The Christmas Truce
Day 1: The Blueprint of Peace
Scripture: Isaiah 11:6
"Shalom is the harmony of the whole circle. It is when all things are in right relationship with the Creator, with each other, and with the land itself." — Dr. Randy Woodley
The Thought: We often think of peace as just "quiet." But God’s Harmony is active. It’s a world where the predator no longer needs to hunt and the prey no longer needs to hide.
Action Point: Identify one relationship that feels "out of tune." Don’t try to fix it today; simply ask God to show you what His harmony would look like there.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the vision of a world restored. Help me to crave Your harmony more than I crave my own comfort.
Discussion Questions:
Why is "harmony" a better word for this passage than just "quiet"?
Which pair in v. 6 (wolf/lamb, leopard/goat) best describes your difficult relationships?
How does knowing this harmony is guaranteed change your outlook on today?
Day 2: The Trench of Resentment
Scripture: Isaiah 11:9
"All our trouble comes from not being able to keep our eyes on Christ... we look at ourselves instead and the walls of our own making." — St. Teresa of Avila
The Thought: We stay in our trenches because they feel safe. Resentment acts as a wall that protects us from being hurt again, but it also keeps us from dwelling in the "Holy Mountain" of God’s presence.
Action Point: Write down one resentment you are nursing. Physically crumble the paper and throw it away as a sign of surrendering your "wall" to God.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for finding safety in my anger rather than in Your grace. Help me to climb out of the trench of my own making.
Discussion Questions:
What "trench" are you currently hiding in?
How does resentment actually "restrict our dwelling" with others?
What is the biggest fear you face when you think about lowering your defenses?
Day 3: The Miracle of the Stump
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1, 10
"The Messiah does not come from a glorious, existing branch but from a dead stump. This means God's Harmony... does not arise from human power... but from God's miraculous intervention." —
The Thought: When a situation looks like a dead stump, we give up. But the Gospel is the story of life springing from a place of death. If God can bring the King of Kings from Jesse’s "stump," He can bring life to your "dead" situations.
Action Point: Look for a sign of "new growth" in a place you’ve felt hopeless. It might be a small gesture or a change in your own attitude.
Prayer: Jesus, You are the Root of Jesse. Thank You that You work in the ruins of my life to bring forth something beautiful.
Discussion Questions:
Where in your life do you see a "stump" (a situation that looks dead)?
Why is it important that Jesus came from a "stump" rather than a flourishing palace?
How does Christ’s resurrection give you hope for "impossible" harmony?
Day 4: The Glorious Resting Place
Scripture: Isaiah 11:10
"Jesus is the only King who didn't come to live in a palace, but to be born in a feed box... He took the disharmony of our sin so we could have the harmony of His righteousness." — Tim Keller
The Thought: Our "rest" isn't a vacation; it's a Person. Because Jesus stood as a "signal" on the cross, His resting place is now our home. We don't have to fight for our status or safety anymore.
Action Point: Spend 10 minutes in silence today. Whenever your mind wanders to a conflict, whisper: "His resting place is my glory."
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I stop my striving. I rest in the fact that You have already won the peace I am trying to manufacture.
Discussion Questions:
What is the difference between "taking a break" and "resting in Christ"?
How does having a "secure resting place" make you braver in your relationships?
Verse 10 says His rest is "glorious." What makes Christ's rest beautiful to you right now?
Day 5: The Courage to Dwell Together
Scripture: Romans 12:18
"Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself." — Corrie ten Boom
The Thought: We move toward peace not because we must (obligation), but because we can (possibility). We are no longer limited by our instincts; we are led by the Spirit who makes the wolf and lamb dwell together.
Action Point: Reach out to someone you have restricted your dwelling from. It could be a simple text, a kind word, or a prayer for them.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, lead me. Give me the courage to live out the harmony that Jesus has already purchased for me.
Discussion Questions:
What is the difference between acting out of "have to" vs. "get to"?
Who is the "wolf" or "lamb" in your life that you need to "dwell with" this week?
How can our small "truces" today point people toward the permanent Harmony of heaven?
