Advent Devotional: Day 11

“And above all these things put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful”  Colossians 3:14-15

As I wrote down today’s scripture I underlined action words. Not verbs, but words as a Christ follower speak to my heart. These words are love, binds, harmony, peace, called, and thankful. Each of these tell my heart something to do or give it a purpose.

My heart becomes distraught and heavy when I see and hear what is going on outside my home. There have been moments that my heart has spoken words of hate. In one of those moments God reminded me that I was not His only child, “they” were too.

In being His child, I am called to love, even if that person is difficult to love. To love as God does means to forgive their actions, to see them through my Jesus lens and pray for them. This is part of the love that binds us together.  To live in harmony takes work. It takes setting aside me and setting God’s kingdom first.

Being thankful comes when we shift our focus on loving others. Find something in others to be thankful for, if you can’t then ask God to show you how. A grateful heart starts inside the home. My heart is grateful for the home God gave me. His home in my heart is messy and He cleans it out often.

Out of a grateful heart comes love for others, but also peace.  If a grateful heart is full of gratitude then it is not searching for something else to fill it.  If it is a contented grateful heart, then there is an inner peace that is present.  A pastor suggested keeping a gratitude journal daily, simple little thing you are grateful for.  It is another way to shift your focus (my focus) from the noise of the world to the peaceful moments with God.

What rules your heart?  Love? Peace? Gratitude? Noise of the world?