Peace

Day 1-Not Like the World’s

  • Pray.
  • Review the memory verse.
  • Today we will see that when we are growing in the Lord by spending time with Him in prayer and in His Word, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of peace in our lives.
  • Ask, “When you hear the word peace, what comes to your mind? Can you think of a time when you have needed peace-maybe peace of mind because you were worried, maybe peace with another person, maybe peace for a crazy situation?”
  • Read John 14:27.
  • Ask,”Who is speaking these words (Jesus)? What does this peace look like?”
  • Read Philippians 4:4-7.
  • Ask, “So, what does the peace that comes from God look like?”
  • Doesn’t that sound wonderful-peace that is so great that we can’t even explain it! His peace guards us from worry and fear.
  • Ask, “Instead of being anxious and worrying, what are we to do (verse 4, 5, and 6)? Then what does God give us? How would you descsribe God’s peace?”
  • God’s peace is a calmness within us that comes when we are confident that God is in control of the situation and that He knows what is best.
  • Read Mark 4:35-41.
  • Ask, “How will knowing about this event help you when you need peace?”
  • Activity:
    • Make an acrostic poem as a family or individually using the word PEACE.
    • Look up the ASL sign for the word peace https://www.signingsavvy.com/sign/PEACE
    • Younger kids can act out the story of Jesus calming the wind and waves in the bathtub.

Day 2-The Prince of Peace

  • Pray.
  • Review the memory verse. How fast can they say it? How slowly can they say it? Can they count how many syllables are in the whole verse?
  • Play a quick game of “Would You Rather”.
    • sleep in the dark or with a night light
    • have a super soft, squishy bed or a super hard, flat bed
    • live in a castle or in a house
    • read fiction books or non-fiction books
    • watch a movie or read a book
    • eat peas or green beans
    • help your siblings do their chores or write them nice notes
    • have something that is perfect or just average
  • God offers to give us something that is perfect. It is His peace.
  • Read Isaiah 26:3.
  • Keeping our minds focused on God and trusting in Him will bring us perfect peace.
  • God can give us perfect peace because He is:
    • The Prince of Peace (Read Isaiah 9:6)
    • The Lord of Peace (Read 2 Thessalonians 3:16)
    • The God of Peace (Read Philippians 4:9)
      • You could let your children underline these titles in their Bibles.
  • Yesterday we read Philippians 4:4-7. Read it again and review that God will give us His perfect peace when we do not worry but pray and thank Him.
  • Ask, “Has anyone ever told you, ‘Don’t worry’, and you try not to, but you keep worrying?”.
  • Read Philippians 4:8-9.
  • A good cure to stop worrying and have peace is to think about things that are good and true and right and lovely-things that please the Lord.
  • Activity:
    • Write a letter to God asking Him to help you with what you need and thanking Him for the peace He gives when we trust in Him.
    • Draw a picture of the good things you might think on when you are worried to help personalize Philippians 4:8-9.
  • Parents- A great verse to pray over your kids before bedtime is Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.”

Day 3-Peace with Others

  • Pray.
  • Review the memory verse
  • Review what God’s peace is like (Philippians 4:4-7).
  • Ask, “How do you feel when you have God’s peace?”
  • We need the Holy Spirit to fill us with His peace when we are worried and scared, but we also need the Holy Spirit to fill us with His peace when we are dealing with others.
  • Ask, “Do you always get along perfectly well with your brothers/sisters/friends? Are there ever times you disagree with your brothers/sisters/friends? How do you feel when someone gets angry with you? How do you want to react when someone does or says something that hurts your feelings or makes you angry?”
  • It is hard to have peace when there is conflict, when things aren’t going smoothly with another person. But, God says He has given us His peace (John 14:27), and we are to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
  • Read Romans 12:18.
  • We are to do everything we can do to be at peace with all people.
  • Ask, “Can you control what someone else does or says? Can you control what you do and say?”
  • Read Romans 12:17-21.
  • Have your children think of some examples of when they have gotten angry or had conflict with another person. Decide if it is best to share these out loud or just think of them in their head.
  • Ask, “According to these verses, what are peaceful ways to handle these situations?”
  • When the peace of Christ rules in your heart (Colossians 3:15), you can respond to others in a peaceful way.
  • Activity:
    • Have your children come up with at least five ways they can be peacemakers. Trace their hands on paper and cut out the handprints. Write one way they can be a peacemaker on each handprint. Then tape the handprints together like a banner and hang them in a place where peace is often needed (example-playroom, bedrooms, outside).