Watchful Waiting Joy – Advent Week 4

week 4 pine swag

Watchful Waiting Joy

Advent Bible Journaling Focus – Week Three

He Left Us Peace

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Luke 2:14

Is peace as illusive at times for you as it is for me? In my human mind, peace looks like blue skies, sunshine, and butterflies but life is hard and sometimes my sunshine hides behind gloomy clouds and who knows where the butterflies went!

In those times, I reach into my heart where I have hidden so many verses and remind myself of truth.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

This is not worldly peace that our world’s leaders shake hands over treaties on and wars stop. This is peace with God only available to us through the cross of Jesus because we know the Prince of Peace as our Savior and have access to God the Father through Him.

When you really think about it, does it squeeze your heart like it does mine? What an amazing gift to us! Peace with God because of Jesus. It takes my breath away.

 

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ‘
Galatians 5:22-23

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit and grows in us as our relationship with Christ deepens and becomes more intimate. As we learn to love Him more, as our minds and hearts are being transformed and shaped to be increasingly like Jesus, peace grows to be more of a default reaction in you and me.

Can you imagine peace filling your mind? I pray for this fruit to be developed in me. And in you.

 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3 ESV

This one is my very favorite verses in all of scripture. Peace comes when we secure our mind on God. Zoom in on Him. Steady our thoughts right on the Lord and Who He is.

Jesus, you are my…

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6)

For some of you reading this, right now your life is as stormy and crazy as mine and it isn’t all about shopping and feast cooking. So how about narrowing in on just these four names of Jesus today? He IS the Prince of Peace! Put it on repeat in your mind.

One day, when Jesus comes again and restores all of creation, peace will reign on this earth for eternity. Until then, each of us individually can know peace that is a gift from Jesus.

Think about it. Each one of Christ’s true followers, becoming more and more like Him with peace flooding our hearts, living out the life and light of Jesus inside of each one of us, loving our Savior with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving others selflessly… what would that do in our homes? In our neighborhoods? In our community? And in our world? Imagine the ripple effect!

Will you stay your mind on Jesus Christ today? He is the Prince of Peace. Cling to Him. His peace can reign in your heart and mind above the storm.

It’s my prayer for you, friend.

Watchful Waiting Joy includes one devotional prompt for each week of Advent plus Christmas Day and a surprise prompt at the end to close out the season. I might be more excited about that one than all of the rest! Each prompt includes a free printable to print and use in your Bible or journal as you process each prompt. The printable is original artwork created by me.

Special Note: If you would like to join me and a group of others on the Watchful Waiting Joy journey, subscribe to my email list here. 

Links to the devotional prompt and downloadable printable along with an exclusive printable only for email subscribers are emailed each week of Advent.

He Left Us Joy (Printable Download)

Free Downloadable Printable (Click on the image below.)

And a preview of the exclusive printable available for email subscribers.
Click on the image below to sign up.

If you have any questions about the Advent Focus or problems with the files, please please please let me know!

Thanks for reading!

Blessings on a wonderful Advent season!

 

 

 

***All printables are for personal use ONLY and not for redistribution. Thank you!

Supplies Used in Mixed Media Original Images:

  • Sharpie No Bleed Pen
  • Hymn Pages
  • Lamb’s Ears leaves from plants just outside my front door
  • Koi Watercolors
  • Salt
  • Gold Embossing Tinsel from Personal Stamp Exchange
  • paint.net
  • MS Publisher
  • MS Word
  • Canon ScanGear Scanner & software

Acknowledgements:

  • All images are prints of originals created by me except:
    • twine bow from pixelscrapper.com.
    • Old hymn pages
    • gold paint splatter on exclusive image from Keren Dukes at Free Pretty Things For You
    • Font – Highline Script Font by CreativequbeDesign Studio