Isaiah 26:1-21
Saturday, 26 June 2021
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” -Isaiah 26:3
Perfect peace? –Is that possible, you may ask- as everything around you is far from peace! God’s pill for perfect peace is to keep our mind stayed on Him!
Our key verse today, comes in the midst of a song of praise anticipating Israel’s return to their land and God’s government established and His worship reinstated on Mount Zion. Going through oppression at the hands of the enemy and tough times in captivity is not easy. Yet when in returning to the city of God, they are assured of salvation, safe guardianship by the Almighty.
In the midst of trouble, God would again revive them and which would cause them to rejoice. But to keep their focus on the Lord and confide in Him they have trusted and tasted isn’t easy but the result would be perfect peace. The times we are in, are no better- there is much despair and disillusion in the hearts of people who don’t know the Lord. But God will keep them in perfect peace who steadfastly trust Him. Let’s learn how to keep God’s peace in our hearts through the rough rides in life:
HE will keep in perfect peace:
Those whose minds are stayed on Him (Isa 26:3)
The mind is often the battlefield of our turmoil. We often become agitated at the slightest provocation and lose our calm as we begin thinking of the many improbable things, worrying about things that we conjure in our mind would happen, leading to wrecking our peace! As long as Peter kept his gaze on Jesus while walking on the water, his steps were steady; but the minute he took his eyes off the Lord and looked at the waves, he began sinking! We need to ask ourselves quite often in the course of our day: Is my mind stayed on Christ or straying in the world and all the turbulence it is throwing my way?
They who trust in the Lord, the Rock eternal (Isa 26:4)
Many are quick to turn to other sources for their help in trouble instead of trusting God. The everlasting Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb.13:8)- He does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). He who is ever faithful and true, can be trusted at all times. Joseph went through the toughest of times in his life but he never let his trust in God fail. Whether in the pit or prison or when accused wrongly, Joseph never let go of God. God’s eternal plan worked all through those circumstances until His Word proved true in his life. Trust God with the promises He has given you over your life… The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1Thes.5:24)
They who walk in the Law of the Lord and wait for Him (Isa 26:8)
To continue doing the right thing and walking according to His commands, is tough when things go wrong in life. But that’s when we need to do it all the more. It is sometimes tempting to take justice into one’s own hand than to wait for God’s justice to be proved right in the situation. James 1:20 [GNT] says “Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose.” Jesus is our best example in all these: He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. (1 Peter 2:23 NLT) Wait for God to intervene or act in situations where you know the knots are too hard to untie! Meanwhile carry on living right in the sight of God!
These time-proven steps are for all who want to enjoy God’s peace in their hearts as our minds stay on Him and we trust Him!
To Act on: "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." (Hebrews 10:23 NLT)
Listen: ‘Like a River Glorious’