Perfect Peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”

“and you were not willing!”

 

Psalms 9:9
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Psalms 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield,

Hebrews 6:18
we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Psalms 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Isaiah 26:3-4
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

Have you ever needed peace about something?  What if someone told you that you could have “Perfect Peace”?  We search after it.  We want it and yet at the same time we don’t seem willing to run toward it.  We go after what seems right in our own eyes never approaching the One who can give us what we are desperately seeking.  Paul said we can have “Peace that passes all understanding in Christ Jesus” by faith, trusting and seeking Him in our time of need”.  The peace we seek apart from God is never lasting.  It is a peace that is short lived and lacks any enduring substance.  The next time you are seeking peace – seek and run to Him who is able to give and keep you in “Perfect Peace”

Give Thought

“Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good”

“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,”

Psalms 2:12
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 16:20
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Psalms 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Psalms 84:12
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Psalms 146:3-5
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Isaiah 26:3-4
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Jeremiah 17:7
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

In light of the election and all of the comments, worries, projections, future outcomes, rise of nation, fall of nation, and loss of trust, gain of trust….. it is important to keep things in perspective.  It is very easy for us to have our eyes on the promises and commitments from our leaders no matter what party is in place.  I have experienced sadness and indifference to outcomes from the past.  What I do know is if I dwell on certain aspects (relationships, government, education, projects, prices, labor and a host of other issues) with negative thoughts of, no hope, no trust, or no future it consumes me. Jesus said ” Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” It is good for me to read these words of encouragement today “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good” “Blessed is he whose mind is fixed on God”, “Blessed are those who trust is in the Lord”, “Blessed are those who wait for Him”, “Blessed is he who makes the Lord his trust”.  We can all do better at reading as much in His word as what we read about situations in the world.  We can all do better at leaning not onto our own understanding but give thanks to God for all of the blessings we have.  It is not wrong to be aware of potential issues and have concerns but to allow them to fill every waking thought is bad.  This will only set you on a course that leaves no thought or time for trusting and thanking God for He alone is our hope and strength.