RTW July 17
Peace Peace…
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3
My Takeaways
Something Old
Regardless of what is happening on earth or in the Heavenlies
We can
- Have perfect peace
- Keep perfect peace
Peace: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
In Hebrew this is shalom shalom: “If one assurance is not enough, He will follow it with a second and a third.” ~ Meyer
He keeps our perfect peace. We don’t have to work at finding or keeping it. All we have to do is:
- Trust Him and Fixed our thoughts on Him
Our mind will trust what it is fixed on.
Fixed on: word sawmak comes from the root “to prop,” and has the idea “to lean upon or take hold of . . . bear up, establish, uphold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain.”
- We are to love the Lord our God with all of our mind (Matthew 22:37).
- We are transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).
- We can have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5).
- We are not to set our mind on earthly things (Philippians 3:19), but to set our mind on things above (Colossians 3:2).
(~ Guzik)
Something New
Something to Do
This message echoed the message taught yesterday in my church.
I am so grateful to God that I can have peace in any situation because his word is alive and tells me so.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I also need peace peace and I again was touched by the sentence that our mind is going to trust where it’s fixed on. I need to be so determined to fix my mind on things that are true, words that bring life and promises that are not made in vain. It prompts me to stay fixed on Gods word, reading it everyday, spending some time to really digest it. I know how life can take another direction if I focus on other things. Thank you for this powerful and inspiring lesson!!!
Again, right where I am at this time in my life! Yes, when I focus on God and His mercies, I have peace peace; but when life gets in there and I start focusing on how I’m going “to fix” the problem/situation, that is when I loose that peace.
The phrase that helps me to get my “vertical” focus back is,
“I trust you Jesus”!!
Thank you for a pertinent lesson today!
Yes, today was one of those mornings when I really needed a Word, fresh and alive, from scripture. And He is faithful. Thank you, Wendy, for delivering this to my hungering spirit today. I can have peace (perfect peace) and I can keep peace today and every day because it is He that is the Keeper!
Thank you Wendy for reminding me of God’s promise of peace when I trust Him, fix my thoughts on Him. Shalom.
Oh yes how I need peace peace. I love how Wendy said “our mind will trust what it is fixed on”. Where or to whom do I go for my fax? Isaiah 26:3 is one of my favorite verses and today I was able to tie it into Isaiah 25:4 “you are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat“ I looked up refuge here and it’s “to put Trust in God, confide or hope in God“. And I think of how challenged I am to trust in him. But all I have to do is just keep my thoughts fixed on him-trusting isn’t something I need to do -Finding or keeping Peace isn’t my job. I just need to keep looking to him. He is my Peace. He is my trust. I looked up trust and it says to have confidence in, to be secure, to feel safe! He is my safety so therefore he is my trust.
Something to do: Jesus is my “fix”.
One of my favorite verses also. So good to know we don’t have to strive for this peace. Just trust the One who owns it.
My Takeaway: The End of Time
Something Old: “In that Day” Isaiah uses that phrase often to remind me that he has skipped over prophesying about Judah and is now prophesying about the whole world, like at the end of time. In fact the heading in todays reading begins, in bold print, Destruction of the Earth . So today I read about the last days, when Jesus will return. Satan will finally be defeated and destroyed. Now that’s good news. The evil of this world will be no more. Can I get a Hallelujah.
Something New: Isaiah 25:6 “…for all the people of the world…” God wants the whole world to hear the Good News, not just a certain group, but everyone. Because one day we will all face judgement.That day may be far off, but it will certainly come. So what do I do while I wait for “that day?” I wait patiently for God to act. I devote my time by living by faith, on the promises of God. I keep my mind focused on God and His Word as He supports me with His unchanging love and mighty power.
Something To Do: Never lose hope and continue to seek God, doing His will. Trust in His promises so I can live in His perfect peace until He returns.
This song says it well. Google it. It’s a beautiful song if you are not familiar with it.
Crystal Lewis – People Get Ready… Jesus Is Comin’ Lyrics
Lord I’m ready now
I’m waiting for Your triumphant return
Youre coming so soon
This world has nothing for me
I find my peace and joy solely in You
Only in You
I want the world to see that
Youre alive and living well in me
Let me be a part of the harvest
For the days are few
Hes coming soon
People get ready Jesus is comin
Soon well be going home
People get ready Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own
There will be a day
When we will be divided right and left
For those who know Him
And those who do not know
Those who know Him well
Will meet Him in the air
Hallelujah
God is with us
Those who do not know
They will hear “Depart, I knew you not”
For my friends you see
There will be a day when well be counted
So know Him well, know Him well
People get ready Jesus is comin
Soon well be going home
People get ready Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own
People get ready Jesus is comin
Soon well be going home
People get readyjesus is coming
To take from the world His own
I love that “perfect” and “peace” are the same word-Shalom shalom. God’s peace. Keep our minds focused on God and he will keep us in perfect peace. Today, in the chaos of my little world, I need this reminder.
Interestingly in my role as educator I have studied and internalized the strategies and techniques of Dr Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline program, which I love. She has a phrase she uses often, “What you focus on, you get more of.” Focus on God and get more of God’s perfect peace. Shalom shalom!