“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Isaiah 26:3
We like peace – peace and quiet, peace between nations, peace in our households and on our jobs, peaceful settlements, peaceful neighborhood relations, peace treaties… Our world is always looking for peace, but never finding it. That’s because peace is only available through God.
Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is…righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
This peace is available to all of God’s children. Not a little peace. Not partial peace. Not some peace. Perfect peace. But although it’s available, not all of His children can access it because there is a prerequisite: they must keep their minds focused on Him – not themselves, not their circumstances, not their challenges. Also, they must trust in Him – not their worldly wisdom, not their bank accounts, not their intelligence, knowledge, or education.
Psalm 34:14 says, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
If the Bible tells us to “seek peace, and pursue it,” and peace only comes from focusing strictly on God and trusting in Him, then to pursue peace means to pursue a close relationship with God.
Peace is a good thing.
I Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…” That means that God doesn’t create confusion; He gives us peace.
In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Confusion brings turmoil, anxiety, and unrest. So if you are dealing with confusion right now, know that it is not from God. The fruit of God’s Holy Spirit includes peace. (Galatians 5:22)
Proverbs 3:13 & 17 say, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding…Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Wisdom and understanding are pleasant and always lead to a quiet, peaceful spirit. Who wouldn’t want that? But how do we find that wisdom and get that understanding?
Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
Wisdom is found only in fearing the Lord, and understanding is obtained by obeying His Word. So by keeping your focus on the Lord, you look to Him for every need and concern, and when you obey His Word, you will experience “perfect peace.”