Dave's Diary

This week we are focussing on the “flavour” of the Spirit’s Fruit named peace.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 26:1-4

“³ You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in You,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on You!”

Perfect Peace! Absolute tranquility and serenity of the mind and the heart. We saw it in Jesus as He stood steadfastly in the face of His betrayal, arrest, suffering and death. He had such a supernatural peace despite His suffering that the Roman centurion observed it and declared, “Truly, this man was the Son of God.” (Mark 15:14)

I’m sure you long for this quality of peace. I know I do. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that we can only experience this peace when God ministers it to us. He praises the LORD as the Giver of this peace, saying: “You will keep in perfect peace…”

Perfect peace is something we receive. But remember, to receive the life-transforming power of the Lord, we must first abide in Him. Our hearts and minds must be wide open to Him. So it’s no surprise that Isaiah also teaches us that we have a part to play when he continues, “…all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed in You!” Like tying a shoelace before we leave home in the morning, we can “fix” our thoughts (tie them) to the LORD as we spend time in the Word and prayer each morning. We can allow the Word to direct our thoughts to His divine qualities, we can praise Him, commit our day to Him and set our hearts and minds at rest that the Lord of perfect power and love has promised to be with us, to guide us and to protect us throughout the coming day. And when, like a rogue shoelace, our thoughts detach from Him as the pressures and pains of the day mount, we can bend befoe Him in prayer to refocus on Him and to “reattach” our thoughts and our hearts to the Mighty One who is with us, and will restore our peace.

Lord, I choose to fix my thoughts on You and to trust You to sustain me and carry me through anything and everything I may face today. May Your peace be upon me and within me this day and forever. Amen.