Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The lovingkindness of Yahweh indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

What truth, promise, and hope that passage affords.  We need encouragement as we near the End and the Coming of Jesus. 

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.”

In these verses, we have both a warning and a promise of encouragement. You may say, “That is not a very good or encouraging word.”  Maybe not on the surface, but the prophet spoke of the growing evil and destruction in the world.  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) and pray!

The prophet declared that God would visit the iniquity (judge) of the earth’s inhabitants and expose the corruption. He gave a powerful word of hope and promise.  Isaiah 26:3 – “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.

Remember the old song that contained the words, “Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear. Evil is abounding on every hand…”  For the believer, we have the promise of peace and protection.

There is a limitless condition in which we can live: 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. Given to provide us with a steadfast mind by which we are kept in Perfect Peace!

Several thoughts:

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

Pruning means cutting away all the useless and unnecessary things. Then we produce fruit prolifically. Dark times are coming 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! Have No Fear!

Our call is to trust and pray. The promise is peace and protection. We have hope even in times of hopelessness. We have peace in the midst of storms. We are steadfast, and that assures us of His peace, power, and protection. Today, we have Hope because we are IN Him, and through Him, we are more than conquerors. Do not fear what is coming or what you see, but rather Look to Him at All times and In All Things.

Therefore, I challenge you to begin seeing yourself as God sees you, Victorious! Then, you will see God’s goodness in your situation and walk in perfect peace.

May the LORD of Hosts guard, guide, and provide for you today and every day!