This past weekend, I was thinking about the peace of God and how we, as God’s children, could walk in that peace on a daily basis. It almost seems impossible, doesn’t it? With the world in chaos, family issues and even health scares – this peace God speaks of almost seems elusive.
I began to ask God about how we, or I, could walk in His peace continually. Of course, He answered the question of my heart with a scripture.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Is 26:3)
The first thing I found interesting about this verse is that the two words, perfect and peace, are the same word. Shalom. While studying words of the Bible I found anytime God uses a word twice like this is to put emphasis of importance on that particular word. So, what is He saying when He says we can have perfect peace or shalom, shalom?
He is saying we can walk daily in safety, happiness, wellness, welfare, health, prosperity, and wholeness. I love that word, wholeness, it is what I am seeking for my own life – that I may be whole in every area of my life.
It means to be complete, nothing broken and nothing missing. It means to restore, be compensated or rewarded. It also means to make an end of. Is there anything in your life that you would like to see come to an end? I know there is in mine.
God’s word says that can happen if we do one thing; keep our mind stayed upon Him.
Let’s look at that word, stayed. It means, to lean on, to rest, to allow to sustain.
Recently, I had a work issue with some year end stuff. These things usually cause me stress until they are handled and dealt with. I often stay on top of them, sometimes unnecessarily, until I see them completed. Even when there is nothing, I can do to fix it.
As I said, I had one of those issues. One night it kept me up all night long, trying to figure out how to work it out. However, the next morning, I took that thing to the Lord and truly laid it at His feet. Each time it came to mind, I said, “No, I gave that to God, that is not my problem.”
I forgot about it completely – which is a miracle for me. One day, a couple weeks later, I got a call that fixed the issue. The call came out of the blue and from someone not even involved. It was awesome.
I had chosen to keep my mind stayed upon God (in that situation) and refused to take my mind off God and get into worry or concern. And. God took care of it. I could have stressed for two weeks but I didn’t. I refused.
A few things I have learned. One, the enemy will attempt to wear our mind out, especially in the night season. Don’t allow it. Go to sleep with your mind stayed upon God. Let the last thought of the night be one of faith in God.
Two, if we really, really, keep our mind stayed upon God – if we rest on His word – He will work it out.
The best part is, He will do that with every situation in our life, if we only allow Him to. How do we allow Him to? By keeping our mind, our thoughts stayed on Him. Because we trust Him.
One of my goals this year is to experience and walk in God’s perfect peace all the time. Not some of the time, all the time. It will take work on my part and trust when it seems impossible but as we know, nothing is impossible with God. My prayer for you is that you too, experience and walk in God’s perfect peace. His completeness. His wholeness. All the days of your life. May it be so, Lord.
