Advent Devotional: Make Room for JesusSample

Day 12: Make Room for Peace

It can often be hard with our human eyes to see battles being won for eternity. Evil seems to be rampant and brokenness abounds. Peace appears all but absent in the lives of so many around us. But when Jesus came on the scene in that tiny town of Bethlehem, God’s promise to save his people from evil was forever established. Satan no longer would be able to run rampant. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, he would be crushed and Jesus would bring freedom and healing to the world.

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." - Romans 16:20

So how do we hold onto peace in the midst of a broken world? While it can feel insurmountable at times, God promises that He will triumph in the end and we can trust that He is in control. When we understand the saving work of Jesus and how he has defeated the enemy it can anchor us in the midst of uncertainty.

The more God’s Word is spread and the more God’s church is built up, the harder God’s foot crushes Satan. It’s through the Prince of Peace coming to this world that sin was defeated. We can continually trust that the enemy will not be victorious in the lives of those who follow Jesus. By setting our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, we can live in freedom and not in fear.

Reflect:

• How does God’s promise of crushing Satan give you assurance when you’re in the midst of a trial?
• How are God’s gifts of peace and grace related?
• What is an area of your life that would significantly change if you allowed God to have victory over it instead of operating out of fear?

Pray:

Offer the area listed above to God today and ask Him to give you freedom. Thank Him for His power and His almighty ways. Ask Him to strengthen you with peace to know that, if you have accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, the enemy will never have power over you.