Prince of Peace

"...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

When you think of peace you might imagine yourself in a serene valley covered in beautiful flowers with the bright blue sky reflecting the sun's glorious rays against your face. 

When you think of peace you might think of the sound of ocean waves crashing against a sandy white beach as you recline back in your folding chair.

When you think of peace you might imagine yourself laying on your couch, kids tucked in bed with a good book that is beckoning for you to read it and a hot cup of joe and a warm blanket in hand.

Perhaps it's a bubble bath with your Pandora tuned to Bethel Music as you quietly soak in God's goodness into your soul through some of the most profound worship music. Then you close your eyes, letting the day melt away.

But peace doesn't have to be dictated on your surrounding. The kind of peace I am talking about is one that comes from your heart and wraps it's arms around you when everything else in your mind is wanting to wage war. 

This kind of peace can't be explained. It is completely incomprehensible... to everyone BUT you. People ask you how you manage to stay calm during the mess, where you find your bearings in the storm, how you hold on when logic is screaming at you to let go. 

But you know. You know exactly where it comes from and  from whom it comes from- the Prince of Peace.

When you make a habit of daily spending time in the Word of God and allowing your heart to meditate on it's truth, or when you have applied the wisdom of the Bible and allowed it to rule your mind when a choice needs to be made, you have peace. When you practice peace you have peace. When you pursue peace, you have peace. You don't even really need to ask God for peace...it's already there for the taking. We just need to grab hold.

Isaiah explains Jesus as not only our Prince of Peace but our Wonderful Counselor. Just as much as any therapist we might pay to hear our wandering thoughts and insecurities, Jesus desires just that! He wants our honest, raw emotions spilled out to Him. The good, the bad and ugly. When we give these over to Him, guess what? It takes a little weight off our shoulders and we can walk a little lighter after that time spent with the Lord. Don't believe me? Try it for yourself.

Need help putting on your shoes of peace? Check out Michelle's new book Arm Yourself: Equipping Ourselves with the Armor of God. Available online everywhere. Click here for more info.

Prince of Peace by Hillsong United

When fear comes knocking
There You'll be my guard
When day breeds trouble
There You'll hold my heart
Come storm or battle
God I know Your peace will meet me there