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Just a reminder, our verse for this week is Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”

We’re memorizing this verse because it helps us to slow down and remember who God is and what He has done for us! Yesterday, we said the verse in a lot of silly voices. Today, we are going to write out our verse.

Grab a paper and a pen, and some crayons or markers if you want. Then, I want you to write out each word of the verse, BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. Then write the reference, this means where the verse is found in the Bible, PSALM 46:10.

Awesome, now take a few minutes and decorate your verse however you want! Writing out our Bible verse can help us to slow down and remember each word as we write them. If you don’t have time to do this activity in this moment, set aside some time later in the day to write out today’s verse!

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

In the Christmas season, we hear all about peace, joy, love, hope, and so much more. Those are all traits that Jesus showed the world throughout His life. The verse above is simply saying that when we believe in and trust Jesus, He will protect our hearts and minds. We may never understand why some situations work out the way that they do, but when we are still before God and allow Him space to work in our hearts, He provides peace.

Think of a situation that you have gone through which ended in a way you didn’t think it would. How did that feel? Was it a positive result or maybe an outcome you didn’t like? Did you pause long enough to invite God into the situation? We all have those days when we are having a hard time with the outcome of something, those are unavoidable. When we choose to trust Jesus and His plan, it takes so much pressure off of our shoulders of trying to control the situation to get the outcome we want. Instead, we can choose to believe that He knows way more than we do, and He is trustworthy in every situation that comes our way.

Think about a time that you trusted Jesus with a situation and paused long enough to invite Him in. Maybe it was a test, a disagreement, or even a relationship? Was there peace even if the circumstances remained? How did it feel to have peace? 

If you can’t think of a time that has happened, choose to invite him into a situation right now. Be still and allow Him to guard your heart and your mind.

“Grant us the grace to quiet our restless hearts and runaway minds."

Philippians 4:7 (NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Our hearts and minds are often like a crowded marketplace - full of noise, activity, and competing demands for our attention. We carry worries about the future, regrets from the past, and a constant stream of thoughts about our daily responsibilities. Amid this internal clamor, the idea of a quiet heart and mind can seem like an impossible dream.

Yet, this is exactly what God offers us - not just quiet, but a deep, abiding peace that goes beyond our circumstances or understanding; one that isn't achieved through our own efforts, but is a gift of grace. We can't force our hearts to be still or our minds to be quiet, but we can open ourselves to receive God's calming presence.

Think of your heart and mind as a jar of muddy water. Shaking it causes the water to become cloudy and opaque. But if you set the jar down and let it be still, gradually the mud settles and the water becomes clear. In the same way, when we allow ourselves to be still before God, the muddiness of our thoughts and emotions begin to settle and we can see more clearly.

This settling process takes time and patience. It requires us to resist the urge to constantly "do" and instead learn to simply "be" in God's presence. It might mean setting aside time each day for prayer or meditation on Scripture. It could involve practicing mindfulness - being fully present in each moment rather than always thinking ahead or looking back.

As we quiet our hearts and minds, we may become more aware of the things that typically occupy our thoughts. We might notice patterns of worry, self-criticism, or restlessness. This awareness is a gift - it allows us to bring these things before God, asking for His peace to replace our anxiety, His love to heal our self-doubt, His rest to soothe our restlessness.

The goal isn't to empty our minds completely, but to fill them with God's truth and love. By making space in our hearts and minds, we create room for God to speak to us, to shape our thoughts and desires, to align our will with His. This is a gradual process, one that continues throughout our lives.

During this Advent season, let's practice receiving the gift of God's peace. Let's allow His grace to quiet our restless hearts and busy minds, preparing us to receive Christ anew. As we do, we may find that the peace we experience begins to overflow into our relationships, our work, and every aspect of our lives.

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:

Philippians 4:7 (NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

• What tends to create the most "noise" in your heart and mind? How might you invite God's peace into those specific areas of your life this Advent?