His or Mine

You, Lord, give perfect peace
    to those who keep their purpose firm
    and put their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

In many versions I have read before, the word generally says mind, not purpose. Peace comes from keeping our mind on Christ. I like purpose, when our purpose is for God’s will and His glory, we will have peace.

Being in the helping profession, it is easy to lose my peace. I see people at their worse and sometimes when they are highly elevated in emotion. Even when I worked in the food industry, I would see this. At times, I have been the person who lost my peace on the staff person in front of me. So, when I read this verse, I know it is not an “us” and “them” kind of verse. I need God’s peace regardless which side of the desk or counter I am on. I don’t need the fake peace where You put on a smile and act like things are okay when every inch of my being is screaming with rage inside. I need the peace that surpasses all understanding. God’s peace is found in purpose stayed focused on Him.

When I worked for the state, and also when I did counseling for primarily families involved in the court process for abuse and neglect, I knew by my level of peace if I was working in God’s purpose or my own strength, peace was a surefire indicator. When my top focus was God’s purpose and allowing Him to flow in and through me, things could be difficult but I had peace. My day could be difficult, but my peace level would maintain between a zero and five on a scale of zero (complete peace) to ten (blowing my top). When I was operating in my own strength and knowledge, even though my purpose was the same it wasn’t really in Him, I could get things done but I was quicker to lose my peace. If my day was difficult, it was easy for my to spend the day and even start the next day with a peace level of seven to eleven.

God acts as a buffer to our stress, He keeps stress and the problems in the world around me from stealing my peace. When our purpose is in Him, firmly in Him, we can walk in His peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. I am not sure why, knowing that, there are times I still try to do thing in my own strength. I also don’t know why at times, I think I can have His strength in my purpose.

Lord, thank You for Your peace. Forgive me for times where I have tried to operate in Your purpose for my life in Your strength. Also forgive me for the times I wanted Your strength for my plans and purpose. I want to walk in Your peace. Help me to daily keep my purpose firm in You. I do trust You and Your ways. I know they are so much higher and better than my ways. In Jesus name. Amen.