“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:17,18)
The God of peace would be with us. But how can He be when we choose to think our own thoughts instead of what He would have us think upon? His prescription for peace is clear:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:8,9)
What can God do when we insist on clinging to our own “truth” rather than His; when we are wise in our own eyes, and think we know better than Him? The first thing He calls us to think upon are those things which are true. What is true? His Word is truth. Our vain thoughts give rise to destructive desires and turbulent emotions. God says: “Let me lead you in the way you should go. But first, let me order your thoughts.” He declares: “I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”
The songs gets it right: “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” What a Friend we have in Jesus! He stands without, knocking. Will we let Him in? Will we sit at His feet? Will we learn of Him and find rest for our souls? He wants peace like a river to flow within us. He wants to be with us, but He can’t when we’ve decided to think independently of Him.
Let the God of peace be with you. Forsake your own shallow thoughts and jump in the river. Bathe your mind in what He wants you to think upon. Peace awaits you.