He Will Keep You in Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4

³You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
⁴ Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26 is a psalm of trust, praise, and meditation.  God is revealing the future of Judah.  The first verse starts with “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:” (NIV) Judah would one day open its gates to all who love the Lord. He also tells us that if you keep your mind steadfast on the Lord, He will give you “perfect” peace as you trust in Him.  Have you ever wondered what “perfect” peace is?

Webster defines perfect as:  (a.) Brought to consummation or completeness; completed; not defective nor redundant; having all the properties or qualities requisite to its nature and kind; without flaw, fault, or blemish; without error; mature; whole; pure; sound; right; correct. There is not anything missing. In the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, perfect - (shalem, tamim):"Perfect" in the Old Testament is the translation of shalem, "finished," "whole," "complete," of persons, e.g. a "perfect heart," i.e. wholly or completely devoted to Yahweh; tamim, "complete," "perfect," "sound or unblemished," is also used of persons and of God, His way, and law.

Peace is defined as 1. (n.) A state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose.  In the Old Testament (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia), peace is pes (shalom; eirene): Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God.

To have perfect peace must mean that you have complete, whole, calm freedom from disturbance; tranquility.  It does not mean that there will not be turmoil or conflict in the world. No!  Isaiah was telling us that if we fix our minds (thoughts) on God and His unfailing love for us, we can have complete peace even in a time of troubles.  The trouble may be on the outside (situations) but it doesn’t have to be on the inside. 

The Life Application Bible (you know it’s one of my favorites) states that “as we focus our mind on God and His Word, we become steady and stable.  Supported by God’s unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos.” 

Do you want peace?  I don’t know about you but the older I get, the more I seek peace.  If we keep our minds and thoughts on God and trust in Him, we can have just that – God’s perfect peace. Be blessed.

 My Peace I Leave with You

John 14:27

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus is talking to His disciples and telling them the way to eternal life.  He tells them that He is going to go to the Father but is sending them a Comforter which is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is going to teach them all things and remind them of what He said to them. The Holy Spirit would help them remember what He taught them while He was with them.

Comforter is one that provides consolation.  The biblical definition of comforter is one who goes alongside.  He would come alongside to teach and remind them of spiritual things. This would cause them to have deep and lasting peace.  Jesus was assuring them that the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives would bring peace and confident assurance in any circumstance. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them (us) into all truth.  

Peace does not mean an absence of conflict.  The peace that Christ gives is not as the world gives.  His peace is deep, lasting, abiding, and can be experienced in any circumstance. The Life Application Bible says that "Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us.  The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Jesus says he will give us that peace if we are willing to accept it from Him."  We must be willing to accept His peace as we allow Him to move into our hearts and lives. 

Do you ever have times of stress, uncertainty, conflict, or discord?  Then you need to allow the Holy Spirit to fill your life with the peace that only comes from God.  The Holy Spirit can teach you all things as you study God's Word and submit to His leadership.  You must be a willing and yielded vessel. 

There is peace for you and me as we allow the Lord to give us His peace.  Be blessed. 

    I Need the Peace of God

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

"6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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."

This scripture means a great deal to me.  I know that I am in a relationship with the Almighty God and there is nothing that He can't do but at times I must forget.  I allow the cares of this life to cause me to worry and stress. I know, I shouldn't (and I repent) but I am just being honest.  I cry out to God when the cares of life hurt and  become a weight almost too much to bear.  I know that He loves me and is hearing my every call.  He assures me that He is with me and He is working it out.  He is working me through the process of becoming more like Him. I'm just not always in agreement on how it has to happen.

I'm glad the Apostle Paul leaves the message, not to worry (or be anxious) about anything. That means that no matter what it is, I can take it to the Lord in prayer.  He listens, He hears, and He answers. It may not always be the answer I want at the moment but I don't have to worry. I can take it to the Lord in prayer. I can tell Him what I need (or think I need) and thank Him because I know that He hears me and will work it out for my good.  I am careful to ask His will in spite of what I may want.  I can trust that His will is so much better for me than mine. I can thank God for all that He has done and know assuredly just as He has taken care of me in the past, He will continue to do so.  Why? Because He is a covenant keeping God and He promised that He would. 

Only after I talk to my Father and cast my cares can I have His peace.  Sometimes, I may come into His presence and not know what to say.  Just being in His presence makes it all better.  Ps. 16:11 says, "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." If I come to the Lord in prayer (which is just conversation), He will hear me and give me His peace.  

I remember the hymn, What A Friend We Have in Jesus, it says "Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear.  All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer." If we take our cares and problems to God, He will bear them for us and give us the strength to make it through all of our valleys.  Ps. 29:11 gives me courage, "The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace."  God will not only bless you with strength that cannot be penetrated and stopped, but He will bless you with His peace.  His peace is beyond our understanding. In the midst of the trouble, you will find peace.

This month, the theme is peace.  May you find peace as you draw near to the Savior, Jesus Christ.  If you have not accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you are missing a blessing.  He truly is our Peace.  Accept Him today.  

Prayer of Salvation:

Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. By faith I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as Savior and Lord of my life. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control.
In Your precious name, Amen