ISAIAH 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

TO PONDER

This reminds me of a joke that I shared with my grandchildren recently. What is the strangest fish in the ocean...?

The piece of cod that surpasses all understanding!

Billy Graham once said, "Just as iron is attracted to a magnet, so is the soul in its state of hunger, drawn to God." There is something deep down inside of you and I that cannot be satisfied by earthly pleasures. Oh, the joy of experiencing the peace of God.

It only works for those of us who fix our minds on Him and trust His promises. This means having a steadfast mind. One that’s focused and committed to God with confident expectation. It is not a state of perfect peace without any anxiety at all, though it can be.

It’s not God making our life always easy and perfect either.

Isaiah is describing internal peace and God promises to keep us there. What sustains and upholds your mind? We cannot occasionally come to the Lord. Our minds must be stayed on Him and steadfast. Satan loves to get our mind away from God and His love for us. The battle for trust in the Lord begins in our mind. Simple intentional acts of faith give us a daily foundation i.e. prayer, meditating on scripture and surrounding ourselves with a supportive faith community.

God asks us to rely on Him completely with our minds because He is everlasting strength. Not that He has everlasting strength but He is everlasting strength. This goes a long way toward putting my heart and mind in perfect peace. How about yours?

PRAYER:Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of peace that You give to me. Your peace is a gift that transcends understanding and it is a huge comfort in times of trouble. I'm grateful for Your presence in my life, and for the strength, peace and joy that You provide. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Jill von Stanke (Pastor Mat's mum), LiveWay Online