CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 802

“Perfect Peace”

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

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I enjoy viewing the satellite images of the earth from the National Hurricane Center NOAA web site.  I marvel at the ability to zoom in from a global perspective all the way down to a neighborhood street.

As I contemplated our reference Scripture from Isaiah this week the Lord brought to mind these satellite views to show me that perfect peace does not mean a total absence from troubles, trials, and storms.

From the global perspective the storm fronts and characteristic cloud swirl patterns of tropical depressions surround areas of calm.  The idyllic photo of ‘great calm’ above is surrounded by tremendous atmospheric disturbance and turmoil.

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. – Mark 4:39

The perfect peace that our Lord promises us does not mean that we will be free from the storms and trials of life in the body.  It does mean that He gives us a great calmness of soul and spirit in the midst of the storms that surround us.

So how do we attain such perfect peace?  Our reference Scripture says that God keeps those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on Him.  A stayed mind is a steadfast mind.  It leans upon and rests upon God alone.  It derives its support and holds fast to God all the time.  The one whose mind is stayed upon God trusts in God completely without doubt no matter what your circumstances look like.  Doubt brings instability and destroys perfect peace.

…for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind…he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. – James 1:6

Perfect peace is not found by mental denial of the reality of our situation.  It is not found by numbing our mind with drugs and alcohol nor is it found by placing our trust in people or the material, temporal things of this world. These can only give you a false peace that is temporary at best. We are kept in perfect peace only through an abiding relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Trust in God is a result of abiding with Him through a lifestyle of prayer and study of His Word.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16

May the Holy Spirit keep your heart and mind stayed on God.  May you enjoy the abiding presence and perfect peace of God in the midst of the storms, trials and turmoil of this world.

Be still, and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10