What does a place of perfect peace look like to you? I love to look at beautiful scenery and picture myself there relaxing and my mind being at total peace and rest. Somehow, I have an image in my mind that a place of peace and tranquility is a location such as the a beautiful beach in Hawaii, a secluded island with lush tropical greenery, or starring at the majestic Rocky Mountains with their snow cap peaks. I think the image of peace and tranquility is often attached to a picturesque place of beauty that we can imagine in our minds. I am not saying that because you live in these types of beautiful surroundings that you will have constant peace. However, our minds eye likes to picture these types of images when we are thinking of an example of a place or location where you feel peaceful. I live in Texas and we have some pretty scenic locations all over the state but nothing like Hawaii. In the real world, most of us don’t have the luxury of constantly living on a beach or nestled in the mountains to constantly view an image of a peaceful location. I do love the way nature can calm me and give me a feeling of tranquility. Yet in the fast paced life with busy family responsibilities , relationships, work, and schedules that can be demanding, my mind can find it challenging to be constantly full of peace. I love looking forward to the much needed rest the weekend can bring at the end of a long busy week.

I don’t know about you, but I have various circumstances in my life right now that can try to dominate my thoughts. Some of these situations are deemed worthy of their attempt to captivate my thoughts and get my mind working on how I can find solutions to these problems. I have realized that when I begin to reason and meditate on circumstances that are negative and overwhelming, my mind can move to a place of anxiety and worry. The more I roll my mind over problems, circumstances, or disappointments I feel my mind become worried and my emotions quickly follow. If I allow my mind to wander and focus on the negative, I go to a place of turmoil.

As I start out this brand new year, I want to intentionally guard my thoughts from worry and anxiety. I know this is going to take more than just desire to accomplish, because we all know that life can get really complicated sometimes. When I start to feel overwhelmed, I need a safe place, a place of security for my mind and my heart to rest. I don’t want to waste my days filled with worry or anxiety in my mind. I am choosing daily to turn my focus and attention away from the cares of the world and fix my mind on God and His promises to me. He says in His Word, the Bible, that if I will choose to keep my mind fixed and stayed upon Him, His goodness, His faithfulness, His ability and power, He will do His part to give me a place of constant peace. What a promise! It is that simple, it is not a bunch of complicated steps to follow. If I will make a conscious and intentional decision to place my mind completely on Jesus, which includes, trusting Him, leaning on Him and confidently expecting Him to take care of me, I will have perfect and constant peace in my mind and my heart. Even when I don’t have answers, or I don’t know the future or outcome of a situation, I can have an amazing peace. There is nothing like peace. It is hard to explain other than a place of complete rest and safety even if there is a storm raging around you. Jesus is peace.

I don’t know what storm is brewing around your life today, but this promise in Isaiah is for everyone and anyone that chooses to set their mind and keep it set on God and His Word that is full of power and life. We have a place of constant peace available to us every day. Jesus said that He came to give us peace, not the peace the world gives, but real true peace. I want you to experience the gift of peace this year as you yield your heart and your mind to God and ask Him for His help in your everyday life.

He is ready and waiting for you to believe what He has told you so you can live in victory and truly enjoy everyday He gives you. I pray that you will go to the place of constant and perfect peace today. He will give it to you every time you ask and choose to fix your mind on Him. Nothing is too big for God, He knows what you are going through, and He has the answers.