Peace on Earth - An Expedition Advent Devotional

Peace on Earth - An Expedition Advent Devotional

Peace is God’s gift of wholeness to all those who determine to enter His presence and follow His will.

As we encounter this Advent season as the community of Expedition Church, together we journey towards His desire for our lives... peace on earth... and our hope for peace in the world yet to come.

He has shown us the way to peace, even during times of confusion, fear, and tribulation... “Fear not, for I have overcome the world” - Jesus.

This Advent season we will be focusing on:

• Circumstantial Peace
• The Peace Giver
• Peace Givers
• Christmas Peace

Join us as we daily offer our prayer and praise to the Prince of Peace and invite the God of Peace to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!

On the following pages you will find an introduction to the devotional.  This should allow you to encounter a time of contemplation and peace with the God of all creation.  May God bless us all in this journey together, in Jesus’ name.

Peace
eiréné: one, peace, quietness, rest.
Original Word: εἰρήνη, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: eiréné
Phonetic Spelling: (i-ray'-nay)
Short Definition: peace, peace of mind
Definition: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.

eirḗnē (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness).

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Supplication
deésis: a need, entreaty
Original Word: δέησις, εως, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: deésis
Phonetic Spelling: (deh'-ay-sis)
Definition: a need, entreaty
Usage: supplication, prayer, entreaty.

From: déomai (from the root deō, "having deep personal need, to be in want," see also 1162 /déēsis, "felt-need") – properly, to feel pressing need because of lack – hence, to make urgent appeal; to have deep personal need causing one to beseech (make earnest, specific request).

If we look at the previous pages with the direction of Paul - via the Holy Spirit in the inspired Word of God - then we see a God of order and purpose.

Paul tells us plainly how to receive peace from God to guard our hearts and minds, and how to have the God of peace be with us.

Here is what we are to do as believers: do not be anxious about anything (I know, easier said than done), but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

• Prayer: Well, prayer is a gimme for this devotional.  On one of the following pages, you will see the Lord’s Prayer. It’s how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Pray this prayer each day to start your devotion time.

• Supplication: This simply means that you know what you want from God, and you make it clearly known to Him. You can even list it out (which is recommended).

• Thanksgiving:  Tell God why you Love Him and what you are thankful for in your life. Try this next: focus on the things that you have received that once you may have only hoped for. These things are often forgotten and given little attention.

Notice Paul never mentions a yes or no answer to your prayers.

For some, this is disheartening.  However, God isn’t Santa Clause and He isn’t a genie in a bottle.

God knows what is best for you - believe it or not, better than you do.

If we come to God in all sincerity and trust Him with our anxiety, our doubt, our troubles... but also trust Him with our thanksgiving, our praise, our gratitude, our hopes, and our dreams then... “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And finally, end your time with God in silence, approaching the day in a way that embraces His peace... “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”