Peace Is Possible

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” –Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV).

I use the King James Version for today’s focus scripture because that version is what I used years ago when I memorized these verses. They are from the “Song of Isaiah” to be sung to the nation of Judah. They refer to a future time of judgment and restoration. A hostile power (unnamed by Isaiah) will be overthrown and the people will have “perfect peace” because their minds are “stayed” (centered, focused, fastened, kept continually) on Jehovah and their strength is from Him alone.

Our entire world and individuals within it are in a state of discord, upheaval and unrest. We are as Jeremiah the prophet wrote, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace: when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 8:11). I hear friends say that they do not listen to the daily news anymore because there is so much crime, war, poverty, distrust and upheaval in our communities, nation and world today. The bad news depresses them. Yet we cannot turn deaf ears to conditions and hope they will go away just because we don’t like to hear about them. How can we be involved with needs and pray for ourselves and others unless we are aware? The Word gives us assurance that peace is possible even in times such as we live.

The person will be kept in “perfect peace” whose mind is stayed on God. This indicates that peace is not dependent upon outward circumstances but on a solid inner relationship. It begins first as a vertical connection—person to God. The original Hebrew renders “shalom, shalom” (the word peace written twice) for “perfect peace.” Shalom conveys much more than absence of conflict. It carries the idea of wholeness, quietness of spirit, blessings. This peace gives a sense of fulfillment that comes from God and is dependent upon His presence in the life. Shalom indicates a right relationship with Him. “Shalom, shalom” intensifies the meaning to make it, in English, come forth as perfect peace—that which we cannot generate ourselves but which is a gift from God. From Him we receive “every good and every perfect gift” (James 1:17).

To have a mind “stayed” on God is to “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2, KJV) Someone has aptly observed that we stay our minds on heaven, but we have to live on earth. The equilibrium of mind and perfect peace that God gives the individual prepares the person to handle anxious thoughts and concerns. We focus on Christ and not on crisis; develop dependence on Him, our sure deliverer. And the wonderful reward of this peace-seeking is “everlasting strength.” I like the glorious hymn—both its words and music—entitled “Like a River Glorious.” Frances Havergal (1836-1879) wrote: “Like a river glorious Is God’s perfect peace,/Over all victorious In its bright increase;/Perfect, yet it floweth Fuller every day;/ Perfect, yet it groweth, Deeper all the way. Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blessed; Finding as He promised, Perfect peace and rest.” Please reread Isaiah 26:3-4. Then, if you have a hymnal with this beautiful hymn in it, turn to it, read the words—or sing it, giving thanks to God for His “perfect peace.” How wonderful to know that amidst trials, conflicts and far-from-ideal conditions God can give us His peace in the storms of life! 

 

Prayer: “Lord, I desire, seek after, pray for Your peace. Amidst the challenging problems we face in today’s world and the sometimes hard road of making a life and earning a living, may I know Your peace that passes all understanding. In Jesus’ name. Amen. –Ethelene Dyer Jones 01.25.2015

God, My Rock and My Salvation

“Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel: ‘Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.” –Deuteronomy 31:30-32:1-4 (ESV).

Moses had already received the ten commandments. The tablets of stone on which they were written were placed in the Ark of the Covenant. Moses had the Book of the Law placed beside the Ark of the Covenant. He was an old man and the years of his leadership were about over. Joshua had already been chosen and commissioned to succeed Moses as the leader of the Israelites. In a solemn assembly, Moses lifted his voice and gave a farewell message to the people. Called “The Song of Moses” and “The Blessing of Moses,” these are recorded in Deuteronomy 32 and 33. The focal verses for today are a prelude to Moses’ long speech and set the stage for what he propounded to the people as he pled with them one last time to be faithful to God their Rock. 

 

A leader such as Moses had his words recorded for posterity. They have been studied by Bible scholars, taken as texts in sermons for centuries, taught in Bible studies, read for their depth of meaning and truths to be lived by. His song and blessing still inspire us today. Indeed, these words of Moses were “as gentle rain…as dew distilling…as showers upon the herb.” And the reason for the importance of His words for generations was that he proclaimed the faithfulness, perfection, and justice of God, our Rock.

Just this week I was talking to a friend, a fellow traveler along life’s road, who, as I, has faced many challenges in life. She and I are both “journal keepers.” We like to write down events in our lives and how we handled challenges as we met them. Having had the conversation with her after a meeting, I came home and took the time to get down from my bookshelf a journal dated twelve years ago. At that time in my life I had the challenge of caregiving for an ill husband and the move from a beloved home in the mountains to a place in Middle Georgia. A very important theme emerged from journal entries—some of which enumerated difficult decisions, challenges beyond my human ability and knowledge to meet. But permeating the sometimes shakily-written record of my days a keen and persistent message emerges: God is my Rock. He is faithful in all His ways. I did not meet a situation that He did not bring me faithfully through it. In adversity I learned patience and trust. I grew in faith and in waiting for God to lead the way.

Prayers voiced twelve years ago and written down as I look back in retrospect were answered even more graciously than I dreamed. At one point, on February 22, 2003, I broke into praise with these words: “Knowing that God is holy and just causes me to think that my learning praise verses and songs here is a small preparation for singing them perfectly in heaven. Here is my offering for today, 

Lord, in praise:

Praise be to God, the One all holy.

Praise to the Lord, our Sacrifice.

Praise and adoration, now and forever;

Our destiny is sure: He paid the price!” -Amen

-Ethelene Dyer Jones 01.18.2015 (quoting some from 02.22.2003)

Walking in Some Fearsome Places

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”-Psalm 23:4.

We are told by those who do surveys to learn these facts that the most-quoted New Testament reference is John 3:16, a classic verse telling of God’s love for us and His sacrifice to restore man’s broken relationship with Him. And of the Old Testament references, Psalm 23 is the most quoted and beloved.

My daily devotional post for more than a week has been on the subject of the Christian’s walk. We have examined how we can walk in love, in righteousness, face and walk uprightly in a new year, walk in humility, walk securely, in harmony, in the light, patiently, and by the Spirit.

But when we have to walk in some very fearsome places, what then? We continue to walk using all the Christian characteristics we have learned about and putting them into practice. And even in the “valley of the shadow of death,” no evil will beset the Christian for he has a companion to walk with him through this veil of transition from this life to the next.

Think in terms of Christ being the good shepherd and being there to guide His sheep—His followers. A good shepherd, even of the earthly type knew well how to prevent his sheep from dying if they stumbled and could not get up. He lifted them from pitfalls, or guided them with his rod and staff. When they were hungry and thirsty and needed food and a pure water supply, he led them to green pastures and beside still waters. From whatever condition the sheep were cast down or were disquieted, even the pangs of death, the shepherd rescued them.

Recently some dear cousins and some close friends have gone through severe illnesses leading to death. Death is not a stranger to us, for our families experience the pangs of death as we deal with aging, illnesses, and accidents. Even when death comes into our ranks, the Good Shepherd “restores our soul.” He does this because He is “the health of my countenance and my God.” Praise God for His shepherding, even in and through the valley of the shadow of death.

Because we know Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we can pray triumphantly when death occurs to one we love: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55, KJV). –Ethelene Dyer Jones 01.11.2015.

From the Portals of a New Year

“And I said, ‘This is my anguish;

But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.’

I will remember the works of the Lord;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will also meditate on all Your work,

And talk of all your deeds.

Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;

Who is so great a God as our God?

You are the God who does wonders;

You have declared Your strength among the peoples.

You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,

The sons of Jacob and Joseph.” -Psalm 77:10-15, NKJV

From the portals of this new year

I lift eyes to vales unknown

Knowing that what lies before me

Is beyond the light yet shown.

But I walk trustingly toward the future

Fearing not days yet veiled in shade;

For the Lord who spoke and daylight

Flooded earth still holds firmly what He made.

I can worry, fret and wonder,

Fill days with life’s uncertainties;

Or I can trust and with expectancy

Face the future confidently and free.

He ordained that I have perception,

Be aware of pitfalls, walk in narrow ways;

I rejoice in a year with new direction,

For this additional span lent to my days.

Where I walk in paths I travel

May they be labeled righteousness and love,

Following signs of humility and determination

As I draw closer to my home above.

In this new year with its challenges

I shall walk each day in pathways of light,

Not of my own making but ever augmented

By my Lord who lends me sight.

-Ethelene Dyer Jones

01.04.2015