Stayed on Thee

 

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:  because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever:  for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” 

Isaiah 26:3, 4

A few nights ago, I couldn’t sleep.   Two verses from the Bible kept running through my mind, Isaiah 26:3 and 4.  I gave up on trying to fall asleep, picked up my Bible, and opened to Isaiah 26.  I read verses 3 and 4 quietly to myself.  Mulling every word over and over in my mind.  Satisfied, I closed my Bible and lay back down with hopes of falling off to sleep.  Didn’t happen.  My husband asked me what was wrong.  I asked him what time is was in Michigan, because I felt like I needed to call and talk to my Mom.

1:30 in the morning, and I’m calling my Mom.  That’s okay, because in Michigan it is 10 a.m. or something like that.  Mom was home.  It was great to hear her voice.  I shared with her my struggle of falling to sleep.  You see, it wasn’t insomnia.  I was discouraged.  Terribly discouraged.  I had high hopes that we had finally fallen pregnant this month…only to learn in those wee hours of the morning that it was not so.  I had never been so late before in my life…7 days…I was crushed!

As I lay awake, fighting tears, desperately wanting sleep to come, Isaiah 26:3 and 4 came to comfort me.  The Lord brought them to my mind.  I read them in His Word.  Then, I called Mom.  And you know what she said to me?  Isaiah 26:3 and 4!  I couldn’t get away from those two verses.  God was speaking them to me.  First, in His still small voice, as rode through the emotions and battled thoughts from the Enemy.  Then, through His Word.  Now, through my mother…half a world away.  There was no escaping it.

I could hardly believe my ears.  In fact, I think I interrupted her to point out what God had just done with these verses for me.  She wondered what my problem was then…God is talking…listen.  Relax.  Have faith.  The same things my husband has been telling me.  Things that are so difficult to do when you want something so badly.

Well, I thought I’d share this with you and break it down, too.  Have a closer look with me at what God is saying through Isaiah 26:3 and 4.

 Thou wilt keep - to watch, guard; to preserve, guard from dangers; to be kept close, blockaded;watchman (blueletterbible.org)

Oh, how I need to be watched…guarded from the dangers of the lies from the Enemy…to be kept close to my Lord…blockaded from the fiery darts of the Enemy…I am so thankful for my Heavenly Watchman.

him in perfect peace – completeness; safety, soundness; welfare; quiet, tranquility, contentment (blueletterbible.org)

This is what my husband and mother are talking about when they say, “Relax!”  Something they cannot do for me.  I must rest in the Lord.  And when I do, I will then have the peace Christ promised.

whose mind – form; purpose, imagination (blueletterbible.org)

is stayed – to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon; lean against; sustain; to support or brace oneself; refresh, revive (blueletterbible.org)

I need to rest my mind…my purposes…my thoughts….my imaginations…on the Lord.  Keep truth in my mind.  Renew my mind with His Word and Truth.

on thee:  because he trusteth in thee – to have confidence, be confident; to be bold; to be secure; to cause to trust, make secure; to feel safe, be careless (blueletterbible.org)

I can have confidence and boldness in Christ.  I am secure in Christ.  I can trust Him…cast my cares upon Him.

Trust ye in the LORD – Jehovah = “the existing One”; the proper name of the one true God (blueletterbible.org)

for ever – perpetuity, continuing future (blueletterbible.org)
for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting - long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world; always; continuous existence; indefinite or unending future, eternity (blueletterbible.org)

strength – rock, cliff; block of stone, boulder (blueletterbible.org)

God is my ROCK!  I do love that illustration of God.  I always have.  He is my fortress.  I must run to my Rock in my times of despair…discouragement…dismay…distress…all of those “dis” times.  Run to Him with me…He loves you so!