PERFECT PEACE

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”  (Isaiah 26: 3-4)

THOUGHT:  There is a close connection between the opening verses of Isaiah 26 and the words of our text.  In his song of victory Isaiah describes a strong city with salvation for its walls and bulwarks and open gates for those whose lives are characterized by righteousness and truth.  The prophet then goes on to speak of the security and serenity of those who live within this city of God.  So we have:

I.              The Source of Perfect Peace.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You…for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” (v.3-4).  The source of this wonderful peace is the Lord Jehovah.  He is spoken of in these matchless verses as the “everlasting strength” or literally, the “rock of ages.”  How comforting to know that in a world where everything seems to be shaking and shifting the Christian can stay his mind upon the Rock of Ages.

II.           The Scope of Perfect Peace.  “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.” (v.3).  The scholars tell us that this should more accurately read, “You will keep him in ‘peace, peace’ whose mind is stayed on You.”  The peace which God offers His own people is not intermittent or occasional, but rather like a glorious river ever flowing in its unbroken fullness to the believing heart. (See Phil. 4:7).

III.        The Secret of Perfect Peace. “ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You… Trust in the Lord forever.” (v.3-4).  The word for “mind” here is “thought or imagination.”  It is within the area of our thoughts and imaginations that unrest, turmoil, and fear begin; but to stay our minds, in simple trust, upon Jehovah is to know perfect peace.

THRUST:

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest;
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

Francis R. Havergal

Dr. Stephen F. Olford was a popular speaker at America’s Keswick and a dear man of God. This was one of the last five things he wrote before the Lord called him home. This was published in our Keswick devotional, REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE.

Team YOU: Psalm 37-39; Proverbs 25; Acts 26

Motivations: Never when in authority rebuke any one in anger, but only when anger has passed away; and so shall the rebuke bring forth good fruit. Teresa of Avila

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Philippians 2:14-15; Level 2: Philippians 2:12-18

Powered Up:  To ask in the name of Christ is … to set aside our own will and bow to the perfect will of God. A. W. Pink