Isaiah 24:11 – “There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All gladness turns to gloom.  The joy of the earth is taken away into exile.” LSB

I pray that you will have a phenomenal day today. I pray your path will be smooth and all opposition will be silenced and removed. I ask that the windows of heaven be opened and God’s superabundance be poured upon you. 

The word in this text does not seem to be a good word.  “The Joy of the earth is taken away into exile.”  On the surface, that is depressing. The prophet was speaking of the growing evil and destruction.  He told the people of God to enter their rooms and close the door for a time. Does that sound familiar?  Remember what Jesus said about prayer?  Enter your closet (room), close the door, and pray.  He said God would come and visit the iniquity (judge it) of the earth’s inhabitants and expose the corruption.

Isaiah 26:3 is a powerful word of encouragement – “The steadfast of mind, you will keep in perfect peace BECAUSE they trust in You!”   

The way of the righteous is upright, and He makes their paths level.  Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear.  Evil is abounding on every hand, but we have the promise of peace and protection for the believer.

There is a condition in which we can live that is limitless.  Abiding in the vine.  Jesus said in Luke 15:7 – “IF you abide in Me, AND My words abide in you, ask WHATEVER you wish, AND it will be done for you.”  Done for not just given to.  God will be an active player in the process.  He will do it.  That means we just believe and receive.  Do not muddy the stream trying to do His part.

In Luke 16, Jesus said that Luke 15 was given to keep us from stumbling—to provide us with a steadfast mind that keeps us in Perfect Peace!

Let me offer several thoughts for encouragement:

• Focus on God, not the conditions around us.
• Engage in hopeful intercession, not fretful pleading.
• Know that for a fruit tree to bear fruit and the most fruit possible, it must be properly pruned. 

Pruning means removing useless and unnecessary things. Then, we produce fruit prolifically. Dark times appear to be on the horizon and, in a measure, already are here. Evil will become even more evil, but those abiding in the Vine with steadfast minds will be Kept! No Fear!

What are we to do?  We are to trust God and pray!  His promise is peace and protection. We have hope even in times of hopelessness.   We have peace in the midst of storms.  We are of steadfast minds, and that assures us of His peace, power, and protection. 

Therefore, let us set our hearts to seek Him first above everything and trust Him in all things!  He has never and will never fail!

May the God of all peace wrap you in His perfect Peace and give you comfort and confidence in this hour of trial!