SOAP Isaiah 26: Perfect Peace
- Amy T.
- Mar 11, 2024
- 2 min read
Perfect Peace
ISAIAH 26
Peace. It seems so elusive, hard to grasp and have. It happens to be my word for the year.
It shows up in Isaiah 26.
“You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
The Message version says:
“People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole,Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.”
“Lord, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you.”
Isaiah 26:12 NLT
Peace isn’t the absence of trouble around us, it is the calm in us. When we keep our focus on Him, we have peace.
Jesus tells us that He gives us peace, not the kind the world has.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27
We can look around and see the turmoil, strife and hardship in the world. There are wars, sadness and despair. Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world. He also said to not lose heart, He has overcome it. How can we live in this broken world and have peace?
By keeping our eyes and heart fixed on Jesus.
Paul told us in Philippians 4:7-9 NLT:
"Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
and we read in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT:
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”
Fix our eyes on Him, focus on the good and we will have peace. It doesn’t mean we pretend that we don’t see the mess around us. It means that He will be with us. HIs peace will guard our minds and hearts. Live in the world, but don’t despair, don’t lose heart. He has overcome it!
Prayer: Jesus thank you for your gift of perfect peace. Even when I don’t feel it, I know you have given it to me. Help me keep my focus on you and not the trials or troubles. Thank you for guarding my heart and mind. Thank you for your great love for us.
May this song help us focus on Him:
Good word, Amy. Especially in these times. There are so many things that I get bogged down in, and it takes my gaze off of Jesus. It's so good to be reminded that although we need to face the hard things that happen, we mostly need to focus on Him and also on the good things. I pray for His grace to walk in this.
A great reminder to start the week with our eyes fixed on Jesus. It seems to me that living in the peace of Jesus has to be intentional. When I am focused on His Word and His ways, the noise around me is quieter.