Whole-hearted

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You. 

(Isaiah 26:3, NKJV)

One of the things which gives us excitement is watching or being involved in competitions.  It does not matter whether we are in the field or are committed fans, we are all very invested in the activity being undertaken.  Our emotional investment to the activity is based on our appreciation of the competing teams.  The emotions experienced whether one is watching the game in person or virtually, cannot be ignored, the individual is fully into the activity.  For the individuals in the field, their commitment is not any less.  They are fully engaged in the game or activity and at the same time, they also know the expectations of their fans.  This puts a lot of pressure on them, knowing that they are not just doing their best but are also being judged by the fans.  The coaches too take their responsibility to deliver to the team and to the fans the expected results.  It is no wonder that regardless of the outcome of the game, deep emotions are expressed, some of joy for the winning team and some of heavy disappointment for the losing team.  These emotions well up from the commitment and hope that the individuals had for the outcome of the game. 

Beloved, this level of commitment is not just observed in athletics but can also be seen in other areas of our lives, for some we never fully commit, others we do the bear minimum but for others, we are fully invested.  Our reference is premised on our trust in God, the last part which tells us “because he trusts in You”.  The fact that an individual is trusting in God fully, then God keeps the individual in perfect peace.  In our daily lives, peace could be elusive especially when we focus on what is happening around us and the news of the world we hear, it would appear like there is no room for peace.  However, this same verse gives us a key element for God’s peace to be in our hearts despite the surroundings, and that is “a mind stayed on God”.  Where our minds is the secret to experiencing God’s peace.  The word ‘stayed’ in this case is identical to ‘focus’.  The word of God is telling us that our focus must be on God and not elsewhere.  Someone once said, that what we focus on, grows in our minds and hearts.  That means that what we keep our minds on, controls what we emotionally experience and I dare say, it determines the results of our lives.  Isaiah in writing this verse is calling us to consciously keep our minds on what God says and does, that we see our surroundings and circumstances from the perspective of God.  Keeping our minds on God also means that we are not doubting Him, we are standing on the assurance of His word alone. When we do so, then God in His sovereignty will keep us in His perfect peace, the peace that the world cannot understand (John 14:27).  God is deeply interested in the state of our hearts and He molds this through our obedience to His words.  He gives us His peace when we lean into Him and please Him.  Solomon wrote in Proverbs, that when a man’s ways please the Lord, God in turn gives the man peace even with his enemies (Proverbs 16:7).  God is not only interested in our inner peace but also in our peaceful relationships with others, so much so that He desires to give us peace even with our enemies.  Beloved, the secret to peace in spite of what goes around, is in focusing on God.  Once we make up our minds to stay in His will and word, He in turn takes care of those things that steal our peace.  May we know this perfect peace and be carriers of the same to others around us.  We need peace and the world needs His peace.

Thoughts:

How have you experienced the peace of God?

In which areas of your life do you need God’s peace?

What will strengthen your ‘staying’ in God?