Throughout life, we’re all looking for peace in our heart of hearts.
We’d love to avoid all the pain, fear, worry, and stress that life imparts.
Does having peace in life mean the absence of such adverse feelings?
No, not a lack of their presence but a lack of their control of our being.

Peace is a word that seems to be often glossed over, yet it is sprinkled all throughout scripture.
I think we often view peace as a utopian dream and miss the big picture.
This world is in constant chaos and dissent;
The lack of peace we perceive outwardly grows to a seemingly unfathomable extent.

But what is peace really?
To truly understand, we have to look at it biblically.
Paul greets the churches every time with grace and peace from God.
There’s the first thing to note – peace has a source, and human it is not.

Our English word peace comes from the Hebrew “Shalom,”
Which is defined as an inner sense of feeling complete and being whole.

Where are you in your search for shalom?
Has your inner sense of completeness and wholeness found a home?

Funny that Christmas time is thought of as a time of peace,
Yet the stresses of the season seem to never cease.
With all the busyness of parties and gifts,
The joy and fulfillment we’re grasping for prove their elusiveness.

Peace is not a result of parties, family time, PTO, and Christmas vacation;
Peace is a direct result of revelation.
Not something newly revealed but revealed 2,000 years ago,
Born to a virgin girl, with her carpenter husband to be, kneeling beside a manger low.
Peace at Christmas cannot be found at the dinner table;
Rather, it is discovered in that Bethlehem stable.

If the Prince of Peace is not the “King of me,”
I will be futile in my attempts to keep the peace.
For peace cannot be kept lest I am indwelt by the Spirit of God.
And then from within, my life may give Him laud.
There is a direct link between receiving peace and giving glory.
The Holy Spirit within me enables my life to tell this story.

Contrary to what the world may say, peace is not through control, but surrender.
Therefore, obedience displays peace while disobedience hinders.

Peace, shalom, is held in the Prince of Peace, our humble Messiah,
The One who was prophesied of old by the prophet Isaiah.
Our Wonderful Counselor is born.
Our Mighty God will one day leave the veil torn.
Our Everlasting Father is God among us, and His reign will never cease.
Born this day in the little town of Bethlehem, lying in a manger, is our Prince of Peace.

And if this very King of Kings is not the King of my heart,
The peace I strive for will only fall apart.
So, where is our Shalom?
Our Shalom be not found if not seated on our very life’s throne.