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"You will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4, and John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Years ago I read a book written by John Edmund Haggai, entitled, "How to Win Over Worry." In this book he had a formula for victory over worry. PRAISE plus POISE plus PRAYER equals PERFECT PEACE. I believe this formula works not only for worry, but also for victory over hatred, pride, stress, sickness and the economic problems the world is facing today.
PRAISE: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Psalm 34:1), And in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" This tells us that our joy must be in the Lord. This makes it independent of circumstances whether things may be up or down, health may be good or bad. Psalm 40:3 "He has put a new song in my mouth- Praise to our God."
A certain man was asked, "Why are you always so cheerful?" He replied, "Every morning I spend 20 minutes filling my mind full of God by reading the Word of God. When your mind is full of God, there is no room for fear or worry."
POISE: (balance). Philippians 4:11, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." The Lord has provided for us to have this balance by giving us the Holy Spirit. The big ships have a gyroscope that gives balance to the ship, even though the waves are very high the ship sails at an even keel. That's what the Holy Spirit does for us even when sudden storms come upon us. Not sinking under, or gliding over, but cutting through, keeping afloat and fullfilling our God-given task.
The word "content" means contained. It is the description of a man whose resources are within him so that he does not have to depend on substitutes from without. As a Christian we make contact and keep contact with our spiritual environment via the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. "PRAISE plus POISE plus PRAYER equals PERFECT PEACE. God loves you!
- Frank Eidse
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