MEMORIAL DAY 2008-PERFECT PEACE

We have a promise. This is an excellent time to have a Memorial Day weekend and examine the fact God promised perfect peace to those whose mind is stayed upon Him.



ISAIAH 26:3 promises that " THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE; BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE."



Perfect peace. The word "stayed" means to lie hard and lean upon - to stand fast - to take hold of a fact that should be and must be well established. He will keep those in perfect peace who hold fast and lean upon Him.



I wish I would have understood this verse years ago. I used to be of the mind that I can take care of any situation. I can handle this one, God! Lo, in my later years I realize I can handle very little outside of Him. I can pump my own gas and purchase a cup of coffee at a store, but too much more than that I depend upon Him. I did not want to "bother God" with the everyday issues. I felt He had more important things to do than worry with me and situations I would find myself in. How wrong I was!



I have developed a friendship with an 87 year old retired Pastor who has the Spirit of the LORD all over him. I can feel the difference in the atmosphere when I walk off of the street and enter his home. It is a place of refuge from the storm on the city streets. During his 50 years of pastoring he developed a relationship with the Father; an intimacy that no one else I know in person has. Before he fixes a screen that may be broken in his home he goes to prayer. He asks God to give him wisdom in doing the repair work; that he does not make the hole bigger than it is!



This Pastor's furnace recently stopped working during the cold winter months. He called several repair shops. They wanted $80 just to come to the home; before they did any work. A man who used to attend this Pastor's church came to mind and he was there the same day; all he charged was for the bearings that needed replacement. I remember standing with these two men in the basement of the Pastor's home, holding hands and praying together that the repair would be successful. Such humility, such dependance upon God, such an acknlowledgement that we can go to Him for anything! He is not too busy!



Perfect Peace! What a concept today. No matter the circumstance. No matter the issue. To be safe in mind, body, and estate; to be complete in Him.



In this context, ECCLESIASTES 3: 1-14 says:
" To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance."



" A time to cat away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence and a time to speak;"



" A time to live, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace."



This is the lot of humanity. It is the lot of Believers. It is the way God has created us. In each of these times, He has made Himself available to us to lean heavily upon Him. Through the gladness, He wants to share in it with us. Through the saddness, He is there for us as we lean upon Him. Through the rending and casting away, He reminds us of our temporary state on this planet.



Through our times of laughing and prosperity that seems as if it will never end, He wants to share in our gladness. Through our times of loss and pain He wants to offer comfort and assurance that we are complete in Him, no matter the circumstance.



We learn and mature through all of these incidents. There is no other way. Keep our mind STAYED UPON HIM. We must lean heavily upon Him in the limited time He has given us on earth. We have eternity in our hearts as we stay upon Him. This is the Perfect Peace. Keeping our minds stayed upon Him. Lie hard - lean upon Him!



Our burden is not to heavy for the LORD! He can handle the weight. He begs us to lay our burden down, to die to self, and to live in Him. He is not too busy! He desires our presence, our petitions, our requests, our time, our love and our acknowledgement of our need for Him in every circumstance.



What a legacy for the Children of God! What a memorial for the Creator of the Universe! How He must take pleasure in our acceptance that we are totally dependent upon Him for every circumstance. Jesus said that it is good that He goes back to be with the Father so that the Helper, the Holy Spirit can come to us. The Spirit of God, made manifest in these bodies made of the dust of the earth, working through and teaching us in all things. The Spirit of Peace, the Spirit of comfort, the Spirit of conviction, the Spirit of Truth working in us, through us, and teaching us all things.




What a MEMORIAL DAY IN HIM!