1586 Pursuing Perfect Peace

If we don’t bring it to God, we don’t get peace. Why on earth would we choose to sit in our overwhelm and anxiety, holding on instead of bringing it to God? It doesn’t make sense, yet that’s what we do. We forfeit the gift of peace over and over again as we play the scenarios in our head and try to fix things on our own. But, it doesn’t work does it?

The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. No God, no peace. No surrender, no strength. No trust, no guidance. Yet here we are expecting to receive guidance, but we haven’t decided to really trust God fully. Honestly, we’re still holding back. We’re hoping to be strengthened, but we haven’t fully surrendered, so we’re exhausted.

Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

It’s one thing to have peace, but God is offering PERFECT PEACE to anyone who will trust in him and keep their thoughts fixed on him. What would perfect peace look like in your current ‘less than perfect’ situation? Wouldn’t it look like being able to sleep? Wouldn’t it look like waking up without the weight of your burdens? Wouldn’t it look like confidently taking the next steps instead of being stuck? Wouldn’t it look like being unshakable, unbothered and determined? Wouldn’t it look like strength and joy through it all? Yes, that’s what perfect peace looks like. Do you want it?

God will keep you in that perfect peace when you trust him and choose to focus on him. When your mind wanders off in worry, creating feelings of overwhelm and anxiety, you’re forfeiting God’s perfect peace. Girl, lasso your thoughts and get them back in the corral – they’ve been running wild again!

I don’t know about you, but I personally go through seasons of focusing on God, then seasons of my thoughts running down dark alleys of worst case scenarios and jumping off cliffs of utter destruction. It’s really not about the circumstances of my life, it’s simply a result of me getting lazy with my focus. When I get lazy, my thoughts run wild and wreck havoc on my peace.

As humans, our minds naturally wander off course. Keeping our focus on God requires intentional daily effort. What are you doing daily to get your thoughts zeroed in on the one who offers perfect peace?

I’ve found a few things that help me focus on God and trust him fully, maybe they will help you too:

* My Bible

For many years, I’ve used only a digital Bible searching for scriptures online. It worked for our vagabond traveling lifestyle, but it also felt impersonal. Since returning to a print bible that I can hold, flip through and write in, I’ve noticed a difference in my trust level and my thought pattern.

If you don’t have a print Bible, may I suggest you get yourself one? I use the Experiencing God study Bible which is on sale on Amazon right now for $37. I use the Mr. Pen brand pens and wax highlighters to make notes as I read.

If you have a Bible, but it’s been collecting dust, return to a daily commitment of opening it up and reading. Even for just 5 minutes. I’m telling you, it will make a difference. It will change your thought pattern and trust level. And with that trust in God and thoughts focused on him, you will be kept in perfect peace. Yes, the peace that helps you sleep again. The peace that helps you wake up without dread. The peace that helps you move forward and get unstuck.

* Prayer