A Prayer for Peace during the HolidaysBy Lynette Kittle "Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger'' And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host‚ praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven‚ and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests'" – Luke 2:11-14 Peace is a high commodity these days. Desired by the masses‚ found by few. Often individuals believe if they can gather wealth‚ family‚ and a prominent position‚ peace will come. Yet most find that it is not something that comes through other people‚ possessions‚ or social status. Peace is not something we can create on our own or find in worldly endeavors. So how do we find true peace‚ and why does it seem so unattainable on our own and through our own efforts? Where Does True Peace Come From?Because of God's great compassion and tenderhearted loving kindness toward us‚ He sent us a priceless gift and the true source of everlasting peace‚ knowing we could never gain it on our own. While the world cries out for peace and gathers leaders of the world to try to negotiate for it‚ true peace only comes through one person‚ Jesus. As the Prince of Peace‚ He is the only person to ever walk on worldly soil who has the power to bring peace on earth. As Isaiah 9:6 describes Him before His birth‚ "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." Because He is the only source of true peace in the world‚ He promises us‚ "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Peace That Chases Fear AwayThe peace Jesus brought to earth calms our heart and chases every fear away. Our hearts no longer have to be troubled by the evil taking place in the world today. When the peace of God is present in our lives‚ fear cannot consume us or stand-up against it but must back down; it must leave us alone when we trust and take refuge in Him. Psalm 91:4 describes the security we experience when we find our peace in God. "He will cover you with His feathers‚ and under His wings‚ you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." As well‚ Proverbs 3:24-26 explains some of the blessings and benefits we receive through remaining in His peace. "When you lie down‚ you will not be afraid; when you rest‚ your sleep will be sweet. Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked‚ for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare." Let's pray: Dear Father‚Although the world is in chaos‚ with confusion‚ unrest‚ and fear‚ unraveling more and more with each coming day‚ You‚ O Lord‚ are steadfast and faithful‚ the One I can always turn to find true peace. So today‚ I'm turning towards You‚ asking for Your peace to fill my heart and mind. Help me to look towards You rather than today's headlines. When fear tries to arise within me‚ let your peace chase every fearful thought away from my heart. Help me not to be anxious about anything but in every situation‚ to turn to You with prayer‚ petition‚ and thanksgiving with my requests‚ so that Your peace‚ which transcends all understanding‚ will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6‚7). Thank you‚ Father‚ for promising to keep me in perfect peace when my mind is steadfast and trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3). Help me‚ Lord‚ each and every day to be secure in Your care over my life.In Jesus' name‚ Amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Deagreez Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith‚ marriage‚ parenting‚ relationships‚ and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family‚ Decision‚ Today's Christian Woman‚ kirkcameron.com‚ Ungrind.org‚ StartMarriageRight.com‚ and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV. LISTEN to More Christmas Prayers on LifeAudio Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week‚ she gives you practical‚ real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day‚ click below! Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Peace during the Holidays – Your Daily Prayer – December 7 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Historical Events 1724 - Tumult of Thorn - religious unrest was followed by the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor of Thorn (ToruÅ„) by Polish authorities. 1902 - Britain and Germany issue an ultimatum to Venezuela demanding that President Cipriano Castro pay claims for damages caused during his takeover of the government in 1899 1931 - After scoring 226 in 1st Test in Brisbane‚ Don Bradman belts 219 for NSW against the visiting South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground 1932 - 1st gyro-stabilized vessel to cross Atlantic arrives in NY 1971 - An off-duty member of the Ulster Defence Regiment is shot dead by members of the Irish Republican Army in County Tyrone‚ Northern Ireland 2017 - Unrest in West Bank and Gaza‚ schools closed and a general strike in response to America's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1869 - Frank Laver‚ Australian cricket medium pace bowler (15 Tests‚ 37 wickets‚ BB 8/31) and baseball player (first Australian national team)‚ born in Castlemaine‚ Australia (d. 1919) 1909 - Jacob Kainen‚ American painter and curator‚ born in Waterbury‚ Connecticut (d. 2001) 1924 - Bent Fabric [Fabricius-Bjerre]‚ Danish pianist and composer (Alley Cat)‚ born in Frederiksberg‚ Denmark (d. 2020) 1971 - Stephanie D'Abruzzo‚ American actress‚ puppeteer (Avenue Q; Sesame Street)‚ and cabaret singer‚ born in Pittsburgh‚ Pennsylvania 1979 - Jennifer Carpenter‚ American actress (Debra Morgan-Dexter)‚ born in Louisville‚ Kentucky 1987 - Aaron Carter‚ American singer‚ rapper and songwriter‚ born in Tampa‚ Florida (d. 2022) More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1870 - Mykhailo Verbytsky‚ Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest and composer (Prostachka; The State Anthem of Ukraine)‚ dies at 55 1917 - [Aloysius] Ludwig Minkus‚ Austrian violinist‚ and ballet composer (St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres‚ 1871-86; La Bayadère)‚ dies at 91 1990 - Peter Mieg‚ Swiss composer‚ dies at 84 1990 - Horst Bienek‚ German writer and director (The First Polka)‚ dies at 60 2018 - Belisario Betancur‚ Colombian politician‚ President of Colombia (1982-86)‚ dies at 95 2019 - Denis Lalanne‚ French sports journalist ('Le grand combat du XV de France'; 'Rugbymania: French flair attitude')‚ dies at 93 More Famous Deaths »

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie during Wednesday night’s debate over remarks that he made about parents needing to be the ones who determine whether or not their children are able to receive transgender treatments while they are minors. The exchange came during the fourth Republican Party presidential debate hosted by NewsNation in Alabama after co-moderator Megyn Kelly pressed Christie about actions that he took while he was governor. “When you were governor in 2017‚ you signed a law that required new guidelines for schools dealing with transgender students‚” she said. “Those guidelines required schools to accept a child’s preferred gender identity‚ even if the minor’s parents objected. And it said that there is no duty for schools to notify parents if their son or daughter changes their gender identity‚ allowing the serious issue to remain a secret between the school and the child.” “How is any of that pro-parental?” she asked. “That’s simply not true‚” Christie claimed. “That law was put into effect in 2018 and regulated in 2018 before I‚ after I was out of office. We did not issue those guidelines. And you’re wrong about that‚ simply wrong.” “I stood up every single time for parents to be able to make the decisions for their minor children‚ every single time parents should make those decisions‚” he continued. “And by the way‚ you know what‚ every once in a while‚ parents are going to make decisions that we disagree with. But the minute you start to take those rights away from parents‚ you don’t know that slippery slope‚ what rights are going to be taken away next.” DeSantis pushed back‚ “You do not have‚ as a parent‚ you do not have the right to abuse your kids.” DeSantis’ remark generated arguably the loudest round of applause from the audience all night. “This is cutting off their genitals‚ this is mutilating these minors‚ these are irreversible procedures‚” he said. “And this is something that other countries in Europe like Sweden‚ once they started doing it‚ they saw it did incalculable damage‚ they’ve shut it down. I signed legislation in Florida banning the mutilation of minors because it is wrong. We cannot allow this to happen in this country.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “And I know Chris disagrees with me. … Nikki disagrees with me. She opposes the bill that we did to ban that‚ she said‚ ‘law should not get involved with it‚'” he continued. “She also though‚ I think‚ and this is flows from what she did as governor of South Carolina‚ they had a bill to try to say that men shouldn’t go into girls bathrooms‚ and she killed that bill. And she bragged that she killed that bill‚ even to this day‚ she bragged that. I don’t think men should be going into little girls bathrooms. I think it’s wrong. And I think we have every right to protect them from that.” WATCH: Megyn Kelly tees up the gender ideology issue to Chris Christie and Ron DeSantis delivers the knockout blow on both Christie and Haley to the loudest cheers of the night. Masterful stuff. "As a parent‚ you do not have the right to abuse your kids." 🔥👇 pic.twitter.com/DBVyoxIjML — Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) December 7‚ 2023