A Closer Walk
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee," Isaiah 26:3 KJV. Oh, the beauty of the poetic wording of the King James Version. Our Heavenly Father tells us that He will keep in perfect peace the person whose mind is stayed on Him. Stayed would seem to equate to resting on, or even better, camping out on the Lord. If we direct our minds to focus on, and camp out on our God, He will keep us not only in peace, but in perfect peace.
This peace is not simply the absence of conflict or chaos. Indeed our God tells us that it is the peace that passes all understanding. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:7 KJV. This is peace in the midst of conflict or chaos. Our relatives or friends might even ask us, “Why aren't you freaking out about this? It is a freak out situation of earthquake magnitude.” While not discounting the value of freaking out, the peace that passes all understanding would be much more valuable, as well as much more helpful.
The peace which passes all understanding will also keep our hearts and minds. We remember that our God is the Lord, and there is no other. We remember that our God is faithful to all generations. We remember that God's word is a lamp to our feet, and a light for our path. We remember that the Holy Spirit indwells us, and that He will teach us, and remind us of everything the Lord Jesus said. And we remember this: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB.
We understand that this peace does not originate on earth. It originates with our God in heaven. “The Lord will give strength unto His people; The Lord will bless his people with peace,” Psalm 29:11 KJV. This peace which passes all understanding is a gift of God, and a gift from God. Because of His grace, mercy, and love, He offers us this peace. However, we are not required to accept it. If we choose, we can ignore this peace and be willing participants in those moments of freaking out, conflict, chaos, and keeping ourselves in an ongoing state of a lack of peace. But why would we do that? Why would any person want to ignore this peace which passes all understanding, when it is already provided? All we need do is to accept it.
We also remember this blessing which Aaron the ancient Israelite high priest, and the brother of Moses, was instructed to speak, as a blessing on the children of Israel. “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace,” Numbers 6:24-26 KJV.
Peace. The peace which passes all understanding is offered to us. It is available to us. It comes from the hand of our God who is the Lord; and there is no other God in whom we may take refuge. We shouldn't ignore it or reject it. It is ours if we accept it. Peace. Which passes all understanding. From the hand of a loving, gracious, and merciful God. Our God.