Isaiah 26:3

New International Version (NIV)

You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.

For Meditation

Faith is not fickle. It is absolute in trust of God, who is unchanging. God’s faithfulness is anchored on His immutability. It is what makes Him completely trustworthy and reliable. Balaam stated this so well: “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that he should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Nu. 23:19). Writing to his young protégé, Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). It is His very nature to be true at all times. When we come to faith in Jesus, this should be the basis of our belief. The faithfulness of God should anchor our faith and put our minds at rest in Him. This is implied in Jesus’ universal invitation that has warmed many hearts over the years: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). The believer’s trust should therefore be steadfastly set in Christ in all circumstance – an unwavering mind that stand against every gale and storm. Fear and doubt have no place in faith. So, anytime our faith is assailed by fear and doubt, our instinct should recall God’s faithfulness to quickly settle our mind and bring us His peace in Christ.

Isaiah states this assurance very well in chapter 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” It is an affirmation of what Israel’s God would do for those who trust in Him – those whose minds are unwavering (James 1:6-8). Isaiah brings it home in the next verse: “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Eternal Rock” (Is. 26:4).

Commenting on Is. 26:3-4, Chuck Swindoll writes: “God wants our trust. Nothing held back. No games. No empty, pious-sounding words. No, He commands our absolute confidence. There is no area that He is unable to handle. God is a specialist in every circumstance – including yours, Today.” It’s all because God is faithful!

1. What is your situation today? What are the circumstances of your life?
2. Can you set your mind on Christ alone and away from every circumstance?
3. Why should you allow cynicism to kill your trust in Jesus when you need Him most?
4. Do you see what putting your trust in mere humans has done to you?
5. Why don’t you turn your heart and mind in absolute trust to Jesus, the Eternal Rock, and receive His peace?

I pray you remember that the arm of flesh will fail you (2 Chron. 32:8); but the mighty hand of God, which compelled stubborn Pharaoh to let God’s people out of Egypt, shall remain your surest Deliverer (Ex. 3:19).

So: May you say to the Lord today, “You will keep me in your perfect peace, because I trust you; and my mind is steadfastly fixed on Jesus.”

May His peace be yours today in Christ!

Shalom