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30th May 2024
ThursdayReflection
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Whitney Hopler
'Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer' asks
How Can We Know God Will Keep Us in Perfect Peace?
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Peace is possible even in our stressful, troubled world.
In Isaiah 26:3, the Bible promises that God "will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
Here's what it means to do that, so you can experience peace in any situation.
Isaiah 26:3 is part of a song of praise in which the prophet Isaiah celebrates God's trustworthiness to provide all that people need, including their ultimate need: salvation.
We can be sure that God will keep us in perfect peace.
The Holy Spirit will renew our minds whenever we ask for help doing what's necessary to be at peace: focusing on God and trusting him.
Romans 12:2 urges us all:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Peace is one of the nine "fruit of the Spirit".
As you invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind, you can count on the Spirit's help to do what Isaiah 26:3 calls you to do: trust in God with a steadfast mind.
One of my grandmothers, Nana, struggled to find peace at the end of her life, but ultimately found it when we prayed together.
The trust exercise I suggested to Nana has helped me many times, and it can be a wonderful way for anyone to seek the perfect peace that only comes from God.
Here's how it works:
Visualise Jesus on the cross, and visualise the specific things that are troubling you.
Then see yourself walking toward Jesus and laying those things down at the foot of the cross for him to take care of for you.
Through a brief prayer, ask Jesus for help with every specific thing you've left there for him.
Entrust it all to his care.
See yourself walk away afterward, with your mind and heart open to receiving peace from Jesus.
The peace that God gives isn't limited to certain times or tied to specific circumstances.
The perfect peace of God is much more than simply the absence of stress and anxiety; it's a deep and abiding knowledge of being loved and cared for by God no matter what.
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
That can be our prayer in any situation.
When we pray to experience God's peace through a steadfast mind that is focused on him, we can count on that happening.
The Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith by renewing our minds, and peace will come to us as a result.
When you follow the advice of Isaiah 26:3, you can be confident that you'll experience perfect peace from God.
Simply ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind whenever you need help to centre your focus on God.
The Spirit may direct your attention to a wondrous sign of God's work in your life, or simply quiet your mind.
In the process, perfect peace will flow into your soul!
A Prayer for Perfect Peace
Dear Lord,
Help me remember you are indeed Lord of my life.
You have the right to rule all that I think, believe and do.
When I allow my mind to run to places that destroy my peace, remind me these are unauthorised thoughts.
You do not want me to dwell on thoughts and emotions that contribute to unreasonable fears.
I know my mind will remain in perfect peace as I fix my thoughts on you;
so Lord Jesus, let your peace rule in my heart.
Remind me of the peace I have in your family, and teach me how to be thankful for those circumstances that cause me to run to you, focus on you, and abide in you.
I never need live with fearful, anxious thoughts.
The truth is, you are in control!
(by Dawn Wilson, Prayers to Help You Exchange Anxiety and Fear for Peace)
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This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
Whitney Hopler
is the author of the Wake Up to Wonder book and the Wake Up to Wonder blog, which help people thrive through experiencing awe.
She leads the communications work at George Mason University's Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.
Whitney has served as a writer, editor, and website developer for leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA's national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles).
She has also written the young adult novel Dream Factory.
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