Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article Perfect peace Thursday, December 4, 2008 Isaiah 26:1-6 A strong city we have: he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. Feet trample it downâ€"the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor. God makes us one by one, He knows us one by one. He invites us one by one into his strong city. He asks, will you give away what you hold onto so tightly and take what I have to give you instead? Can you see how to do that? History shows our failures. Jesus warns me not to build my house on sand, which means not to live my life as if it were separate from others, not to think protectively about my stuff or my time or my anything. As individuals and as nations, that is what we mostly do. Instead, â€Å"build your house on rock,� Jesus says. This is the conclusion of his â€Å"sermon on the mount,� in which he challenges every standard of behavior and insists on more giving, more acceptance, more love, more responsibility. And especially, more surrender to God. Let him be in charge of my life. This is the way of the Lord. When prosperity comes, I eventually lose some of my gratitude and take it for granted. I forget my connection with those who are hungry and thirsty and dying. Until, of course, I become one of them. And then my eyes are open again to the goodness of God. How foolish I am to think anything I hold onto can be held for long? Let me sing the song of Psalm 118: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for His mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. You will keep me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on you, Lord. You are rock solid strong. You hold me up. I will stand on you. I will stand. "; Add      Edit    Delete