Nougat 23

It’s a rough world out there siblings. But today’s Holy Nougat offers the way out.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Perfect Peace

I woke up this morning with my mind and it was stayed on Jesus (x 3)

Hallelu- hallelu- Hallelujah!

I confess that this song is looping in my mind as I savor the nougat. For even before I get to peace, my mindset has to be in track. We all know how easily we can get distracted. Just like that. There’s more to it than the mindset – it’s also realizing that we didn’t succumb to all the things that cause us to ‘lose’ our minds.

As shared recently, our mental health is a serious but fragile aspect of our lives. And here’s the deal – Perfect Peace can only come from God. Jesus tells us that that Peace is not that which is found in secular society; yet so many believers have serious mental issues. It suggests that although we awaken with our minds, we lose focus. If we revisit the context of Jesus’ offer of Perfect Peace in John 14, we will note that it was part of Jesus’ Last Will and Testament, as He offered that Peace while informing them (again) of His pending Death and Resurrection.

Hear what He said once again

““Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭‬‬

Remember that repeated words and phrases are important. So I encourage us to double up on our focus.

Let’s keep our minds.

Let’s keep our minds stayed on Jesus. For, He’s the One Who is the Source, keeping us fully in God’s own Peace in the face of Debt, Death and Danger. The psalmist says ‘even when life is uncertain I am not afraid Because You are with me…’ And that’s part of the blessing – Peace is knowing that God is with us, within us and fighting for us.

Isaiah further states

“At night I long for you with my whole being; my spirit within me watches for you. When your judgments are at work in the earth, those living in the world learn righteousness.” ‭‭(see v 9). I see this as part of the formula for fixing our minds on Christ. We get to the point where we yearn to be in God’s presence; where our spirit is aligned to God’s presence and seeks God out always. That is guaranteed to fix our minds on God rather than whatever else. There’s nothing to lose, so even if you’re skeptical, try it. God just might offer Peace and solutions in the moment.

A final thought/declaration from Etana

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May all we seek be found in Christ