Reading: Isaiah 25,26
My Verse: "You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3).
Peace is that something we all strive for, yet it always seems to be just out of our grasp. Our world is not at peace. Our country has much turmoil within. Families are constantly in stress and breaking up. The high rate of crime and suicide speaks to lack of inner peace for too many. Yet here we are told that we can have this peace - "perfect peace."
The dictionary says "peace" is;
freedom from warring with another nation,
freedom from disharmony with another people group or culture,
freedom from violence or disharmony within one's community,
freedom from any kind of strife or dissension and finally,
freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, and obsession.
Many self help books are out there to tell us how to be happy, at peace. Many psychiatrists, counseling therapists try to lead us to a peaceful state of mind. Many religions offer peace. There are even drugs made for this very purpose - a calmer, peaceful state of mind. But there is no true peace in any of this, in anything the world has to offer.
Because we so desperately want peace, often we are easily lead astray in our striving of it. Jeremiah. some 2600 years ago condemned those who offer peace as a bandaid when there really is not peace.
"They heal the wounds of my people lightly,
saying, 'Peace, peace'
when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14).
You, LORD God tell us to seek peace.
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18)
"Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it" (1 Peter 3:11).
"Strive for peace with everyone . . ."(Hebrews 12:14).
But how do we get this perfect peace? You say in this verse You keep those in peace
"whose mind is stayed on You"
"because he trusts in You."
You say. "For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
You say: "Great peace have those who love Your law . . ." (Psalm 119:165).
Oh, LORD God, to know that inner peace is possible is heartening, but how to get there is another thing. You want us to give ourselves up totally to You. (Deuteronomy 6:5) (Luke 10:27)
I need to to keep my mind on You. You are to be ever before me in all that I do. Please guide me in this today. Help me to be devoted to You - allowing You to guide me in all my decisions, open up my understanding to Your Word, guard over my attitude and speech.
Your word is truth and if You say "perfect peace" is possible then it is. This is hope.
"There is divinity that shapes our ends." (Macbeth by Shakespeare as quoted by Oswald Chambers)
Thank You, for this lesson.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3).
Peace is that something we all strive for, yet it always seems to be just out of our grasp. Our world is not at peace. Our country has much turmoil within. Families are constantly in stress and breaking up. The high rate of crime and suicide speaks to lack of inner peace for too many. Yet here we are told that we can have this peace - "perfect peace."
The dictionary says "peace" is;
freedom from warring with another nation,
freedom from disharmony with another people group or culture,
freedom from violence or disharmony within one's community,
freedom from any kind of strife or dissension and finally,
freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, and obsession.
Many self help books are out there to tell us how to be happy, at peace. Many psychiatrists, counseling therapists try to lead us to a peaceful state of mind. Many religions offer peace. There are even drugs made for this very purpose - a calmer, peaceful state of mind. But there is no true peace in any of this, in anything the world has to offer.
Because we so desperately want peace, often we are easily lead astray in our striving of it. Jeremiah. some 2600 years ago condemned those who offer peace as a bandaid when there really is not peace.
"They heal the wounds of my people lightly,
saying, 'Peace, peace'
when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14).
You, LORD God tell us to seek peace.
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18)
"Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it" (1 Peter 3:11).
"Strive for peace with everyone . . ."(Hebrews 12:14).
But how do we get this perfect peace? You say in this verse You keep those in peace
"whose mind is stayed on You"
"because he trusts in You."
You say. "For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
You say: "Great peace have those who love Your law . . ." (Psalm 119:165).
Oh, LORD God, to know that inner peace is possible is heartening, but how to get there is another thing. You want us to give ourselves up totally to You. (Deuteronomy 6:5) (Luke 10:27)
I need to to keep my mind on You. You are to be ever before me in all that I do. Please guide me in this today. Help me to be devoted to You - allowing You to guide me in all my decisions, open up my understanding to Your Word, guard over my attitude and speech.
Your word is truth and if You say "perfect peace" is possible then it is. This is hope.
"There is divinity that shapes our ends." (Macbeth by Shakespeare as quoted by Oswald Chambers)
Thank You, for this lesson.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
No comments:
Post a Comment