Peaceful Paths

You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3

Coincidentally, this scripture is the "Verse of the Day" on Bible Gateway, because it also happens to be the verse that we used last night in the devotional with our boys.  Well, I'm not sure if that's a coincidence or not.

Read the verse above carefully.  YOU...that is GOD....will keep in perfect peace those (that's ME or YOU) whose minds are steadfast (meaning resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering), BECAUSE they trust in you (God).  Along with that scripture last night, the devotional thought had listed to read Proverbs 3:5-6.  We didn't have to read it because we know it. It's my very favorite passage, as I'm sure I've told you many, many times!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge (or submit to) him

and he will make your paths straight.

There's a theme to these two scriptures: When you trust in God and allow Him to direct our paths, you will have peace and unwavering, straight paths.  It sounds so easy and simple, but the problem is that "YOU" get in the way!  "I" get in the way!  You and I decide to be guided by our own desires, thoughts, plans, and chose my own path.  Only then am you and I putting our trust in self and getting on a crooked path.  Only then are you and  I wavering.

In our family devotional last night, the writer used the illustration of the "blindfold game" where a person is blindfolded and then guided on a path by someone else.  In order to not run into doors, walls, chairs, etc., the blindfolded person much listen intently to the directions of the other person.  It's much that same way when we put our faith and trust in God to direct our paths.

It really is simple.  All we have to do is deny self and listen to God's direction.  But the not-so-simple part is also the denying self and listening to God's direction! It sounds so easy, but often it's not.  In all spiritual growth and discipline, we must first learn to deny "self".  And we have a tendency, especially in America, to not like the idea of denying ourselves, don't we?  But if we want perfect peace and straight paths, it's what you and I must do.  

The key is putting all of our trust in Him.  Every single bit of our lives - trusting solely in Him.  We can't put all of our trust in self.  We have to give up that desire to "go it alone".  And we can learn to do that, can't we? Certainly, we can!  One single day at a time.