Duality August 27, 2014

³ You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 ESV 

As I think back over my blog entries for the past 3+ years, I can recall several entries that deal with the putting of hands and feet to one's Christianity.  While our salvation does not depend on acts of service, obedience, kindness, Samaritian-like behaviors, these types of behaviors will be the natural outcropping of the truly regenerated man.

But just as often, entries reflect the inner-workings of a child of God.  "Wait upon the Lord."  "Be still and know that I am God."  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he."  Today's verse is a wonderful "inner-workings" verse.

Only seventeen words, but what a foundational truth.  

God does the keeping.  We don't have to find that inner-peace.  We are not required to calm our fears through transcendental mediation.  We do not have to find inner-peace through downward-facing dog or low warrior.   Abba, Father, keeps us in perfect peace.

His peace is "perfect".  Imperfect peace can be achieved through alcohol, extramarital affairs, a new motorcycle, momma's little helpers, etc.  All the things Madison Avenue, Hollywood, and Cosmo tell us will give us satisfaction, peace, and value are temporary fixes.  Surface changes bring only surface peace.

Our minds must be "stayed" on God.  One of MW-online dictionary's definition of stay is "to stick with or remain with (as a race or trial of endurance) to the end".  Now-and-again thoughts of God, truncated alone time with God, or brief prayer times will not gain that "perfect peace".  Our minds must be fixated on, lashed to, bonded with God.  

In addition, the perfect peace to which God references is not about doing or having.  Leading a Sunday School class is not mentioned.   Giving to the poor does not do the trick.  Writing a big check to a charity has no bearing on that perfect peace.  That peace only comes when ones mind is focused on the heavenly Father.  

Peace comes when two things are aligned.  First the object-  God.  End of story.  Nothing more or nothing less.  Second the method- the focus of the mind.  Faith in God.  Fixation on Yahweh.