You will keep [the person] in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because [that person] trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3, 4).
Dear God, You who see the end from the beginning, thank You for that peace that is beyond anything that we could imagine. You knew that we would need it in these days of darkness and sorrow. I have proven You Lord, and can say with the psalmist, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! In the name of Jesus Christ I offer this prayer. Amen.
Death, under whatever circumstances it comes, is never welcome. The reason: we were not created to die! When God looked at what had happened to His perfect creation, He said, ” ‘An enemy has done this’ ” (Matthew 13:28)!
That enemy before coming to earth, caused war in heaven, and ever since he was cast down to earth, has been bringing “woe” to the human race (Revelation 12:10, 12). He is the one who comes only to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10a). He is a “liar and a murderer, from the beginning” (John 8:44).
In the last series “We Grieve, But Not Like Those Who Have No Hope” we considered the cost of our salvation, and the hope of life, after we die, known as the “Blessed Hope”, because Jesus conquered death on our behalf.
Our devotional today will look at what makes us resilient even in the midst of the pain that the separation, caused by death, brings. We grieve because being separated from the people we love causes deep pain! A pain that can only be soothed by God’s perfect peace!
That is why Jesus, before He went back to the Father, gave to His disciples the promise of His peace, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27, emphasis supplied).
This is a special kind of peace. This peace does not depend on, If the bills are paid. If the children are doing well at school. If someone less deserving than myself gets the promotion that I was sure would be mine. Paul describes it as a peace that we cannot understand.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, emphasis supplied).
The foundation of this peace is having our minds stayed on Jesus! It is a peace that, because of its divine origin, keeps our hearts from being troubled or afraid, and guards our hearts and minds. Notice that everything about this peace, begins on the inside (mind, heart).
This peace is not controlled by outward circumstances. So hold on to your God-given peace! Keep Your mind and heart stayed on Jesus, and you will be blessed beyond anything you can imagine!
NOTE: You will be hearing more about our new schedule, and other changes that are being made to this website. Thank you!