You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)
Ever have a thought that didn’t give you peace?
“That shirt makes you look fat. You never look good.”
“Why would you try again to talk with him after all he’s done?”
“This isn’t going to end well. She is such an idiot and can’t do anything right.”
“We’re going to end up in World War 3!”
There’s plenty of non-peaceful thoughts to choose from. But is that really what God wants for us?
No.
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) says that when we trust in God and our mind is steadfast, we will be kept in peace – not just regular “no war” peace, but perfect, constant, and absolute God-given peacefulness in our minds, hearts, and spirits. Paul talks about peace as one of the Fruits of the Spirit, given by God when we have the Holy Spirit within us. (Galatians 5:22-23) These fruits can be cultivated, encouraged, and grown if we ask for more of Holy Spirit within us, and then focus our thoughts on God, not the chaos (whether minor or major) of our world.
For me, and perhaps for you, too, the “focusing our thoughts on God” is often where the struggle is. I don’t even realize sometimes how far off track my thoughts are from God’s perfect peace until I stop and recognize how far off track my emotions are. However, I recently finished a book by Nancy Dufresne called “The Sound Disciplined Mind,” in which she laid out how to have more peace through the process of renewing your mind. Paul writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2 NIV) As she writes:
“Renewing your mind means taking God’s thoughts, as written in the Word, and making them your own – a new way of thinking.” (ix, 14)* “Any thought that discourages us, puts us down, accuses us, points to our faults and failures, or tries to make us worry, fear, or doubt is from the enemy and is to be resisted. Any experience that doesn’t fully line up with the Word and doesn’t minister peace to you is to be rejected.” (67-68). “Refuse to turn wrong thoughts over in your mind. Answer them by speaking God’s Word from your spirit.” (120-1) “Answer every wrong thought from the enemy with the Word of God from your spirit. Then praise God for his Word. This will redirect your attention from the wrong thoughts. Refuse to think on or turn over these wrong thoughts in your mind. You can’t “outthink” wrong thoughts – you must answer them with the Word of God.” (22-23) “The Word will wash away wrong thoughts.” (27) “Put God’s praises in your mouth to cast away heaviness and depression. Praise gets your focus off you and your circumstances and puts it on God, the Greater One. Praise releases faith and puts you in the place with God that you need to be.”(99, 102) “Rejoicing releases faith and God’s power to change things because your attention is on God and his Word.” (124-5) “By faith, relax, look past the opposition, and rejoice because you see the great things on the other side of the test.” (122) “Keep your thoughts full of the Word and you will know perfect, continual, constant, and uninterrupted peace. A renewed mind is at peace.” (139, 141)
Now, it’s never fair to an author to reduce a whole book to a rather large paragraph. However, for this post, let’s focus on a few ideas. Basically, 1) be aware of what you are thinking and if it’s not of God then 2) replace that thought with God’s Word and then 3) rejoice in God.
Sounds pretty simple, but it’s not necessarily easy to do consistently. Our minds get into ruts of thinking and we don’t even realize that we’re not thinking peaceful thoughts. But God can give us the awareness of what we’re thinking and then we can turn that into his Word. For instance:
“Our finances are a mess; there’s never enough money. We’re never going to get ahead,” is replaced by, “We tithe and give, and so I’m claiming God’s promise that we will be given so much it will be running over because Jehovah Jireh supplies all our needs!”
“My adult child is so far gone I’m afraid they will make choices that will end up in literal hell,” is replaced by, “I stand in faith that this child who I raised up according to your Word will NOT depart from your ways. I command all mountains of hurt, discouragement, shame, poor choices, or ungodly ideas in his/her life to be gone, in Jesus’s name. I rejoice because you are calling this prodigal home.”
And, “This world is going to hell in a hand basket; there’s going to be war and destruction and death and famine and…” is replaced by, “I rejoice that my God laughs at the nations that rage! His voice thunders over their saber-rattling! I trust and take refuge in my God who gives me hope and confident expectation. His peace passes all my understanding and guards my heart in Christ Jesus!”
Easier said than done? Yes, probably. But like all life-skills, worth the effort. Ask God to help you be aware of your thoughts and to point out those that don’t give you peace. Then replace them with the Word of God and rejoice!
Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. Fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. (Philippians 4:8 TPT)
Jehovah Jireh,
We rejoice in your Goodness, your Presence, and your Peace that passes all understanding. We thank you for your Word and the Hope, Grace, and Peace it gives us. Help us realize when our thoughts do not line up with yours. Help us replace those thoughts of strife, struggle, or chaos with your Word of God and then to praise you. Guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, we pray in your name, AMEN.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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. (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)
“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. (Isaiah 26:3 AMP)
Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3 TPT)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38 NIV)
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:21 NIV)
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath…(Psalm 2:1-5 NIV)
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic. (Psalm 29:3-4 NIV)
*Page numbers from “A Sound Disciplined Mind” by Nancy Dufresne
