The Peace of Advent: How Connection with God Transforms Our Minds

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Advent season reminds us that God created us for connection. The arrival of the infant Jesus transformed our understanding of the trinity—empowering us to interact with God using our senses and human characteristics. This new way of connecting with God functions as a bridge for grasping our connection with him spiritually. Though important for us to celebrate these events, the first coming of Jesus and the anticipation of his second coming, this podcast focuses on the day-to-day impact of Jesus—provided we pick up our cross each day.

Over the four weeks of advent and the celebration of Jesus’s arrival, we will cover how our connection with God:

• Provides hope that humanity’s broken heart, corrupted at the fall, will be reconnected with God.

• Enables peace as Jesus works to remove corruption and restore our wholeness.

• Empowers joy as we begin to experience life as individuals and in community according to God’s intended design.

• Envelops us in love as we surrender our lives to his plan for us and receive the full measure of his goodness.

• Actualizes our relationship with God, connection with ourselves and engagement with others through Jesus's arrival as a Damascus Man—fully God and fully human.

This second week of Advent explores the idea of peace. I express peace as the alignment of our mind with the Spiritual Realm—the Trinity. This differs from most definitions commonly used that focus on tranquility or freedom from conflict. But when we consider that Jesus himself states, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword (Matt 10:34), we can gather that he defines this term differently. Peace aligns with the brokenness of our mind. In order to bring stability to our reason we must secure our understanding biblically—we must turn to Scripture every time. Let’s read the word:

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:37–39)

Switching now to Colossians, Paul writes in chapter 3:

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:2). . . . Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature. (v. 5). Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (vv. 9–10). Let the peace of Christ rule in your [mind], since as members of one body you were called to peace. (v. 15).

These Scriptures focus first on our connection with God, secondly with ourselves and then on our relationships with others around us. Thinking like the Father only comes when we are empowered by the Spirit through the action of abiding with him and his word. And then, replacing our coping strategies and corrupted mindset. Jesus came as a man to connect us to the Trinity by transforming our thinking from worldly reason to empowered understanding. In Jesus, we have an image of a man living with Godly character among the brokenness and demonstrating how we live in peace with God in it.

Jesus knew that the mindset during his time on earth, focused on the physical kingdom first, even before him as king. The consensus of Jewish leadership held that the Messiah would come as a warrior and restore the brilliance of the kingdom of David, destroying the disobedient Israelites and the gentiles. Throughout the Gospels, crowds rallied to crown him King. 

When God called Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), the message focused on God at the center. Abraham's connection to God modeled a pattern of belief that drew people into reverent awe of God. God intended for Abraham’s testimony to restore peace between the world and him, but had a very long term plan for its execution. Abraham’s life demonstrates that when peace exists between God and humans, peace extends between humans as well.

 Let's add this from the beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Mt 5:9). Children of God—this phrase suggests that peacemakers will walk and talk and act exactly like their father. From Matt 10:34, peace reconciles those separated from him at the fall of man in the garden first. If your efforts to make peace come from your own ideas, even your worldly interpretation of Scripture, you may change behavior but you will fall short of lasting or eternal peace.

Here’s the rub—people can imitate being peacemakers. If people want to be successful in this world and have influence, they could devise a strategy to create the outcome they desire. Thinking about the garden, I expect that the devil put on a pretty convincing show; introducing himself politely, building a relationship, presenting a couple of diagrams, and since Adam and Eve were naive to evil, they bought it. In the same way, Jesus speaks to the bondage that forms within families regarding faith and the importance for individuals to elevate Jesus above family when a conflict of honor exists—his sword cuts ties designed to keep you from him. 

The broken mindset that forms over time through the influence of the world, its systems and our own experiences must be torn down and rebuilt with Scripture through the Spirit's wisdom for us to experience authentic peace. Everyday, the devil poisons our mind and those of people around us and then pits these mindsets against each other creating judgment, betrayal and condemnation. He relentlessly crafts plans to disconnect us from the Scriptural mindset. But when minds focus on things above, life makes sense, and communities follow the same path. Peace with God extends and creates peace on Earth—and goodwill towards men.

Practicing the disciplines of silence (which is removing common everyday distractions in order to wait on God to speak) and meditation on God’s word, allocates time when God can purify corrupted memories or replace them with Scripture. Abiding with Jesus creates a chasm between us and the devil which allows us to think clearly without his lies and noise filling our heads. These concepts seem easy, but our minds resist because silence can feel awkward at first. Like with fasting, clinging on to Jesus when soaking in the Spirit through abiding transforms those feelings, shifting us to craving God instead of resisting him. Repetition resets the memories stored on your heart—structures in the nervous system called engrams hold our memories.

When you think about peace this week, meditate on God’s design for your life, his calling for you, and his desire to stay connected with you always and into eternity—that connection is “my peace I give to you.” Hold fast knowing that God desires to restore your mindset to wholeness, that immersive connection of the body of mud with the breath of life. Take a deep dive into your relationships to allow the Spirit to identify people who keep you from Jesus and take swipes with his sword to break loose from them and connect tighter to the umbrella. Find brothers and sisters who are aligned with your Journey and learn to support each other as you discover your true hearts. I leave you to think of these words offered by Jesus and written by John. 

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you[the Spirit]; my peace I give you” [the assurance of connection for eternity] (Jn 14:25–27).

Have a great week

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