STAY
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
This verse in Isaiah is so encouraging. It promises perfect peace. It’s about wonderful things like trusting God and having a mind that’s stayed on Him—but what does that mean? If a mind is stayed, it’s paused, stopped, waiting, not distracted. It’s lingering, focused—not frantically looking for help from other sources, but looking to the Lord, trusting Him with whatever the world brings.
How might we describe a mind that’s stayed on God?
- A focus on God before circumstances.
- A steadiness that is unswayed by life’s changes and interruptions.
- A mindset cultivated with intentional communication with God.
- A continuous surrendering of fears, worries and doubts to God.
- A peace that’s built on trust in God.
I’ve had indoor dogs since I was a child. Having a dog around is calming to me. Anytime I’ve gotten a new pup, some training is typically involved. They must learn to sit, wait, lay down, come when I call, and stay —that’s when I want them to stop. If they’re sitting, I want them to continue sitting. If they’re in a particular place, I want them to remain there.
Could this verse be as simple as that? Could it be that our minds are constantly moving, and we need to slow down and even stop to find peace? Our minds can be racing so fast that we speed right past what’s most precious—our relationship with our Creator. Can we, in some way, train ourselves in this with God’s help? When we settle our minds and focus on who God is, we’ll grow in our trust in Him.
APPLICATION: Where can you find time to pause throughout the day to spend an undistracted moment with the Lord? When your mind becomes stayed and settles on Him, try lingering a little longer and see what peace it brings.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I want more moments with You. Please quiet my mind to be stayed on You. Overwhelm me with Your perfect peace in my mind and life as I learn to trust in You. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?