The Peace Our Hearts Long For: Advent Day Twenty-Three

Read:
 Micah 5:4–5 (NIV)
 “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.”

Reflect
At Christmas, we talk a lot about peace—peace on earth, goodwill toward men. But what kind of peace do we really need most?

Micah points us to a day when God’s King, the Messiah, will rule over all the earth. His greatness will reach every corner, leaving no threats, no pockets of resistance, nothing left to fear. That day is coming, when swords will be turned into plowshares, and war will be no more. “He will be our peace.”

But before there can be true peace on earth, there must be a deeper peace—peace with God. Our biggest problem isn’t just the chaos around us, but the separation between us and our Creator. Sin and judgment are our greatest enemies, keeping us from the peace our hearts long for.

Micah knew this, and he celebrated the mercy of God:
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression?... You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18–19)

That’s the heart of Christmas. Jesus, the promised Shepherd-King, came to bring us peace with God. At the cross, Christ trampled sin and judgment underfoot. For everyone who trusts Him, our sins are cast into the sea—gone forever. That’s the deepest peace imaginable.

One day, Jesus will return and make all things right, bringing lasting peace to the world. But today, you can know His peace in your heart—no more guilt, no more fear. That’s the peace our hearts long for, and it’s the reason we say, “Glory to God in the highest!”

Quotes for Today:
“Before there can be peace on earth, there must be peace with God.”
 “He will be our peace—He has trampled our greatest enemies underfoot.”

Apply

• Where do you feel a lack of peace—in your circumstances, your heart, or your relationship with God?
• How does it change your outlook to know Christ has already made peace possible by dealing with your deepest need?

Action Steps

1. Take a moment to thank Jesus for making peace between you and God.
2. Ask Him to fill you with His peace, and let that peace overflow to those around you today.

Prayer Points

1. Praise God for sending Jesus to be our Peace and to defeat sin and judgment for us.
2. Pray for deeper trust in Christ’s finished work, and for His peace to reign in your heart and your relationships.