Peace of Mind
By Grant Gaines
Weddings are a thrilling day for everyone involved-the parents, the guests, the groomsmen and bridesmaids. But no one comes even remotely close to feeling the same level of excitement on that day as the bride and the groom. The wedding ceremony is where all the memories happen, but the reception is where most of the laughter and fun happens. This is especially true for a handful of couples who got married in Los Angeles during the summer of 2014. It was during this summer that their wedding receptions went from ordinary to “I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening”…in a good way.
After a tasty meal and a bunch of congratulations from their families and friends, the newlyweds walked onto the dance floor to share their first dance. The band that they supposedly hired to play at their wedding had been setting up the stage behind a curtain. The whole crowd of guests gathered around to share in this special moment as the couple took the floor. Then, as the curtain opened and the band began to play, a giant gasp was followed by an even louder scream as the couple and their guest realized that the incredibly successful and popular band “Maroon 5” decided to crash the wedding and give a surprise performance for the couple while they filmed their hit single “Sugar.” (You can see the music video and the crowd’s reaction at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09R8_2nJtjg)
Not only did the couple get married, they now have the memory of a lifetime to share with all of their guests as their favorite band played their favorite songs on their favorite day. What a deal!
But as awesome as that is, we as Christians have an infinitely greater deal in Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV, bold mine),
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
The peace of God-what a gift! No amount of money, time, or friends can buy this gift for us. It comes from God alone. And all of this peace for the simple price of taking our troubles to the Lord in prayer. But, just as the cherry was placed on top of the newlywed’s wedding reception when Maroon 5 dropped in, the deal gets even sweeter for us as we continue to read on in Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV, bold mine) when we are instructed,
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Not only are we promised the gift of peace, we are assured that the Giver of peace will be with us when we, “…take captive every thought(s)…” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV) and focus them, “…on the things above rather than on the things below” (Colossians 3:2, NIV).
All of this is made possible through the story of Christmas, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…” (John 1:14, NIV). “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him ‘Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:23, NIV).
The Prince of Peace is with us. He is in our presence and in our hearts. We don’t just walk around with His peace, we walk around with Him.
What an incredible gift that is! I would even dare to say that having God’s peace in our hearts is the greatest gift we could ever ask for. We could have all the money, success, and pleasure in the world, but unless we have the God of peace in our lives, all of those pleasures are worthless. Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NIV) even says this much when Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, writes, “…the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.”
God made His dwelling among us and His Temple within us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) in order to bring peace on earth and goodwill to men. Though Satan should buffet, you don’t have to walk around in stress, worry, or fear. You have the Prince of Peace eternally inside of you. He’s not afraid, worried, or stressed by what is happening in your life right now because He is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28) in order that He might receive more glory (Isaiah 43:7). His faithful track record of providing in such a way stretches as far back as the calendar extends.
Let this Christmas season be a season marked with peace. Not a peace that is dependent on your circumstances, your bank account, or your marriage, but a peace that is based on the unchanging nature of the faithful Father who is for you, not against you (Romans 8:31). Let this Christmas season be the season that you don’t toss and turn at night because of the unrest that is in your soul like the man described earlier in Ecclesiastes 5:12. Rather, may this be a season where you sleep in heavenly peace.
“Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin Mother and Child, holy
Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.”
–Silent Night
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©Grant Gaines 2016
