March 23 – Perfect Peace

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

“Perfect peace.” Now isn’t that something we would truly enjoy? So much chaos in our lives and. Whether we turn this way or that, we things exist that rob us of even imperfect peace. We find a marvelous promise in our verse today. It’s a promise that proves itself over and over.  Our God is the only one who never changes. He keeps His promises and we can depend on Him to meet our needs every day, in every situation.  Although our situations change from pleasant to challenging God never changes. The secret of true peace in our hearts and minds is to fix our thoughts and our aspirations on our unchanging God – not on our own understanding. Trusting in God is like building on an unshakable foundation and keeping our mind anchored in the truth we learn from God and His Word. So, let's base our thoughts on God's faithfulness. Our verse says that this will give us perfect peace. Who can improve on that?  Of course, nobody can. Trust in God – He will keep you in perfect peace no matter what you might face today, or tomorrow or ever in your future.  

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October 4 – A Worthy Walk

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” – Philippians 1:27 (NASB)

As believers professing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we are called to live our lives in such a way that other’s notice a difference from those who don’t believe. Paul the Apostle frames this as ‘conduct that is worthy of the gospel.’ The Greek for ‘gospel’ means the Good News. We live and walk in Christ because of the good news of the Lord Jesus. The Old Testament spoke of the suffering and resurrection of Christ so this was not a new message. We know of the resurrection, believe in it, and have been saved by it. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)  Standing firm in one spirit with one mind introduces Paul’s theme of unity that core to his words of encouragement. Paul’s call for sincere unity of heart and mind is based on: 

1. the necessity of oneness to win the spiritual battle for the faith (Phil. 1:28–30); 
2. our love of others in the fellowship (Phil. 2:1-2); 
3. genuine humility and self-sacrifice (Phil. 2:3-4); and 
4. Jesus Christ our example who proved that sacrifice produces eternal glory (Phil. 2:5–11). 

First as one soldier standing at his post, then as a team resisting a common foe.

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August 12 – Living With Genuine Peace

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
    Because he trusts in You.
“Trust in the Lord forever,
    For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” – Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)

This promise for today is for every day. It is well worth keeping it in the top of our mind. We all face times when the peace we have is challenged by events and circumstances. What we expect fails to be what we get and our peace is gone like a puff of smoke in a sudden breeze. We resort to worry, doubts and are tempted to go down a different path. What we need instead is to grip onto and hold firmly in our mind the truth in this promise from God. Isaiah penned these words inspired by the Spirit of God. He wrote, a fixed outlook of trust in the Lord causes a peace within that the wicked can never know (Isaiah 57:21). Such trust prevents double mindedness (James 1:6–8) and serving two masters (Matthew 6:24). Perfect peace means complete, genuine peace that comes only by grace from God. As we experience this inner peacefulness our faith grows and we are encouraged to continue trusting our Lord and Savior Jesus. Let’s prepare ourselves now for today’s opportunity to exercise trust in God who is our Rock forever. Perfect peace can be ours.

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July 16 – Test. Refine. Purify.

“Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
    Test my mind and my heart.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
    And I have walked in Your truth.” – Psalm 26:2-3 (NASB)

The love God promises to all who love Him is always before us. It is always for our benefit and never fails. We are the ones that fail in this love. David, who wrote this song seeks vindication that he has not failed. He calls on God to examine, try, and test his inner self – deeper emotion than what he might show to others. It is interesting that the phrase “test my mind and my heart” is translated from the Hebrew original “test my kidneys and my heart.” The use of kidneys is a figurative way to speak of the seat of emotion and affection; hence, it is involving character. It was seen as the most sensitive vital part of a person, thus, the “mind” as we today see the mind as the most vital part of a person along with the heart. These three invitations to divine scrutiny are essentially synonymous ways of testing, refining, and purifying. If we include the first verse, we can understand that David wanted confirmation of his faithfulness and trust in God. Can we claim that our integrity guides our way and our trust is steadfast? Let’s commit to that today. 

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May 7 – Perfect Peace Promised

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

Are these familiar words to you? They may be just the promise we need to hear these days. Because we all face uncertainty and trying times, because we all can find ways to be upset inside because of outside turmoil. When things are not as they should be, at least in our own understanding, peace escapes us. We believe that we all need to be reminded often of these promises. But first, let us understand what this promise of peace is promising - it's perfect peace. Perfect peace may not be just the absence of turmoil. Perfect peace can be ours in the midst of upsetting challenges. Perfect peace is complete, genuine inner tranquility which we find when we trust the word of God. There are so many influences and distractions in this world to interrupt our thinking and to disturb our peace.  Remember, who is it that benefits from God's peace? It is the person who trusts in God because those who trust in God focus their thinking on God's faithfulness and this gives their minds a real steadfastness. Steady thinking is really a part of real peace. Let's keep our minds steady today, trusting the Lord.

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November 12 – One and Only One

“ The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  Mark 12:29-30 (ESV)

Many claim the existence of gods other than the one God we worship. These other gods are created in someone’s mind and sold to many who do not know the true God. A created god is not the God of the Bible. Our God is not the same as the god worshiped in a false religion.  The commandments in these verses came to us first from God through Moses in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). It is a foundational truth that we need to believe and hold dear and defend that God is One.  There are no other gods in existence. Famous and influential people today, celebrities will tell you that there is more than one god and there is more than one way to “what you call God.”  But there is not.  The Lord is one. It does not take our belief to make that true. It is true because God said it. For those who choose to believe it is no mistake. God has made Himself available, findable, knowable to those who seek him in faith believing. God promises that those who seek Him will find Him and those who ask for Him will receive Him.  

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April 2 –Mercies Every Morning

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV)

The book of Lamentations is also referred to as the Book of Tears.  The Prophet Jeremiah is accepted as the author of this book.  Jeremiah was a Prophet who proclaimed the Word of God to the people.  He saw first-hand the destruction of the Jerusalem’s walls and the Temple.  Given many warnings, which the people ignored, God’s promised judgment comes.  Now the people are gone. Carried off to Babylon except for a few.  Jeremiah was one left.   This book is written recording the process of grieving over what God had done to His own people and city.  In the very middle of the book, God gives Jeremiah this assurance.  Our promise is clear. God’s love never stops.  God’s mercies never quit. New mercies come every morning.  God’s faithfulness is great.  God “mercies” is a comprehensive term that encompasses love, grace, mercy, goodness, forgiveness, truth, compassion and faithfulness.  Jeremiah recalled all this in the middle of recounting all the sorrow and tears for the city.  He recalled these truths as we can and they gave him hope as they can give us hope.  God’s mercies are for us, his steadfast love is also for us. God gives us all we need.

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July 10 – Guarding Heart and Mind

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

This promise is for believers who in prayer present their requests to God about things which would otherwise cause anxiety, worry, and distress. The promise is that God will respond by granting His peace.  This verse tells us how God  helps us deal with problems in our lives.  So we take them to God in prayer making our requests and giving our thanksgiving.  In return we receive peace.  It is a peace that we may not understand and others may not comprehend.  It is the Peace of God and it guards our hearts and our minds against worry and distress.  It guards us against giving up when we think circumstances are too great for us to bear – we just want out.  But God give us His peace and that settles our minds and our hearts as we believe His promise.  We pray about it.  We verbalize our requests. We present them to God with thanksgiving. He gives us a peace beyond comprehension but it is real, it's His Peace. 

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January 13 – Perfect Peace

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

Is this verse a familiar one for you?  It is for us as it is a verse we have clung to for much of our life.  A comforting promise from our God.  It is good to take notice that this promise is given to us but we experience it only if we fulfill the condition that it comes with.  Perfect peace is where God will keep us if we keep our minds steadfastly trusting Him.  It is that simple, and it is so very true.  When our lives are in upheaval for whatever reason or cause, God will keep us in perfect peace if we remain fixed on Him by trusting in Him.  Trust God today for this promise and trust Him everyday for all His promises.  Difficult times will come but God will cover us with his perfect peace and we will not become distraught or anxious.  It won't be affected by the conditions in your country, city or even family because the peace is perfect – without flaw.  Such a perfect deal we have. Trust in God, and He keeps us in perfect peace.  

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Please share this promise with others.

February 26 – Perfect Peace

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

We receive a very marvelous promise in our verse today. It is a promise that proves itself through the difficult times we encounter.  Our God is one who never changes. He is a God who keeps His promises and we can always depend on Him to meet our needs every day, in every situation.  Although our situations change from pleasant to challenging God never changes. That is why the secret of true peace in our hearts and minds is to fix our thoughts and our aspirations on our unchanging God – not on our own understanding. Trusting in God is like building on an unshakable foundation and keeping our mind anchored in the truth we learn from God and His Word. So, let's base our thoughts on God's faithfulness. Our verse says that this will give us perfect peace. Who can improve on that?  Of course, nobody can. Trust in God – He will keep you in perfect peace no matter what you might face today, or tomorrow or ever in your future.  

February 14 – Celebrate True Love

“And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB)

[Valentine's Day this year coincides with another important day on the calendar. If you observe Lent, it begins today in most western churches (see note below).]

Valentine's Day is a time that we decorate with hearts and give cards and flowers to those we love. For most it is a happy and sentimental time, but not for all. For some who do not experience the outpouring of love, it can be a difficult and lonely time.  That's why today's verse is so important today.  Everyone we know deserves the love of God. Let's not let this day go by without thinking of where real love comes from. God sent His Son into this world as a demonstration of  how much He loves us and what real love truly is.  In today's verse, Jesus is teaching what true love is. It is the greatest commandment. Not only loving God with all we have, but loving our neighbors as well.  Jesus also said that it is love for each other that demonstrates, to those who do not believe, that we are His disciples. Today, and not just today, let the love of God shine through to all. 

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