“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on
you, because he trusts in the Lord.” (Isaiah 26:3)
Have you had any sleepless nights lately?
As spiritual multi-taskers, we fill our minds with so much stuff, and allow our thoughts to be captivated and overrun by everything but God, leaving little room for Jesus; who is our only source, for the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.
Is it any wonder then, that so many experience exhaustion and sleeplessness?
God's response to my crying out for rest, for His peace... was Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you..."
It was the phrase, "Whose mind is stayed on You" that the Holy Spirit kept whispering to my soul.
Stayed.
“To lean upon or take hold of: rest self, set self, stand fast, stay.”
Picture Jesus; loving and benevolent Savior. If He was standing next to you right now, what would you do?
I would lean on Him, taking hold hold of His arm. I would rest myself there, not wanting to leave. I would stand fast, and stay there with Him. Nothing else would enter my mind but Him. Nothing or no one would be able to distract me or tear me away from this tender moment of fellowship with my Lord and my God.
But we do exactly that all the time.
We allow other things to fill our minds, distracting us, coming between us and Jesus, tearing us away from His rest. Tearing us away from the sweet fellowship found only in His presence.
Multi-tasking is way over-rated.
For although it's a quality highly desired in the busy work place, it's a hindrance to fellowship with Christ.
Picture sitting at the table of communion with Jesus. It's just the two of you. You're having a wonderful meal and conversation together. But throughout your personal time with Him, your "I"-phone keeps vibrating with 'face-book' notifications that your Friends have posted new photos and links to 'you-tube' videos. You keep getting 'tweets' from the 'Twitter-verse.' "You've got mail!" Your buddies keep texting you about going fishing this weekend. Your online bank statement is now available. Oh yeah, 'Rachel Ray' has just posted an update for a hot, new recipe on her 'FB' page! And if that weren't enough, now you've got another call coming in!
Just because your phone rings does not mean you have to take that call.
But isn't that how most of us treat our relationship with Christ?
Perfect peace.
That's what I so desperately need.
How about you?
Start by turning off the "I-phone" in your mind.
God's perfect peace can only be found by the man or woman whose mind is stayed on Jesus.
If our minds are stayed on Christ, and in everything we place our trust in Him, then we will experience the peace of Jesus, which surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and our minds in Him.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and
the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Be anxious for nothing.
Don't worry about the economy. Don't fret over getting that job or not. Stop pulling your hair out over all that's wrong in Washington D.C.
Paul wrote..."In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Action is required on our part.
Be anxious for nothing. You have to choose to not be anxious about anything. And in "Everything" pray to God with thanksgiving, and His peace which surpasses your comprehension, will guard your heart...and your mind, through Jesus Christ.
Be thankful.
It's a willful choice. Having an attitude of gratitude is one of the keys to living a joy-filled life.
As a Christian, no matter what I am suffering through, no matter what I have lost; I have so much more to be thankful for. The free gift of salvation in Christ, being first and foremost.
Jesus Christ—God Who is Love—is with us always, even until the end of the age.
Therefore, rest in Love.
—Love Never Fails.
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