Peace on Earth… it’s what the angels declared at the birth of Jesus. As the birth of Christ was being announced by an angel to a group of shepherds, suddenly the entire sky filled with angels all singing:
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” – Luke 2:14 NLT
Peace on Earth… sounds good doesn’t it? But where is it? Where is the peace the angels sang about?
“Peace on Earth” is more than a line we sing around Christmas time… it is a divine declaration of God’s intention for your life.
This year has been marked by COVID, fear, racism, riots, elections, deception, and division. What seems to be missing is that word PEACE that the angels sang about. But it doesn’t have to be that way! If you look at this year and think this has been the worst year of your life, there is good news for you. Jesus specializes at showing up in the worst of times to give you something that you cannot find apart from Him – PEACE.
The day of Jesus’ crucifixion had to be the worst day of the disciples’ lives. Jesus showed up after His resurrection to declare and impart the benefits of His resurrection – PEACE.
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! Peace be with you,” he said. – John 20:19
The words Jesus spoke to them are the same words He speaks to us today: Peace be with you.
Outside the locked doors, there was not peace. There was a struggle for power by the religious leaders; there was fear of the Roman government; there were those who were shocked that it appeared Jesus had failed. But Jesus said among them, “Peace be with you.”
When Jesus said those words, He was imparting something in them they needed and would mark them for the rest of their lives. This peace of God, released in their lives, would guide them, guard them, and make them shine as a beacon of hope to hurting humanity.
I DECLARE THIS SAME PEACE over your heart, your home, your family today – peace be to you!
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. – Colossians 3:15
As followers of Jesus Christ, peace is a God-ordained destination for you!
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT
His Peace…. When? At all times! How can this be? But what about the election… the economy… my job… my kids… my health? People should be blown away at the peace they see in you and me!
History records that a man about to be martyred for his faith said to the executioner, “Put your hand here, (and he directed the man’s hand to his heart) and now put your other hand on your heart, and feel which heart beats the hardest, see which is most troubled.” The executioner leading this man to the stake to be burned alive was struck with awe when he found the Christian man calm, while his own heart was racing – agitated having to perform such a horrible act.
We are living in a day of great opportunity to share our reason for peace: Christ!
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
3 Critical Steps to Walking in Unusual Peace:
Stop worrying and start hoping.
“Don’t worry about anything” is a command, not an option. As it has been said, “Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it gets you nowhere.” No one goes through life without facing problems, battles, and causes for worry, but a life filled with worry can wreck us. The average person spends over 14 hours a week worrying about something. Over a lifetime, that’s over 5 years.
The problem with worry is in what you see!
That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. – Romans 4:17-19 NLT
Abraham was 100 years old and thought his 100-year-old body was good as dead… but God! So Abraham kept hoping… how could he not! He knew the One who hung the sun and moon and scattered the stars like sand with both hands!
If you are bound by what you see, you are as good as done. To walk in worry or fear means putting more faith in the devil’s ability to bring about evil than in God’s ability to bring about good.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. Jer. 17:8.
We are not oblivious to the evil that is at work around us, but let’s not participate in the things that keep demons occupied – things like fear and worry. We participate in overcoming evil with goodness. We participate in lifting up the name of Jesus.
Jesus said, Stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried out your life. Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? He will certainly care for you. – Matthew 6:25-26,30
There is the real reason people worry – they don’t know how valuable they are to God. They are not convinced that God is going to take care of them, but the Lord is simply looking for those who will trust in Him:
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. – Isaiah 26:3
We all have things we are concerned about. If we don’t worry about them, what do we do with them?
Stop worrying and start praying.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need… – Philippians 4:6
We are not told to stop worrying because there is nothing to worry about; we are told to stop worrying so we start to do something that can make a difference. Believing in God doesn’t mean you are not troubled; it means you know Who to go to when you are troubled.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth! I believed in you, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.” – Psalms 116:9-10 NLT)
The worst part of worry is that it paralyzes you with this lie: There is nothing you can do to get free, nothing you can do to change the situation. For so many of us, when dreams die, a little part of our heart dies, because we just can’t see getting beyond where we are. Knowing God is on the throne in uncertain times brings great peace! Our great hope is that God is on the throne, over all the kingdoms of the earth, AND that we have the honor of approaching His throne in prayer. We get to be salt and light in this world! We are not helpless victims just waiting for Jesus to return.
The Church is the only force on the earth that is contesting Satan’s rule in human affairs. While voting is important, the future of our country is not based completely on who wins an election. It is the Church on her knees, and the Church in action, that can birth an awakening that can change the face of our nation and the world. In his sovereignty, God has voluntarily chosen to merge his working with man’s praying. Our country has not fully seen what God can do through people of prayer. Prayer changes the people that are prayed for and the people doing the praying.
America has gone through so much this year, and there is no greater way to change things than to pray. Prayer has stopped wars, changed lives, brought rain, healed the sick, raised the dead, changed the hearts and actions of world leaders, held back demonic forces, and released spiritual awakening on the earth. Your vote matters… but your prayers matter more!
How to pray—with loud cries and tears, pleading, with heart and emotion:
While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. – Hebrews 5:7 NLT
What to pray for:
This is what the Lord says: Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, No, that’s not the road we want! – Jeremiah 6:16
The tragedy for God’s people was that while they were invited to ask for the old godly ways—the best pathway for their lives—they wanted nothing to do with it. Will you pray with me and ask God for the old godly ways?
Jesus is still praying for you!
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. – Hebrews 7:25 NLT
Stop worrying and start thanking.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done… – Philippians 4:6
You can’t be worrying when you are praying and thanking at the same time.
I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising. – Isaiah 63:7 MSG
And sing yourself right into God’s presence:
On your feet now—applaud God! Sing yourselves into his presence. – Psalms 100:1-2 MSG
That’s where peace is, and sometimes you have to sing yourself there. This peace from God then guards your heart!
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
Peace on Earth! As believers, this is our time to shine! As Jesus spoke peace into the disciples when they were worried, I speak peace into you now.
Dive In Deeper
You can live in peace by following a few critical steps:
- Stop Worrying and Start Hoping
- Remember that we hope for what we cannot yet see. God’s got you in His hands!
- Stop Worrying and Start Praying
- Make a list of what you are choosing not to worry about. Instead, talk to God about everything.
- Stop Worrying and Start Thanking
- Make a gratitude list and thank God, praise Him for all He has done and will do.
Let’s choose to stop worrying, and start praying and thanking… singing our way into His peace!
