December 22nd, 2025
by Sarah Hines
by Sarah Hines
Advent 2025 DevotionalCore | Peace
December 22, 2025
Written by Emily Arth
Title: Make Me a Vessel of Peace
Scripture:
My Reflection
This scripture is referred to as Mary’s Magnificat, also called The Song of Mary. The word “Magnificat” comes from the Latin Magnificat anima mea Dominum, meaning “My soul magnifies the Lord.” It’s a song of reversal—exalting humility, lifting the lowly, and bringing down the proud. It celebrates God’s mercy, faithfulness, and justice, and reflects Mary’s surrender, gratitude, and prophetic awareness that God’s love transforms the world from the inside out.
In modern society, we can sometimes be deceived by the promise that human popularity and monetary riches are the foundation on which security and safety are built. We might believe peace comes from having plenty of money in our bank account or gaining the approval of others, but Jesus taught us a different way. His powerful words and lived example demonstrate that there is no peace greater than the peace we find in the presence of God.
By abiding in the love of Jesus and keeping our attention fixed on the commands of the Lord, we position ourselves in humility as our hearts magnify and glorify God. We find peace in letting go of the lies and toxic illusions taught by this man-made world, and we exchange them for the purest form of love—one that is given freely. We don’t have to earn it or buy it; we must only receive it. In doing so, we liberate our spirit through obedience, gratitude, and wholehearted surrender.
What false security is God encouraging you to surrender in exchange for His peace—a peace that surpasses all earthly understanding?
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December 22, 2025
Written by Emily Arth
Title: Make Me a Vessel of Peace
Scripture:
Luke 1:46-55
Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am, I rejoice in God my Savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me.” (Luke 1:46-49)
Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am, I rejoice in God my Savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me.” (Luke 1:46-49)
My Reflection
This scripture is referred to as Mary’s Magnificat, also called The Song of Mary. The word “Magnificat” comes from the Latin Magnificat anima mea Dominum, meaning “My soul magnifies the Lord.” It’s a song of reversal—exalting humility, lifting the lowly, and bringing down the proud. It celebrates God’s mercy, faithfulness, and justice, and reflects Mary’s surrender, gratitude, and prophetic awareness that God’s love transforms the world from the inside out.
In modern society, we can sometimes be deceived by the promise that human popularity and monetary riches are the foundation on which security and safety are built. We might believe peace comes from having plenty of money in our bank account or gaining the approval of others, but Jesus taught us a different way. His powerful words and lived example demonstrate that there is no peace greater than the peace we find in the presence of God.
By abiding in the love of Jesus and keeping our attention fixed on the commands of the Lord, we position ourselves in humility as our hearts magnify and glorify God. We find peace in letting go of the lies and toxic illusions taught by this man-made world, and we exchange them for the purest form of love—one that is given freely. We don’t have to earn it or buy it; we must only receive it. In doing so, we liberate our spirit through obedience, gratitude, and wholehearted surrender.
My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, make me a vessel of peace by filling me with Your unconditional love and washing away my earthly fears. I willingly pour out all anxiety that takes up precious space within my heart and mind. Show me how to walk as a humble servant, obediently following Your merciful command. I surrender my pride and ego to You in exchange for the opportunity to magnify Your presence in the world. Let Your light shine through me, transforming me from the inside out. Amen.
Heavenly Father, make me a vessel of peace by filling me with Your unconditional love and washing away my earthly fears. I willingly pour out all anxiety that takes up precious space within my heart and mind. Show me how to walk as a humble servant, obediently following Your merciful command. I surrender my pride and ego to You in exchange for the opportunity to magnify Your presence in the world. Let Your light shine through me, transforming me from the inside out. Amen.
What false security is God encouraging you to surrender in exchange for His peace—a peace that surpasses all earthly understanding?
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Posted in Advent Devotional
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Archive
2026
January
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 1Three Reasons to Worship This Weekend // M-Note 1.10.2026A Mix of Celebrations and Bittersweet News // M-Note 1.17.2026CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 2CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 3Spread the Word: Online Only Worship on January 25 // M-Note 1.24.2026A Hard Lesson to Learn...Life's Not Always Fair // M-Note 1.31.2026
February
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 4CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 1CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 2Ash Wednesday - The Party's Over | Lent Devotional Day 1Led Into the Wildnerness | Lent Devotional Day 2Take a Step Back to Grow Closer to God // M-Note 2.21.2026Celebrating Lent - An Oxymoron? | Lent Devotional Day 3CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 3Let's Journey With Openness | Lent Devotional Day 4What we Mean by "Penal Substitution" | Lent Devotional Day 5The Cross - Sin and Nearness | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 6The God Who Doesn't Look Away | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 7Worthy of Belonging | Lent Devotional Day 8Confession Without Self-Hatred | Lent Devotional Day 9The Repairer | Lent Devotional Day 10The Lamb of God | Lent Devotional Day 11Why Did Jesus Have to Die? // M-Note 2.28.2026
March
Turning the Lights On | Lent Devotional Day 12CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 1Love That Leads to Change | Lent Devotional Day 13Like Ads for Love | Lent Devotional Day 14Who are You…Really? | Lent Devotional Day 15Nothing Between Us | Lent Devotional Day 16Let It Rip | Lent Devotional Day 17Christ + Nothing | Lent Devotional Day 18An Unjustifiable War // M-Note 3.7.2026CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 2A Queer Atonement | Lent Devotional Day 19In Christ Was Life, the Light For All People | Lent Devotional Day 20Failure and the Invitation To New Imagination | Lent Devotional Day 21Jesus & Queerness: Entertaining Angels | Lent Devotional Day 22The Least of These | Lent Devotional Day 23The Good News For All Creation - and the Strange Wonder of God’s People | Lent Devotional Day 24Ready to Receive an Invitation // M-Note 3.14.2026Christ’s Death Frees Us So His Reconciling Life Can Flow Through Us | Lent Devotional Day 24 CopyFeminist Atonement Theory | Lent Devotional Day 26CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 3Time to Tear Down | Lent Devotional Day 27God Doesn’t Glorify Violence, Man Does | Lent Devotional Day 28God Shares in Our Emotions, Death, and Resurrection | Lent Devotional Day 29A Meal that Matters | Lent Devotional Day 30The Cross is About Community | Lent Devotional Day 31Only Later Did It Begin to Make Sense | Lent Devotional Day 32CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 4Jesus is Liberator of the Oppressed | Lent Devotional Day 33The Bigger Picture - Exodus, Jesus, and the God of the Oppressed | Lent Devotional Day 34Marginalized Prophetic Voices Emphasize God’s Character | Lent Devotional Day 35Freedom from Sin is both Personal AND Communal | Lent Devotional Day 36Christ’s Victory Empowers His People to Serve | Lent Devotional Day 37Jesus and Community | Lent Devotional Day 38CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 5Serving (at Easter) is Powerful // M-Note 3.28.2026Working Out My Own Salvation | Lent Devotional Day 39Christ’s Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem | Lent Devotional Day 40Do I Trust that Christ’s Sacrifice is Enough? | Lent Devotional Day 41I Will Sing to the Lord | Lent Devotional Day 42
April
Embracing the Gift of Presence During Holy Week | Lent Devotional Day 43The Wonder of Dust and Dirty Feet | Lent Devotional Day 448 Reasons to Join Us for Easter // M-Note 4.3.2026Good Friday | Lent Devotional Day 45The Day Between | Lent Devotional Day 46CoreGroup Guide | Easter 2026Experience the Surprise of Easter | Lent Devotional Day 47CoreGroup Guide | Christians In Name Only - Part 1Christian in Name Only // M-Note 4.11.2026
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9
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