At the end of the service in many churches the pastor will give a closing blessing based on Philippians 4:7, “7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I like the way it is translated in the more modern version, The Message.
6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
This week we focus on the promise of peace, real peace that we anticipate and celebrate in Advent. God’s plan for restoring his creation is in process in spite of the evil we see trying to defeat us. We don’t need to fret and worry. God cares about his creation. He cares enough to come himself and be with us– past, present and future. His peace is not like the world gives and so it is hard to understand but as we learn to trust him and hold on to his promises, we have a peace that brings us a sense of wholeness and coming together for good even in the worst of times. Let’s pray that Christ will displace worry in our hearts today and during this season as we leave our worries with him. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 