Based on The Fruit of the Spirit Study, by LGG / W2D4
Today’s Road Map for the Journey: Isaiah 26:3; SOAP: Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
Some might question if perfect peace is only an elusive dream. Isaiah writes not only that it is possible, but for whom and how it is possible. The way seems simple enough: believers must maintain their faith in God and fix their thoughts on Him. In other words, our righteousness, good works, or any amount of human effort will not earn us a place in Heaven. It is solely a right of those who have placed their trust in God.
Perfect peace is not a state without any anxiety at all, or one where life is always easy and perfect. The prophet is describing internal peace. This would be a feeling of confident contentment independent of circumstances. It is a mind focused on trusting the Lord to provide all that is needed in the present, the future, and for salvation. ~Bibleref.co/Isaiah 26:3
This statement from today’s LGG Journal entry not only resonates with my heart and mind, but I can attest to its validity. It is part of my testimony: “What we choose to focus our minds on shapes how we feel, how we respond, and how we move through our days. When we fix our minds on our problems, our peace evaporates. When we fix our minds on the what-ifs and worst-case scenarios,” (something I was very prone to do for many years) “anxiety moves in. But when we fix our minds on God’s character, faithfulness, promises, and track record, everything changes. Peace moves in.”
Seriously, it’s as though the writer is sharing my story.
The writer goes on to point out that: “Fixing our minds on God instead of our problems requires a daily, sometimes a moment-by-moment, choice to keep your mind anchored to Him. It requires training your thoughts to return to God when they wander toward worry. As you spend more time with Him, it becomes easier to keep your mind fixed on Him, no matter if your life feels like shifting sand.”
Perfect peace is not the absence of hard things. It is the presence of God in the middle of them.
Friends, don’t let God’s perfect peace be an elusive dream for you ~ take hold of His promise – fix your thoughts on Him and trust Him without reservation. When your mind begins to lean toward worry, lean into Him, spend time with Him, rest in Him, talk to Him and trust Him. To quote the author’s words again: “Peace moves in.” Of course, this doesn’t mean we will never worry, but it does mean our worry doesn’t have to define us or fill our minds with anxiety and panic. We can choose what we will think about and fix our minds on that thing. Paul suggested that the Philippians “set their minds on things that are true and honorable, right and pure and lovely and admirable. It anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things.” Give it a try ☺️ or share how you’ve already experienced this beautiful peace in your on life.
Reflection and Application
Where does your mind tend to wander when life gets hard? What is one practical way you can intentionally fix your mind on God this week?
