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.

Peace that Passes Understanding

This morning my husband and oldest son left early to join a few other family members for a golf game. I got up around 7:30 a.m. and began cleaning house and doing laundry.  The other three children are still sleeping so it iss really quiet - except for the chirping cricket (Grrrr!  I'm gonna find him as soon as I finish this post! :) and the dryer running.

As I have cleaned this morning, I've been thinking about the quietness.  I noticed that there is a calmness.....the feeling of knowing that the three that are here with me are sleeping...instead of being gone.  Some of my family is still here, even though a few are gone.

Of course, like most moms,  I enjoy the times of no one in the house for a little while.  It's rare, and I'm glad.  It's nice to clean up and straighten without it being messed up and cluttered as I go, but when my whole family is gone from home, there is a hole.  Something important is missing.  Several "somebodies" that are important are gone. There is a big space in the home and my heart that is empty knowing they are away.

But not this morning knowing they're here with me.  There's a sense of peace.

Why is it that when we're alone - really alone - that we don't realize that we are never truly really alone?  Why don't we realize that God is always with us?  That we should have that same peace of knowing God is with us when we're physically alone?  I don't think that it's that we don't believe Him when He says He is always with us.  I think we want to have that peace.  I just think we can't comprehend with our human minds just what that really means.  We can't comprehend what a great and awesome God He really is!

By prayer and meditating on God's Word, we can come to know God in a way that will bring that inner peace....the peace of knowing we are never, ever truly alone.  We can feel calmness knowing that all is well because He is there.

What an AWESOME, AWESOME GOD we serve!!!

Now, it's back to more cleaning.....laundry.....and finding that chirping, annoying cricket (that God made :)....!!!

Happy Saturday!

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7