Seek peace might be an appropriate slogan for 2017. This past year has been filled with violence, division, and war across the globe. God wants peace for our world and Jesus, whose birth we just celebrated, is called the Prince of Peace. What role can individuals have in promoting peace in such a divisive society? God gives some very specific commands, and if people would follow them, 2017 could be a year remembered for less violence and more love.

 

2MefromHim Devotionals

Seek Peace

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

Christians cling to the past and project old attitudes and hurts into the future with the same indignation as non-Christians. I awakened this morning with a prayer that God would show me how to seek peace in a relationship filled with unrest but before noon, I had already blown it.

We stand on the brink of a New Year, hearts and minds filled with garbage collected during the past year and perhaps many beyond that. In last week’s devotional, I used Jesus’ words from Revelation 21:5, “I am making everything new!” And he means it. If we have Christ as our Savior, he will make things new when we give him free reign to do so, starting with our own hearts first.

To seek peace doesn’t come without risk to our own desires, thoughts, and needs. It requires giving up rights, agreeing to compromise, and committing to love and work together no matter what. But what if …

What if in choosing to love and work with others, we receive something far more precious than our own desires? What if we gain renewed and strengthened relationships? What if in refusing to demand our way as the only right way we achieve respect and cooperation that were lacking? What if in sacrificing we become more like Christ; if in choosing to act lovingly we receive love and understanding?

What if we shut out every thought that was self-righteous and self-serving? What if we quit jockeying for position and power? What if we accepted others the way we desire them to accept us?

 

In Romans 12, Paul says not to think of ourselves more highly than we should, to judge ourselves soberly. To seek peace, we must devote ourselves to one another in love, honor one another above ourselves, and refuse to repay evil with evil. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

To seek peace requires a sincere and intense look at my heart, at the things I want to keep hidden. It demands I give others a chance and admit that my way is not the only way.

Jesus Christ wants his children united in love and peace with each other, respecting differences rather than fearing or fighting them. Love is a choice, a commitment, not a feeling. It does not have to be reciprocated. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) He didn’t wait until we changed and became perfect and loveable. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

To seek peace requires forgiveness. Where there is forgiveness, love can grow.

Part of the message of Christmas is to let go of the past and ring in the New Year with renewed hearts and minds. Determine to seek peace in 2017.

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, December 29, 2016

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173