INCLINE YOUR HEART TOWARD GOD

Isaiah 26:3 The Amplified Bible

“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."

       I like the Amplified Bible translation of this verse. It’s filled with positive words and phrases that are designed to give those living for God encouragement and hope. We find in Isaiah that God will guard and keep in peace the ones whose mind is focused on him. Another way of saying this verse is ‘if a man’s mind is fixed on the Lord in both thought and intention, then the Lord will grant him perfect and continuous peace’.  Remember this about the peace of God; “it exceeds anything we can understand.”  (Philippians 4:7 NLT) God will do this for those who are his legitimate children, not just anyone.  Think of it this way; if a father passes away and he left an inheritance for his children, only his own legal, legitimate children are entitled to the inheritance, not just anyone.  God knows the heart of a man; therefore He would absolutely know the inclination and character of any individual heart’s motivation. All this transpires because the individual is committed to God. He is relying on and hoping in Him who controls all things.  Those are God’s true, legitimate children.

       People face strife throughout their entire life; nothing will ever change that, but those whose mind and heart are focused on the Lord will have perfect, unexplainable peace in the midst of the turmoil.  God doesn’t remove the strife; he enables you to walk thru it with a calm spirit. This is something the world cannot relate to.   

       Focusing on the Lord, especially in times of strife, is done by faith.  The outcropping of faith should be trust.  Unwavering trust in the Lord comes from knowing him intimately.  This trust will give you hope for the future, in addition to the here and now.  It is vital that people have hope.  Those without hope feel they have absolutely nothing to live for. While that is certainly not true, their lack of hope clouds their ability to reason.  Place your focus on God and not on anything else, for he is the One who will lead you thru the maze of doubt, fear and turmoil to eternity with him.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, published by Tyndale House.