The Way of Peace
Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.…


The text contains the open secret of a spiritual life, which is peace, and discloses the sure way of attaining it. The person spoken of is one whose mind is stayed on God. The man has become fixed upon this centre, and he cannot be moved therefrom. To this man God is omnipotent, omniscient, and all-loving. God commands his entire nature. There is a prevalent disposition amongst men to be stayed upon themselves, but the Scriptures declare that "he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." A self-centered man is always a weak man. There is another class of men who desire to be stayed upon riches But God says, "Labour not to be rich, for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle towards Heaven" (1 Timothy 6:9, 10). The man referred to in the text, if he have money, does not stay himself upon it. This man does not stay himself on his fellow men. There is a prevalent disposition amongst men to pin their confidence to some human sleeve, and when that proves unfaithful, as it often does, such people are thrown into confusion. Peace flows alone from trust in God. But faith never stands alone. Peace never stands alone in the heart of man. Trust brings peace, but it brings other graces besides. Trust does not put a man to sleep. It does not alienate a man from the source of power. It does not scatter a man. It unites him and unites him to God. It animates him. It sets him in motion. The ear of the trusting disciple lies close to the mouth of his beloved Master, whose words are the sweetest messages that can possibly break upon his consciousness. The feet of faith tremble with desire to run upon the errands of its Lord. Obedience is the corollary of faith. Without obedience, peace would become discord in the soul. Trust stirs us to industry and success in prayer; it makes us cheerful and faithful in obedience; it makes us patient in affliction; it makes us resolute in trials; it consoles us in desertions; it makes us fruitful in life, and triumphantly victorious in death.

(L. R. Foote, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

WEB: You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.




The Sustaining Power of Faith
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