“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”, Is 26:3.

There are three parts to this verse that we need to understand and apply in order to have perfect peace.

The first part is the objective, which is for God to keep you in perfect peace.  Notice that this is not just peace, but perfect peace.

In Jn 14:27, Jesus is less than a day away from the cross and he says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.   In Jn 20:19, on the same day of his resurrection Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be unto you”.

This is perfect peace, completely unaffected by circumstances.  Jesus had as much peace right before his crucifixion as he did shortly after his resurrection.  He was not down when he was getting ready to die; and he was not up because he had just risen from the dead.

This is secure peace.  The Lord promised in Is 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace”.  This is not temporary peace.  He said “Keep”.  This is not something like people feel after meditation, that they have to go back and get each time they meditate.  It’s not medicinal.  It’s not an emotion or an endorphin.  It’s perfect peace, it’s spiritual, and it’s secure.

This is divine peace.  This kind of peace comes from the Lord.  “Thou wilt keep him”.  This is a peace that God has to keep you in.  You peace is God’s responsibility.  This is like his promise of eternal security.  2 Tim 1:12, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”.

The second part is the condition.  “He trusteth in thee”.  You have to trust him.  This is not just believing what he said, it’s believing the one who said it.  Your trust is in the most trustworthy person in the entire universe.

When you pray and the Lord assures you that he is going to take care of something you’ve asked for, then leave it with him.  He’s going to do just what he said.  You don’t have to pester him like a little child. You don’t have to fret and worry till he does it, Phil 4:7.  He is going to handle it.

And he’s going to handle it the very best way.  Rom 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart…  You must trust him completely with all your heart.  Don’t even lean unto your own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him.  Peace is what you want through any situation he’s handling.  But you have to trust him fully.

The third part is the method.  “Whose mind is stayed on thee”.  The Lord is going to handle his end.  He’s trustworthy and he’s going to keep you in perfect peace.  But when you trust him, your mind must be stayed on him. This is your part.

This can be hard.  God has to be in all your thoughts.  Your mind must be stayed on him.  It can’t be distracted by anything or anyone.  Your mind needs to be locked on HIM.  When you start thinking about what you want from him or what you want him to do, your mind is not on HIM.  No temptation, lust, desire, opinion, expectation, fear, frustration, impatience, worry, anger, or the like can interfere or else his perfect peace will be diminished.  Keep your mind on the Lord alone.  Stay locked on him!!

Conclusion: Objective: Perfect peace from God.  Condition: Trust in God.  Method: Mind stayed on God.