Mensa Otabil - Kept In Peace
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We’re talking about being kept in peace. Isaiah 26:3 says, «You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.» How can God’s people have peace, especially in a year like this? 2020 has been an unusual year at every level. Except for those who have possibly experienced war in their lifetime, most people would consider this the most disruptive year of their lives. It is true to say that because there has been disruption from the largest economies of the world to the smallest; everybody has felt it, and so much has been lost this year. So how does a Christian have peace in such a time as this? Our passage for today tells us how God keeps us in peace, stating that He keeps us in peace because we keep our minds on Him.
As we’ve explained, the word «peace» refers to God’s security, provision, and wholesomeness. Can God provide all of these in a turbulent year like this one? I believe He can, and so we experience God’s peace when we keep our minds on Him. The word translated as «stay» means to lean on, to rest on, and to be sustained by. So much is going on around the world, on social media, and in the news; we hear so much that troubles us, and we must be careful not to lean on those things and keep our minds on them. If we do that, we lose the abundant life that God wants us to have. But when we keep our minds on the Lord, He keeps us in perfect peace.
One of the greatest disciplines you and I have to develop this year is learning to keep our minds on the Lord in the midst of all the challenges of our world. The Bible says that the Lord keeps us in perfect peace because we keep our minds on Him. To keep our minds on Him, we must meditate on His promises, read accounts of God’s protection in the Bible, and think of all that God has done for us in the past. Though this pandemic may seem rare to us, it is not the first time such events have occurred in the history of the world. When you read the Bible, you hear of plagues, epidemics, and catastrophes, and you see how God protects His children through it all. The same God of the Bible, who kept people out of trouble in times similar to this, is the same God we pray to. Keep your mind on Him; stay your mind on Him.
Then it says, «He keeps us in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on the Lord because we trust in Him.» We trust in Him; we have confidence in Him. Our confidence is not in the world system. Yes, it’s great that good things are happening and a vaccine may be found; that is something to celebrate. However, our confidence must always remain in the Lord. Our trust must always remain in the Lord. While we appreciate all efforts being made, the source of our confidence must be in the Lord so that when human effort fails, we don’t think God has failed. We must still trust Him and adhere to His Word.
So while the whole world is worried, God is not worried. Think about it: God is not worried about anything happening now; He is fully in charge of Himself and wants us to be like Him. He keeps us in perfect peace because our minds are stayed on Him. Keep your mind on the Lord.
Let’s share a word of prayer. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I’m sorry for allowing doubts to steal my peace. In You, I trust to keep me in perfect peace. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» He will keep you in perfect peace. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.