Day 26: 

The Wonderful Counselor

“…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor…” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Morning Devotion

Some days, the hardest thing to find is not time or energy. It is clarity.

We stand at the crossroads of decisions, listening to a thousand voices pulling us in different directions, and we whisper under our breath, “Lord, what do I do?”

That is when this name comes alive.

Jesus is not just a counselor. He is the Wonderful Counselor, full of wisdom that never fails, compassion that never condemns, and guidance that never leads astray.

When the world’s noise grows louder than your faith, He invites you to a quieter conversation, one that starts not with answers but with His presence.

A Porch Story

I will never forget the night I sat on the porch wrestling with a decision that felt too big for me. The air was thick with humidity and hesitation. I had my Bible open but my heart closed, torn between what made sense and what felt right.

Out of habit, I reached for my phone to text a friend for advice. But before I could type, I felt that gentle nudge from the Spirit: “Ask Me first.”

So I did. I laid it all out, the confusion, the fear, the options. No fancy words, just honesty.

In the stillness that followed, a verse I had not thought about in months rose up from memory:

“Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (KJV)

It was not thunder or lightning. It was peace. The Wonderful Counselor had spoken, not with commands, but with calm.

That moment changed how I pray.

Now, before I run to people, I go to the porch. Before I search the internet, I search the Word. The best counsel does not come from Google. It comes from grace.

The Counselor Who Knows

What makes Jesus such a Wonderful Counselor is that He is both divine and deeply understanding.

He is not a distant advisor shouting directions from heaven. He has walked the same roads we do, felt the same temptations, faced the same trials, endured the same pain.

When you pour out your heart to Him, you are not talking to someone who studied suffering. You are talking to Someone who survived it.

That is why His counsel always carries compassion. He does not shame your confusion. He shepherds you through it.

How the Counselor Speaks

The Wonderful Counselor has a few favorite tools:

• His Word, living truth that cuts through confusion.
  
• His Spirit, that still, small voice guiding your next step.
  
• His People, godly friends who echo His wisdom.
  
• His Peace, the confirmation that settles your spirit when you are walking in His will.
  

Sometimes He speaks through Scripture that seems to leap off the page.

Sometimes He whispers a conviction in your heart.

Sometimes He closes a door you really wanted open, and that no turns out to be mercy in disguise.

He does not just want to be consulted when you are desperate. He wants to be included as you walk daily.

A Little Porchside Theology

The word “wonderful” in Hebrew means “beyond comprehension.”

That means His wisdom is not just smart. It is supernatural.

You and I can give advice. Jesus gives revelation.

He sees the end from the beginning.

He understands the thread between today’s obedience and tomorrow’s outcome.

Here is the miracle. The Wonderful Counselor is not charging by the hour. He is waiting on your porch, ready to listen and ready to lead.

Life Application

Before making any decision today, big or small, pause and pray this simple prayer:

“Wonderful Counselor, what would You have me do?”

Then listen. Not for a booming voice, but for the whisper of peace that follows obedience.

If you are not sure what He is saying, open your Bible and start reading Proverbs or the Gospels until His Word starts reading you.

You might also write your questions on a piece of paper, then sit quietly and invite the Spirit to highlight what aligns with Scripture and what does not. His wisdom will never contradict His Word.

Remember, delay does not mean denial. Sometimes His “wait” is protection dressed in patience.

Prayer

Wonderful Counselor,

Thank You for caring enough to guide me.

You see what I cannot and know what I do not.

Speak Your wisdom into the noise of my day.

Correct me where I am drifting.

Confirm me where I am following.

Calm me when I am afraid to move.

Give me ears to hear, eyes to see,

and a heart that says “yes” before I know the details.

Lead me in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Question / Journal Prompt

What decision, dilemma, or direction do you need counsel for right now?

Write this prayer in your journal:

“Lord, I am listening.”

Then record what Scriptures, impressions, or words of peace rise in your heart over the next twenty four hours.

The Wonderful Counselor often answers the heart that is quiet enough to hear Him.

Evening Reflection

The porch is still tonight, just the sound of a few frogs down by the creek and a soft wind brushing the trees. It is the kind of quiet that makes you realize how loud the world has been all day.

As you unwind, think about how many moments today the Counselor quietly walked beside you, the words you did not say, the thought you caught before it became worry, the strength that showed up right when you needed it.

Whisper a thank you:

“Lord, You guided me better than I knew how to ask.”

Then rest in the knowledge that you are not alone in the decision making, problem solving, direction finding life you are living.

You have a Wonderful Counselor, wise enough to guide galaxies and kind enough to guide you.

Close the night with gratitude. The One who gives counsel by day watches over you by night.

Sleep easy, friend.

The Counselor is still on call.

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Sometimes, when the world feels loud, heavy, and uncertain, God gently reminds us that He already had a plan long before we ever had a problem.

Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

I love how that verse begins. Unto us.

Not away from us.

Not above us.

But unto us.

God didn’t shout salvation from a distance. He stepped into our mess. He wrapped Himself in flesh. He came close.

When you don’t know what to do, He is your Wonderful Counselor.

When you feel weak, He is the Mighty God.

When you feel alone, He is the Everlasting Father.

When your heart is restless, He is the Prince of Peace.

You don’t have to carry the weight of everything today. The government is on His shoulder, not yours. The burden of fixing it all was never meant for you.

Maybe you’re tired. Maybe you’re discouraged. Maybe you’re standing on the front porch of your life wondering what’s next.

Hear this: Jesus is still enough.

Still faithful.

Still present.

Still powerful.

The same Savior who came as a child still reigns as King. And He hasn’t forgotten you.

So take a deep breath.

Lift your eyes.

Open your heart.

Unto you… hope has been given.

Unto you… peace has been promised.

Unto you… a Savior still stands ready.

And that changes everything.

Day 25: 

The Prince of Peace

“For unto us a child is born… and his name shall be called… The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Morning Devotion

Peace.

It is a short word, but it carries the weight of every human heart. We chase it in quiet mornings and pray for it in stormy nights. We write it on Christmas cards and wish it into conversations. But most days, peace feels like something just out of reach.

Isaiah looked through centuries of darkness and saw a light, a Child who would carry titles the world had never seen: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

That title still echoes across the ages. It tells us peace is not a philosophy, a feeling, or a vacation spot. Peace is a Person.

Jesus does not hand out temporary calm like a medication for anxiety. He is peace. When He reigns in the heart, turmoil loses its throne.

A Porch Story

One warm evening last summer, I was sitting on the porch swing watching the fireflies dance across the yard. A storm had rolled through earlier, lightning, thunder, rain pounding the roof like a drum line. But now the world was still again. The air smelled of rain and renewal.

As I rocked, I thought about how storms can come and go fast, but peace, real peace, does not depend on the weather.

That was when I heard the faint creak of the screen door. Little Addi Jo came out, clutching her blanket. “Papa,” she said, “I was scared when it was loud.”

I pulled her onto my lap, and she snuggled close. “I know, sweetheart,” I whispered, “but look, the storm is over now.”

She looked up at the stars, sighed, and said, “It is pretty again.”

That is the Prince of Peace at work, calming storms outside and storms inside, turning fear into beauty. The same voice that said “Peace, be still” to the sea still whispers it to our souls.

The Gift of His Peace

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection, His first words were not, “Where were you?” or “Why did you run?” His first words were, “Peace be unto you.”

That is the heart of the gospel, not condemnation but calm, not shame but shalom.

Peace with God comes first, purchased at the cross. Then peace from God follows, flowing into the corners of our lives.

He makes peace between us and Heaven, but He also brings peace into our homes, our minds, and our relationships.

If you have been restless lately, take heart. The Prince still reigns. His kingdom is not chaos. It is calm.

A Little Porchside Theology

The Hebrew word for peace, “shalom,” means wholeness, nothing missing and nothing broken. That is what Jesus brings, the mending of what sin shattered.

The world’s peace depends on circumstances. God’s peace depends on closeness.

You cannot control the wind, but you can choose where to anchor.

When Jesus is the anchor, you might still feel the waves, but you will not be swept away.

Life Application

When worry creeps in today, and it will, pause right where you are. Put your hand over your heart and whisper:

“Prince of Peace, rule here.”

Do it in traffic. Do it before that meeting. Do it when the phone rings with news you did not expect.

Peace is not found in escape. It is found in exchange, trading control for trust.

You might also try a simple evening ritual this week. Before bed, list three small things that brought you calm, a quiet moment, a kind word, a deep breath. Gratitude clears space for peace to settle in.

Prayer

Prince of Peace,

Thank You for stepping into the noise of my world and bringing Your stillness.

Calm my anxious thoughts. Guard my heart and mind with Your presence.

Teach me to rest when I cannot fix, to trust when I cannot see, and to breathe when I forget.

Let Your peace flow through me, not just to comfort me, but to bless those around me.

When chaos calls for my attention, let my first reflex be to call Your name.

In Jesus’ peaceful name, Amen.

Reflection Question / Journal Prompt

Where in your life do you most need His peace to reign today?

Write this prayer in your journal:

“Prince of Peace, sit on the throne of my heart.”

Then describe one practical step you will take to nurture peace, maybe limiting the news, forgiving someone, resting without guilt, or worshiping instead of worrying.

Peace grows where trust is planted.

Evening Reflection

The night air is gentle now. A few crickets sing, and the world seems to exhale after another busy day.

Before you turn out the lights, pause for a moment of porchside prayer. Whisper softly:

“Jesus, You are my peace.”

Let those words settle the dust of your mind.

Peace is not fragile. He is formidable. The same Savior who silenced storms still guards your soul tonight.

If dread tries to rise at two in the morning, put your hand over your heart and say again, “Prince of Peace, reign here.”

He is not merely offering you a feeling. He is offering you Himself.

So rest easy, knowing the King of calm holds your tomorrow.

The world may roar, but your soul can still rock steady on the porch of His presence.

Sleep in that assurance, friend. You are safe under the rule of the Prince of Peace.

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