls are quieted.
He warms our hearts.
He calms the storms that rage all around us.
We can withstand the storms of life if our hearts are filled with peace.
Today I am thankful the Lord made a way for me to be led to Him and filled with His Holy Spirit.
May you find the Lord is leading and guiding you to peace despite the difficulties that surround you.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for sending Your Son to be the Light of this world. Thank You that He came to lead and guide us to a place of peace. His sacrifice restored each of us to You, Lord. Thank You for His will to save us all. Please keep us seeking You. Please continue to lead and guide us by Your Light. Help us feel your peace in our souls. May You wrap each of us in a blanket of peace today. May we rest in Your presence. May we rest knowing we will be with You for eternity. For that is the real prize. That is the fairy tale ending to our lives. Thank You for choosing us to know You and love You. May You help us to love one another. Fill our hearts with Your love to overflowing so we may give You to others. Keep our eyes on You today, Father. Help us bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing our prayer.
Answer: My Son is the final sacrifice and the One Who will light the way to Me.
Response: Thank You, Father, for giving Your Son to save us all.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.