The 26th chapter of Isaiah is considered to be a “Song of Salvation”, a song to encourage the people to have confidence in God.
A commentary that I read says that this chapter: … shows an underlying motif (or theme) of trust in God’s salvation. To those who trust God, whose minds stay (focussed) on Him, He grants perfect peace. The passion for God energizes those who long for the Lord, who seek Him, who wait for Him. Night and day, God is the object of their desire. Being saved in this context shows them being focused on God.”
Imagine what would happen if, every time we were faced with something difficult, we had the self-control (which is a Fruit of the Spirit) to stop and ask ourselves, “What does God want to accomplish through me in this situation? What do I need to do to keep myself in His perfect peace?”
How would our lives be changed if we could always stop (not say or do anything) until we’ve asked the Holy Spirit for help and advice, and then waited to hear His answer?
Our birthright of peace is here now, but we have to choose to live it in our lives.
Romans 14: 19 says:
... let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify (encourage, uplift) one another.
One of the most important things we can do to stay in God's perfect peace is to forgive others.
Dr. Dick Tibbits in his book “Forgive to Live … How Forgiveness Can Save Your Life” uses this definition of what forgiveness means:
Forgiveness is the process of reframing one’s anger and hurt from the past, with the goal of recovering one’s peace in the present and revitalizing one’s purpose and hope for the future.
Tibbits has broken forgiveness into three distinct dimensions:
Relational forgiveness focuses on what happens between two people when a conflict arises … Although reconciliation may be the ultimate goal of relational forgiveness, it won’t be possible if one person refuses to offer forgiveness or if the other person refuses to accept forgiveness. However, real forgiveness can happen without reconciliation.
The hurts inflicted on you can turn your world completely upside down. The spiritual dimension of forgiveness can help you get things right side up again; it can help you find personal meaning and purpose regardless of where you)are on our (your) spiritual journey.
Personal forgiveness has the most therapeutic and healing value of the three for it can help us (you) along our (your) journey from hurt to healing, from victim to victor, and from bitter to better.
If these aren’t reasons enough to forgive, Matthew 6:9-13 records how we are to pray, but it’s verses 14 and 15 that make a chilling pronouncement:
Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.”
Forgive to be forgiven … There’s no way around it.
One sure way to know if we have forgiven someone is to ask ourselves this question: If God is working to restore our relationship with someone, are we saying yes to following His leading and do our part?
It’s another chilling thought to be saying ‘no’ to the Holy Spirit.
God has made us a promise: that He will keep us in perfect peace if we keep our mind stayed on Him because we trust Him.
Do we trust that God can keep us in perfect peace if we let Him lead us through the events of our everyday living?
Do we trust God enough to follow Him if He chooses to lead us to be reconciled in our difficult relationships?
Everything in the Christian life comes down to this question: Do we trust God in all things?
The choice, as always, is ours.