Good Stuff Cheap…

“Good stuff cheap” is not only the mantra of a well known store chain but in this economic climate has become the desire of just about every shopper I know. I don’t know about you, but for me I absolutely hate to pay full retail price for anything! The overwhelming crowds that forfeit sleep on Black Friday to get a “good stuff cheap” are certainly testimony to this mantra. We all want to be generous in the Christmas gift giving season, yet we also don’t want to die early deaths because of the credit card bills that start arriving January 1st!

I was thinking about this mantra when I read John 14 (NLT version) recently.  One of the best gifts we could ever receive and encourage others to accept is so simplistic yet we work overtime to complicate.

I’m talking about peace of mind and heart.  In the current climate of jobs and homes being lost; sickness and disease going unchecked or not cared for with no health insurance coverage; families stressed and marriages dissolving because of underlying financial struggles the words “peace of mind and heart” seem foreign if not a cliché.  So what does peace of mind and heart look like?  How in the midst of all this chaos can that be accomplished?

YouTube has a video of Bob Newhart counseling with two words, “STOP IT” (see link at bottom)

This video came to mind when reading Jesus words about peace of mind and heart.  John 14 starts with, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in me…..Just believe (vs 11).   Period.

“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (vs27)  Again, simplicity, but how we/I complicate the gift with “buts”.  Just believe—PERIOD!  Accept His gift of peace of mind and heart—PERIOD!  Don’t worry or be afraid—PERIOD!  My peace should not be based upon the way the world tells me to have peace (“just buy something new”; “just eat more comfort food/indulge in your favorite drink” or “just think about yourself”).

Paul said in Philippians 4, “Don’t worry instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Paul continues to tell us how to do this, “Fix (determine or strengthen) your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…then the God of peace will be with you.”

Fear starts in the mind then transcends to the heart (our seat of emotions, actions).  In the same manner, peace starts in the mind then transcends to the heart and is also displayed through our actions.

We may not be able to change our current circumstances but one thing we can change is what we think and dwell on.  No one else can impose this on us; that is our choice to change.  This will determine and affect our emotional, physical and spiritual well being.  Jesus told the disciples (and us today) there will be hard times we must go through.   “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

This gift cost Jesus everything, but to us it is free.  Good stuff cheap?  Can’t get any better than that!