(Isaiah 26:3 KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. We have been looking at Isaiah 26:3 for a while now. The last two messages were entitled, “Remaining Sure and Certain”. The point of the messages was centered around the space between the time you receive a promise from God and the actual manifestation of that promise. In that space, after you have released your faith and while you are waiting in-faith, how you wait is very important. How you wait can impact how long you wait. How you wait will impact your disposition during that time. This is where Isaiah 26:3. God will keep you in perfect peace (supernatural peace), if you have the discipline to keep your eyes fixed and focused on Him while you wait.
Let’s go back, once again, to the Biblical definition of faith. “Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists” (Heb 11:1 ESV). Faith is about being sure of God and certain that what He said will come to pass in your life. But since the promises of God don’t normally manifest overnight, you need peace while you wait. Isaiah tells us that we will have this peace if we keep our eyes stayed on God. With that in mind, let’s take a look at something the writer of Hebrews said back in the fourth chapter. He said, “Only we who believe it are able to enter God’s place of rest” (Heb 4:3). As a believer, while you are living by faith, while you are waiting on and trusting in God, you can enter His place of rest. That’s what we’ll talk about today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- You are called to live by faith. True faith has a rest component to it. When you are in-faith you are also in-rest, knowing God did whatever He promised by His grace, from the foundations of the world, and the manifestation of His promise in the earth is merely a matter of time.
- Receiving God’s peace is great, but entering into God’s rest takes you to another level. When you enter into God’s rest concerning something, then that’s it! As far as you are concerned, it’s a done deal. No matter how long it actually takes to manifest in the earth, you know the matter is settled in heaven and you are not moved by anything you see.
- Sometimes your victory does not require more trying, but rather more dying. The more you die to self and the more you rely on God, the easier it will be for you to enter into God’s rest.
- Once you enter into God’s rest the pressure of the situation has no power over you.
- Once you enter into God’s rest you feel no pressure to “perform” to earn it or deserve it. You simply believe for it.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. You made plans for me by Your unearned grace and You have called me to live by faith in order to access, experience and enjoy those plans. I am the just and I live by faith. Your Word teaches me that divine rest is possible. While it is possible, I declare that from this day forward it shall become a reality in my life. I learn to enter into Your rest. Once I do, the enemy’s attempts to get me to fear, worry or doubt will all fail. Not only do I receive deliverance from the enemy, but I also receive deliverance from self and self-effort. Human effort is not enough. I need Your power to do what You have called me to do. Therefore, I enter into Your rest. No more sleepless nights for me! I seek to DO what You have called me to do, by faith, with Your strength, with Your super on my natural; and as I do, I enter into Your rest every step of the way. I enter into Your rest, I rely on Your grace, and I enjoy a stress-free life. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
