April 18, 2023

The Bible Edge

Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have the Bible Edge

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Is your mind at peace? Is there rest there? Can you relax in your mind? Sometimes life overwhelms us, especially in matters of the mind. What has happened? What will happen? Why did it happen? What is going to happen because this or that happened? Questions of the mind such as these can lead to weariness of mind. Unanswered questions like these can lead to despair, despondency, depression, and other anxieties that can rob our mental health. Sometimes in order to free the mind of its burdens people turn to substance abuse or other worldly amusements, often of a sinful nature, just to escape, to let their mind unwind so to speak. It doesn’t have to be this way. Our verse today reminds us that perfect peace can be found if we keep our minds on Him.

King David said, “LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.” (Psalm 131:1) Matters may be too high for us, meaning we cannot figure it all out, but there are no matters too high for God. His mind is at perfect peace and if we learn to have His mind, by yielding our mind to His, we too can have perfect peace. In my life there are things that concern me, things over which I have no real control, things that accompany the life of a pastor, parent, and husband. Likewise, in your life there are similar things that you deal with concerning your walk of life.

Let me share with you what I do in times of significant worry, fears, and mental anguish. I learned to do this years ago and it helps me, perhaps it will help you. When I get to the place where I know my mind is not at perfect peace, I find a place to pray and once again give myself totally to God. I tell Him that He can do whatever He desires in my life, whatever will bring Him the most glory is what I want Him to do. You simply can’t believe how many times I’ve had to do this. I don’t do this to remind God of my surrender to Him, I do it to remind myself that I have surrendered my life to Him. It’s the way that I keep my mind on Him, and not on me. Another way may work for you; the point is that each one of us must find a way to keep our mind on Him, for only God can keep your mind in perfect peace.

Perfect in peace. Not perfect in knowledge, or wisdom, or understanding, or any other function of the mind, but perfect in peace! Consider death. This is the one overriding, lifelong dread, or fear, of most. How can a mind be at perfect peace knowing that death is sure to come at some point, at some time, and in some manner? Simple answer, that which Paul recommends: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: II Corinthians 1:9. Concerning death a believer in Christ can have perfect peace in their mind by remembering that we trust in Him, not ourselves, and He will raise us up to a new glorified, eternal, and peaceful life.

William T. Howe, Ph.D.