A peaceful home is on just about everyone’s Christmas list each year. I’ve already shared three tips to having a peaceful Christmas, but I wanted to dig in a little more and share what the Bible says about how to have peace in your home.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we sing about peace on earth and we love looking at cozy pictures of people enjoying a peaceful Christmas scene. But finding or creating that peace in real life can be challenging. It’s hard to picture peace when your family members are fighting or your kids are running off a sugar high from all of the Christmas cookies they’ve consumed.
Peace is a critical element for enjoying your Christmas. It creates a safe space for family members to bond and create memories, and it also allows you to rest from all of the hard work you’ve done all year. So, how can you create peace in your home this Christmas? Here’s are three methods the Bible teaches:
Tip #1: Put Jesus First.
There are two passages in Scripture that I’d like to call your attention to in how to put Jesus first this Christmas season; both are found in Matthew. In Matthew chapter 6, starting in verse 25 and going through verse 34, Jesus tells us not to worry. Sure, Jesus, easier said than done, right? You’ve got food to make, a house to decorate, gifts to buy, a job to work and family members to coordinate. Not worrying is a nice thought, but how doable is it this time of year? Jesus says it’s very doable; in fact, it’s a top priority. He acknowledges our worries – what we will eat or wear – and he reminds us that God loves us so much that he will provide for us and take care of us. When we trust God and put him first, we don’t have to strive and worry like people without faith. So what if your decorations aren’t perfect or you couldn’t get the must-have gift of the season? When you focus on Jesus first, everything else falls into place.
The other passage is in Matthew chapter 22, verses 37 through 39. Here Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” So when we put Jesus first and focus on loving him, we’re doing what we need to do. Verse 39 continues by saying that we should also love our neighbors as ourselves. God is love and when we put him first, we’re choosing to put love before everything else. When we are more focused on God than our to-do lists, he opens our eyes to see opportunities where we can be used to love others. If you’re consumed with finding the perfect gifts, you may miss the mom struggling to pay for her groceries at the store. If all of your time is taken up by too much activity, you may not think to invite the widowed neighbor for Christmas dinner. When we put ourselves and the activity of the season before the reason for the season, it all becomes a bit pointless, don’t you think?
Tip #2: Don’t be easily offended.
It feels like everyone is easily offended these days, doesn’t it? We’ve all been created differently and given different perspectives and ways of thinking, but the enemy wants us to view those differences in a negative light. He wants differences to provoke anger and fear. He wants us to be offended because when we’re offended, we don’t have peace. In I Corinthians 13:5, the Bible says that love is not easily offended. If you have family members that always seem to say something hurtful – intentionally or not – try to prepare yourself ahead of time. If you have a relative that always comments on your weight or asks when you’re getting married or when you’re going to have kids, set your mind ahead of time to not let it bother you. You know it’s coming, you know you don’t want to hear it, but you can keep your peace if you let it roll off your back. I know this can be so difficult to do and it’s certainly not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.
On the flip side of that, think before you speak. Like it or not, we may be the one dealing out offensive comments at a family gathering. Be mindful of your words and the impact they will have. If it’s critical and not encouraging, ask yourself if it really needs to be said, especially if Christmas is the only time you’re together. If someone wants your opinion on something or needs your help with a problem they’re facing, they’ll ask you, so help keep the peace by thinking before you speak.
Tip #3: Have an abundance of grace and forgiveness.
Relationships are hard. To have a relationship with anyone – family, friends, a spouse, coworkers – you have to have grace upon grace and an unending fountain of forgiveness. We’re all human and we all have emotions that can be fickle and life circumstances that can be challenging – all of which impact the way we relate to one another. When we choose to forgive people when they’re grouchy or someone says something rude in a moment of stress, we’re choosing to let peace reign. I’m not talking about someone who constantly belittles you or treats you wrong all day – I’m talking about the small moments that we all experience throughout the holidays. Continuing to forgive each other and give grace in all moments makes it easier to embrace peace in your home this Christmas.