Think About This: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” ― Augustine of Hippo
The Daily Bible Reading: Mark 13-16. You can download our 2024 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
Posted on January 19, 2024 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast (that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character) because he trusts and takes refuge in You (with hope and confident expectation)” – Isaiah 26:3 (AMP).
I like the amplified version because it is so clear and easy to understand. I first heard this verse when I was a relatively new believer in Christ almost 30 years ago. I was invited to my first women’s conference with a friend and some ladies from my church, and Elisabeth Elliott was the speaker for the weekend at Word of Life in New York. I didn’t know who she was and had no idea what to expect, but boy, was I in for a treat.
This verse stuck with me, and I still have the verse in a small picture frame from that weekend sitting on my dresser. My life was full of chaos back then. I was married to a man in active addiction, and there was little peace in my life. But this verse spoke volumes to me. I wanted peace so badly, and this scripture promised peace to those who kept their mind and thoughts on God and put their trust in God.
And so I began memorizing this verse and seeking to live it out. I would have conversations with God and tell myself that even though this, that, and the other thing were happening, I was directing my thoughts toward God, trusting in Him for my circumstances, and asking Him to give me His peace.
You know what? He did. Because He is faithful. Jesus never fails us. People fail us all the time because we are human and we are sinners. (Side note – God never tells us in His Word to trust people, only to trust Him – Pastor Don McCall, who was my pastor at the time, shared this many years ago.) God is God, and I am not. He is the Great I Am. The Alpha and The Omega. The Beginning and The End. He always was and always will be. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is who my God is. He is bigger than my problems, trials, and anything this world throws at me.
So, I challenge you to memorize this verse or any scripture that speaks directly to you in a special way. Another favorite scripture of mine about peace is Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV). And then see what God will do in your life and how His peace will be present more than it is absent.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.
Written by Karen Rigby: Karen has been coming to Keswick for over 25 years, has been on staff twice in Accounts Payable, and currently serves in the Partner Care Department. She has two grown children and two grandchildren. Karen enjoys mentoring women, women’s Bible study, and volunteering at her church. If you want to reach out, you can contact her at krigby@americaskeswick.org
Think About This: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” ― Augustine of Hippo
The Daily Bible Reading: Mark 13-16. You can download our 2024 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” – 1 John 3:1