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Friday, December 23, 2016

Finding Real Peace This Christmas

In review of Ephesians 1:18 it says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people”

Bottom Line:
May your minds be open to see God’s light so that you can understand the confident hope and blessings he promises to his called ones.

What this means to me:
Paul prays that my eyes and my mind be opened to see God’s light, so that I can really understand the wonderful confident hope and blessings he promised to give to those he calls.

Today's verse comes from the last part of Ephesians chapter 1, where Paul prays for spiritual Wisdom. He starts by saying that ever since he had heard of the Ephesian churches faith in Jesus and their love for people, he has not stopped thanking God for them. In fact he prays for them constantly, asking God to give them spiritual wisdom and insight so that they may grow in their knowledge of Christ and of God. He prays that their hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called, his holy ones, who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Today I will consider how I can find real peace this Christmas. Peace is a common word used especially at this time.  The good news of Christmas is that “Jesus came to earth to give us peace. Peace with God, peace within, and peace with others.”

To obtain this peace it starts with Jesus. I see God as he really is, not as I was brought up to believe he was. I also get a true perspective of myself as I really am, not as I think I am. You see other people as they really are instead of how I’ve been told they were. I see my problems clearly. You see my past, present, and future clearly.

It seems that Christmas is a great time for me to get that capture that moment of clarity.

From what I’m learning, every person in the first Christmas story had such a moment of clarity.

. Joseph had a dream, and suddenly everything made sense.
. The wise men had a moment of clarity while staring at the stars.
. Mary had a moment of clarity when she understood God’s Word spoken to her.
. The shepherds had a moment of clarity when they experienced a miracle and decided to visit baby Jesus.
. Elizabeth had a moment of clarity through her friend, Mary.

Paul writes about a moment of clarity in Ephesians 1:18: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (NIV).

God knows everything about me; however, I know almost nothing about God. I need a moment of clarity to see what he sees.

The Christmas story shows us that God is actively working to give me a moment of clarity. I will watch for God this weekend as I celebrate Christmas! I will strive to be open to see God’s light and try to comprehend spiritual insight for my growth. God has called me to be one of holy ones, rich in his glorious inheritance.

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