To Be Kept in Perfect Peace

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Did you know that the Greek word translated anxiety above basically means to be divided into pieces?  

And did you know that both the Hebrew and Greek words translated peace mean wholeness?

Peace and anxiety are opposites, and we cannot walk in both at the same time.

All over the Bible when we are told not to fear or worry or be anxious, the command is followed by a promise about God.  

We do not fear, because God… 

We do not worry, because God…

We are not anxious, because God… 

In the verse in Isaiah above, the word steadfast means to lean, lay, rest, support.

When we lean our minds upon God, God keeps us in perfect peace because we trust him. We know when we’re leaning against him that he’s not going to let us fall down.

God inspired the writers of Scripture to teach us what neuroscience now proves—that gratitude and positive thinking cannot coexist with anxiety in the brain.

Because gratitude and positive thinking bring earthly peace, they can cancel anxiety for the moment.

But when we approach this from a spiritual perspective, adding God to the mix, then not only is anxiety canceled for the moment, it is replaced with the perfect peace of God that guards our heart and mind and therefore KEEPS us in that perfect peace because we learn to lean on him! 

When we go to God in prayer and thanksgiving, God guards our hearts and minds because we trust his understanding rather than our own. When we lean our minds upon God, he keeps us in perfect peace because we know he's not going to let us fall.

This is a “peace formula” (prayer + thanksgiving = peace) found in Scripture to have peace.

Ongoing peace.

But this isn't just a formula, it's a promise. And God always keeps his promises.

Thank you Lord for the perfect peace of God we can experience through you. Please help us to use the tools you give us through your word to fight anxiety in our lives. Thank you that you KEEP us in that perfect peace when our minds rest on you. Amen.