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
Action Steps
Prayer Points
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
- Take a moment to thank Jesus for making peace between you and God.
- Ask Him to fill you with His peace, and let that peace overflow to those around you today.
Prayer Points
- Praise God for sending Jesus to be our Peace and to defeat sin and judgment for us.
- Pray for deeper trust in Christ’s finished work, and for His peace to reign in your heart and your relationships.
Posted in Advent
Recent
Why Don’t I Care? Steps to Overcoming Spiritual Apathy
March 12th, 2026
One of the most frustrating parts of my life is that I’m not as passionate about God as I should be. I imagine many Christians feel similarly. There are some, however, for whom this feeling goes deep and lasts long.Some of us may find ourselves in the midst of a long stretch of feeling fairly indifferent about the things of God. We know that Bible reading, prayer, church involvement, missions, eva...
Encountering Jesus at Your Well: Finding Living Water in Places of Avoidance
March 9th, 2026
Take a moment and imagine a deserted landscape at high noon. Rolling plains stretch before you, perhaps a bit parched and brown. In the distance, mountain ranges frame the horizon. The heat is oppressive—the kind that makes most people seek shelter. At the center of this scene sits an ancient well, and beside it, a solitary figure waits.This isn't just any traveler resting from a journey. This is ...
No Service for Jesus is Small: The Mundane Matters
March 4th, 2026
Most of us live most our lives doing mostly mundane things. We might experience a few pivotal, defining moments in life. But most days we don’t get married, receive a positive pregnancy test, or achieve a breakthrough in our field. Most days, we’re commuting, studying, parenting, working, doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, or paying the bills.Do those activities count in God’s eyes? Does the munda...
2026
February
2025
December
Advent Day One: He Seeks - He SavesAdvent Day Two: Are You Ready for Advent?Advent Day Three: The Gift Hidden in the WaitingAdvent Day Four: The Greatest Gift – God With Us and For UsAdvent Day Five: The Reason for Christmas—Victory Over SinAdvent Day Six: Christmas Shouts “Glory to God”Advent Day Seven: He Came to Bless UsAdvent Day Eight: The Anchor of God’s PromisesAdvent Day Nine: The Hidden Glory of the Son of ManAdvent Day Ten: Victory Over Darkness – Why Jesus CameAdvent Day Eleven: Love That Gives EverythingAdvent Day Twelve: God Speaks—The Word With UsAdvent Day Thirteen: Living in the Days of FulfillmentAdvent Day Fourteen: Mercy That Brings Us HomeThe Gift That Says, “You Are Enough” – Advent Day FifteenFrom Slavery to Sonship—The Gift of Belonging: Advent Day SixteenServed by the Savior—The Gift We Didn’t Expect: Advent Day SeventeenFrustrated Toward Grace—When God Won’t Let Us Settle: Advent Day EighteenThe Gift You Can Only Receive: Advent Day NineteenThe Joy of Being Brought Back—Unwrapping Reconciliation: Advent Day TwentyOpen the Eyes of Your Heart—Seeing Christ for Who He Is: Advent Day Twenty-OneFrom Shadows to Song—A New Heart for Christmas: Advent Day Twenty-TwoThe Peace Our Hearts Long For: Advent Day Twenty-ThreeChristmas—The “Yes” to Every Promise: Advent Day Twenty-FourGrace Upon Grace—The Heartbeat of Christmas: Advent Day Twenty-Five
No Comments