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

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of steadfastness gripped me.   Faithfulness, steadfastness, and consistency are powerful anchors in life.

Isaiah 26:3 has been an anchor and encouragement to me since my conversion.  The LSB renders it, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace because He trusts in You.”

Both the KJV and LSB reflect steadfastness of mind.   What we focus on shapes us.   

• If we focus on money, possessions become our passion and pursuit. 
• If we focus on position and fame, we invest our time, talent, treasure, and energy in climbing the ladder of success.
• If we focus on health and fitness, we become consumed with the physical specimen.
• If we focus on God, we discover peace in His presence, which allows us to pursue the other areas of life in a balanced way.
• It is First things first!
• If we focus on the completeness of the Cross, we discover a freedom beyond our wildest dreams.

The Cross was a complete victory.   The devil was not annihilated but defeated.  He was stripped of all authority over anyone in Christ.  The blood defeated him and stripped him of all authority.  The blood purchased our restoration to God’s intent.

But, in order to attain and manifest that freedom, we must be steadfast in mind!  We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  We are to fill our consciousness with God, the Cross, and the kingdom of God.

Colossians 2 should become a staple in our devotionals UNTIL we see the Cross in its totality!   We see it not as an event in history but a portal into God’s fullness.

Colossians 3:1-2 – “Therefore, IF you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” TOTAL VICTORY IS OURS!

May your day be graced with the Perfect Peace of God!

Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is to be chosen over great wealth.  Favor is better than silver or gold.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, life embodied in all our choices filled my mind.

I am not talking about life, but our choice of life!   It is difficult for mortals not to be flesh-driven.  The world we are most conscious of is the natural (flesh) world.  The demands and desires of that world, coupled with the reality that we live in a body that can only survive in that environment, complicate life for most.  We have natural (flesh-driven) cravings, desires, ambitions, and needs.   They demand our focus.   Every day, we face choices that define and determine that day and all our days.

Proverbs 22:1 speaks to that.  “A good name is to be chosen over great wealth.  Favor is better than silver or gold.”

Proverbs 24:3-4 – “By wisdom a house is built…”

If that were talking about bricks-and-mortar knowledge, not wisdom would be the focus.  Building the house of a life requires wisdom.  Building a physical structure, knowledge, and ability.

“And by discernment, it is firmly established.”   This is further proof that this is about a life of discernment.   Discernment is a guide, a spiritual GPS.   Discernment is like the reticular activating system in humans.   It filters out the unimportant and focuses on the vital.  We hear our children’s cries in a crowd, but don’t hear the train that goes by our house at night.

“And by knowledge, the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”   The value of knowledge lies in its ability to reveal truth and provide information for practical application.   If we do not know, we will not possess.   If we do not know, we will not expect.  If we know and apply that knowledge, our house (life) becomes established in Christ, and we break the hold of the flesh.

Information without application results in stagnation.  Applying knowledge produces fruit, opens doors, equips, and enables.  Life choices determine whether a life is chosen or not.

Lord, help us be filled with wisdom, led by discernment, and enabled by knowledge.

Philippians 3:1-2 – “Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!  To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.  ² Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was moved to reflect on the concept of fruit.  Fruit naturally comes from the tree IF it has been cared for (fertilized and pruned).  Paul’s desire for the believers at Phillipi was for them to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Righteousness as a fruit speaks to the tree (the life of each believer).  The proper care of the tree (the individual life) determines the quality and quantity of the fruit produced.

In Philippians 3:10, Paul reveals his ambition to become fully one with Jesus in all things and at all times.  Achieving that would result in being filled with the Fruit of Righteousness!

In Philippians 3:1-2, the instruction focused on the truth of extreme importance: “Rejoice in the LORD.”   Then he warned them BEWARE.  Beware?   Yes, be vigilant so as not to be deceived or diverted from your purpose, pursuit, or potential.   Dogs (those who claim to be something but are phony).  Evil Workers (anti-God, practitioners of anti-biblical practices and lifestyles).  The Mutilation (karatome = incision).  Reference to the law and trying to earn favor from God.

His desire was total oneness with Jesus so that his life would be filled with the fruit of righteousness, so that he could manifest Jesus to others.  If they see and partake of the fruit, they will be drawn to the life in the tree!

Philippians 4:10-11 is fascinating.  The power of Christ’s resurrection embodies the full victory of the Cross.  When Jesus came out of that grave, the full victory had been won.   Now, we can live in the fullness, freedom, and authority of that victory and produce the fruit of righteousness.  Fellowship of Christ’s suffering reflects learned obedience.  (Hebrews 5:8). Conformed to Christ’s death indicates completely dying to self so that we can live to Him, in Him, by Him, and through Him.   If there is no me vying for attention, I can be fully His.  If I am fully His, my tree is nourished and pruned so it can and will produce much fruit.

The fruit is produced by the life that is in the root.   If we fill our minds and hearts as Philippians 4:8 encourages, we will be filled and discover that Philippians 4:13 is a current reality for us.  “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

LORD, help us be filled with the fruit of righteousness!  Feed and fertilize us.   Prune and purge us.

Proverbs 12:5  – “The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, an interesting thought filled my mind.  “Led by deception.” That caused me to pause.  Proverbs 12:5 – “The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.”

This touches every area of life, and one that the writer highlights is in verse 11: “He who cultivates his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who pursues empty things lacks a heart of wisdom.”   This touches every dimension of life, yet humans and many Christians equate spiritual success with material possessions, numbers, and position or recognition.

Proverbs 13:11-13 expands on Proverbs 12:11.  It says, “Wealth obtained from empty effort (you didn’t work for it) dwindle, but the one who gathers with his hand abounds.”

Fascinatingly, the context includes the following two verses.  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but the desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”   Fantasy that requires nothing from us is empty (every dimension of life).   But pursuing the labor set before us has its reward, and, like the farmer, it produces a harvest that lasts and brings contentment.

Back to being led by deception.   The cravings of man easily convince him that his desires, plans, pursuits, and motives are righteous.  They convince the heart that this is God’s way, will, and Word.  

Proverbs 16:1-2 – “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.  ALL the ways of a man are pure in his own sight (mind), but Yahweh weighs (evaluates) the motives.”

Proverbs 18:9 –“He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.”

We quote 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”   But we often miss the whole message that the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit (Jesus) is, there is liberty.  

• The liberty is embodied in the finished work of Jesus.  
• The liberty is in complete surrender to Jesus.
• The liberty is diligently pursuing our assignment.

Deception is allowing our human desires and reasoning to convince us that our way is the right way.  Usually, that is formulated because it benefits us.  Deception is not being able to see truth because we only see what we want.

I am praying for illumination so that only God’s truth can remain.

May the Spirit of Wisdom and Discernment cover each of you and enable you to avoid being led by deception!