“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3 NASB
“Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].”
Colossians 3:2 AMP
Grace Perspective:
In Isaiah 26:3, the word steadfast means, “to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon”[i], or to set our thoughts on what we know to be true. Resting and leaning upon the character of God and what we know is true about the Lord can help still our racing thoughts. There is a promise in this short verse in Isaiah, for when our thoughts are centered on the Lord, trusting Him, He will keep our minds at peace. Our circumstances may not change, but the chaos in our hearts and minds can be stilled when we choose to trust God and lean on His everlasting strength.
In Colossians 3:2, we see how to remain steadfast in our thought life by habitually keeping our minds focused on heavenly things, not on earthly things (like circumstances we have no control over). Choosing to focus our thoughts on what we have in Christ Jesus, the forgiveness of sin, and eternal life in heaven will help us keep a gracious mindset.
A Touch of Grace:
What is your current mindset?
What helps you focus on the things of heaven?
Grace Application:
What does it mean to have a steadfast mind? How in the world do we keep habitually focused on heavenly things when the chaos of life is continually pulling us towards worry, anxiety, and fear? Is it even possible to have “perfect peace”?
So, how do we have a mind that rests and leans upon the Lord? By trusting Him. How do we learn to trust God? By getting to know Him. We learn to trust others by spending time with them; it is the same with God.
If we want to know God’s character, we need to make time to be with Him to learn that He is trustworthy. The Bible is His story, filled with what we are to focus our thoughts on. As we dig into the Bible, we learn about God’s love for us and His gracious plan to redeem us. We see real life in the people of the Bible, and like them, we sin, stumble, and struggle. Yet, in the Bible, we see that God has a plan for our redemption. We see the hope of what’s to come —focusing on the eternal life we will share with Christ Jesus, where there will be: no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering, no more death, no more goodbyes, no more disease, no more worries, no more fears, no more anxieties, no more sin. Having a gracious mindset is possible when we trust in Him and hold fast to the truth that He promises perfect peace, as we trust Him.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to You in the precious name of Jesus Christ, thankful that You promise perfect peace when I trust You. I confess that too often, I don’t trust You and find my mind in chaos, stuck in a cycle of worry and anxiety. Holy Spirit, help me to set my mind on heavenly things, not my circumstance or problems. Lord, help me to have a gracious mindset as I lean on the truth that Your grace is sufficient for everything life brings. Amen
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know for sure you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so that all doubt is erased. Today is a good day to be assured of Salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**
[i] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5564/esv/wlc/0-1/