Longing for Peace in a Hostile World: Day 1
Day 1: Recognizing Our Holy Homesickness
Devotional
Have you ever felt out of place in this world? That deep-seated feeling isn't just discomfort—it's actually a gift. When we experience that disconnect from the world around us, it's a reminder that we were made for something more. This sensation of being a stranger in a foreign land is what Peter calls being 'exiles' in this world. It's not a feeling to suppress or ignore, but rather one to embrace as it points us toward our true home with God.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. - 1 Peter 2:11
Reflection Question
What aspects of today's culture make you feel most like a 'stranger' or 'exile', and how might these feelings actually be drawing you closer to God?
"Let me encourage you to see that, the longing in your souls for shalom...
[is] a holy homesickness, a sign that your soul still remembers something of Eden."
~Pastor Mike Mura
Prayer
Father, thank you for this holy homesickness that reminds us we belong to You. Help us not to resist this feeling but to let it draw us closer to You. Guide us as we navigate this world as Your beloved exiles. Amen.