Peace In Christ

You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4

When I was sixteen, I thought I had the world by the tail. I had starting positions in two sports at my high school, and I had a girlfriend I thought I was in love with. In addition, I had learned how to lie to my parents effectively enough that I could do pretty much whatever I wanted.

When I went with my best friend and his father to see the movie The Exorcist, I thought I could handle it. I was “scared to life” that night.

My friend thought of the movie as a comedy and spent the night laughing as he rehashed different scenes. To me, however, it was no joke.

What I saw on the screen was not just a movie but a horrifying portrayal of a spiritual world I knew nothing about. What really scared me was that I couldn’t see any difference between myself and the demon-possessed girl in the movie. I was haunted by the thought, If that could happen to her, why couldn’t it happen to me?

I went home the next morning a shaken young man. I turned to the Bible in a desperate attempt to find some relief from my fear. For the next thirty days, I was up five or six times each night looking for relief from my fear.

One night I read 1 John 4:4, which says that “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” At that moment, the light came on, and I realized I would be safe if I just had Jesus inside me. That night I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my life.

For the first time in a month, I slept peacefully all night.

We live in a world full of all kinds of spiritual influences. But when we put our faith in Christ and allow his Spirit to live within us, he will give us safety as well as peace.

Lord, help me trust that you are greater than anything or anyone in the world today.