“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
– Isaiah 9:6,7
Since the holidays are still fresh in our minds, I want to share a thought with you based on Isaiah 9, the famous chapter that lists all the titles that the future Messiah will be known by. You know, there’s a whole list… Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (my personal favorite). I want you to think on the latter today: as life tries to break you down and keep you striving, remember that you have a Prince of Peace ruling over your heart and circumstances. It’s fascinating to think that this chapter was written in a time when princes and kings were renowned as death warriors who established their authority and identity with skulls, blood, and banners. A message of One who would sit atop the throne of the world and rule with peace was given during the period of the Assyrians and other destructive peoples. The Hebrew word Shalom, which signifies wholeness and completion, goes beyond our very limited English concept of peace. A Kingdom of Shalom is one in which everything is in its proper place, similar to Eden. Friend, because the Prince of Shalom resides in you and sits on the throne of your heart, everything is perfect; in Him, wholeness is yours. Never forget that He has provided you with everything you require to walk in peace. Allow Him to reign and guide you in His Shalom as you are offered new possibilities in the next year, or as you encounter difficult circumstances. As you do so, you can be assured that His ruling will be just, righteous, and always in your favor. As you move forward in the things He has called you to, may His peace be your compass. Amen! |
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for being my Prince of Peace. I pray that you rule in my heart, bringing your peace to all of my circumstances and guiding me in my choices.
Reflection
Do you have the Prince of Shalom ruling over your heart?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
