You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. The Holy Bible (Amplified Version), The Book of Isaiah Chapter 26 Verse 3
This particular scripture in this particular version has played a big part in my life in my 30's. God literally woke me up one morning years ago by speaking it to me. I know. Question that all you want but I know what I know. I was dead asleep and my eyes popped open at a voice speaking these words to me. I didn't even know where in the Bible exactly it was until I enlisted the aid of a concordance. Since that time God has continued to put this verse in front of me to either remind me of its truth or to compel me to share it with others.
Want peace? Then fix, literally, your mind on all of God - his character and his promises - and press in to him. You will find that there is peace waiting to embrace you. You will find you are surrounded by his care and whatever is thrown your way bounces off because he is your shield. Purpose to be steadfastly focused on him, purpose to be committed to him even when the going gets tough (and it will), purpose to lean into him, purpose to unashamedly hope in him. Notice that your mind has to be involved. Your mind has to be fixed on Christ. It can't just be a heart thing, your mind has to be engaged as well. Why isn't your heart enough? Because our hearts get in the way. We allow feelings to override reality. We need our minds engaged so that the feelings are put in their proper place. This is why we are encouraged to keep our minds stayed on God and not just our hearts. There's a big difference between the 18 inches that separates the two and sometimes our hearts want to lead us astray.
Want peace? Keep your mind fixed on Christ.
This particular scripture in this particular version has played a big part in my life in my 30's. God literally woke me up one morning years ago by speaking it to me. I know. Question that all you want but I know what I know. I was dead asleep and my eyes popped open at a voice speaking these words to me. I didn't even know where in the Bible exactly it was until I enlisted the aid of a concordance. Since that time God has continued to put this verse in front of me to either remind me of its truth or to compel me to share it with others.
Want peace? Then fix, literally, your mind on all of God - his character and his promises - and press in to him. You will find that there is peace waiting to embrace you. You will find you are surrounded by his care and whatever is thrown your way bounces off because he is your shield. Purpose to be steadfastly focused on him, purpose to be committed to him even when the going gets tough (and it will), purpose to lean into him, purpose to unashamedly hope in him. Notice that your mind has to be involved. Your mind has to be fixed on Christ. It can't just be a heart thing, your mind has to be engaged as well. Why isn't your heart enough? Because our hearts get in the way. We allow feelings to override reality. We need our minds engaged so that the feelings are put in their proper place. This is why we are encouraged to keep our minds stayed on God and not just our hearts. There's a big difference between the 18 inches that separates the two and sometimes our hearts want to lead us astray.
Want peace? Keep your mind fixed on Christ.
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