How to Use This Week’s Readings:
Each day, take about 5–10 minutes to pause, slow down, and be with Jesus.
1. Look up the verse in your Bible or Bible app.
2. Read the short devotional thought.
3. End by praying the one-line prayer, and sit with it for a moment.
You don’t need to rush or check a box. The goal is simple: to rest in Jesus’ presence and let him lead your day.
Part 3, When Family Gets Complicated
Day 4 – Thursday, December 18
“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.’” (Matthew 18.22)
Forgiveness feels impossible until we remember the forgiveness we’ve received. Peter thought he was being generous by forgiving seven times—Jewish law required only three. But Jesus shattered that limit with seventy times seven, meaning forgiveness should never stop. Real peace can’t live where resentment does. This Christmas, maybe the best gift you can give is letting go of what’s been weighing you down. Forgiving doesn’t mean excusing; it means releasing. When you do, your heart finally has space for peace to grow again.
💧 Jesus, help me release the things I’ve been carrying so I can make room for peace.
Day 5 – Friday, December 19
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” (Romans 12.18)
Family gatherings are full of people you didn’t choose—but whom God chose to love through you. Paul wrote this verse to early believers living in a divided world of Jews and Gentiles, each with strong opinions and deep wounds. His message still fits our tables today. “Do all you can” doesn’t mean control every outcome; it means bring peace wherever you can. You can’t fix every relationship, but you can set the tone. Be the calm voice. Be the first to listen. That’s how peace multiplies.
🕊️ Lord, help me bring peace into every room I enter this week.
Day 6 – Saturday, December 20
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” (Philippians 4.7)
Peace isn’t the absence of conflict—it’s the presence of Jesus in the middle of it. Paul wrote these words from prison, surrounded by uncertainty, yet his heart was calm. The peace he described isn’t logical or predictable. It comes when you surrender control and trust that God already knows the outcome. The more you release, the lighter you feel. This Christmas, ask Him to fill you with peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances. It’s not fragile; it’s rooted in His unchanging love.
🌤️ Father, let your peace guard my heart and steady my thoughts this Christmas.
Day 7 – Sunday, December 21
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.” (Isaiah 9.6)
All week we’ve talked about peace in our homes, but it begins with peace in our hearts. Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah promised a “Prince of Peace.” That promise still stands. The peace we long for isn’t something we earn—it’s someone we receive. The manger reminds us that heaven’s greatest gift came quietly, wrapped in love. When you say yes to Jesus, you say yes to peace that never fades. Let Him fill your heart today so His peace can overflow to everyone around you.
✨ Jesus, I welcome your peace into my life. Be my calm, my hope, and my joy this Christmas.
Part 4, When You Feel Alone
Day 1 – Monday, December 22
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.” (Matthew 1.23)
Loneliness doesn’t always mean being by yourself. Sometimes it shows up when people disappoint us or don’t show up the way we hoped. Matthew reminds us that Jesus’ name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Not God nearby. Not God watching from a distance. God with us. Christmas is the announcement that God stepped into human loneliness so we would never face it alone again. Even when others let you down, His presence remains steady. Today, pause and remind yourself that you are not forgotten. God is closer than you feel.
🕯️ Jesus, help me notice your presence even when I feel alone.
Day 2 – Tuesday, December 23
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31.8)
Fear and loneliness often walk together. Moses spoke these words to people stepping into uncertainty, unsure of what was ahead. God didn’t promise ease. He promised presence. The same is true for us. Some relationships may change or fade, but God’s faithfulness does not. When people pull away, He leans in. Let this truth settle into your heart today. You don’t have to face this season on your own. God is already in front of you, guiding every step.
🛤️ Father, remind me today that you go before me and stay with me.
Day 3 – Wednesday, December 24
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1.14)
God didn’t shout love from heaven. He moved into the neighborhood. John tells us that Jesus literally “dwelt” among us, choosing closeness over distance. Christmas Eve reminds us that God understands human pain, rejection, and loneliness because He lived it. When you feel unseen, remember that Jesus sees you. When you feel isolated, remember that God chose to be present in human form. Tonight, let the nearness of God be more real to you than the ache of absence.
🌟 Jesus, thank you for coming close and staying near.
Day 4 – Thursday, December 25
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5)
Christmas Day can be full of joy or quiet moments that feel heavy. This promise doesn’t depend on how your day looks. It depends on who God is. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God’s presence isn’t seasonal or emotional. It’s constant. Even if today feels different than you expected, you are still held. God has not stepped away from your life. His commitment to you is unshakable. Rest in that truth today.
🎁 Lord, thank you for being my constant when everything else feels uncertain.
Day 5 – Friday, December 26
“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28.20)
These were some of Jesus’ final words to His followers. Not instructions. Not warnings. A promise. Being with us is not something Jesus grows tired of. He stays through confusion, disappointment, and unanswered questions. When people come and go, His presence remains. Living with peace starts by trusting this promise daily, not just believing it once. Today, let His words anchor your heart again. You are never walking alone.
🤍 Jesus, help me trust that you are with me in every moment today.
Day 6 – Saturday, December 27
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46.1)
When loneliness feels heavy, it’s easy to believe we have to fix it ourselves. But Scripture tells us that God is an ever-present help, not a last resort. Refuge means safety. Strength means support. God offers both at the same time. You don’t have to hide your pain or pretend you’re okay. You can bring it to Him honestly. Today, let God be the place your heart rests when everything feels overwhelming.
🏠 Father, be my refuge and strength when I feel worn down.
Day 7 – Sunday, December 28
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” (John 14.27)
Jesus spoke these words knowing His followers would soon feel abandoned. Yet He promised them peace that wasn’t tied to circumstances or people. True peace flows from knowing God is with you and for you. It doesn’t erase pain, but it steadies your soul. As this week ends, let that peace settle in. You are not alone. God is present. And His peace is available to you right now.
🕊️ Jesus, help me live from your peace and presence every day.