Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” I love to focus on the ‘perfect peace’ – I crave it and want it so much! Anyone else? Have you ever started a new planner looking for peace? I have! If I only write it all down, I’ll remember everything! Ha!
I want the peace, but the rest of the verse says, “all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” I was reading a book* this week about spiritual disciplines, and the author shocked me with this statement: “Distraction is the primary spiritual problem in contemporary culture.” The author stated that when we’re constantly distracted, we can’t be sensitive to the voice of the Lord. The author challenged the readers to start by turning off all electronic devices for 30 minutes. I tried this while I was working in my office, and it was hard. My mind ran around like a squirrel, darting from one thing to another. I finally had to write a list to keep myself focused.
I realized something. When I’m constantly distracting myself, I’m not fixing my thoughts on the Lord. And if I’m seeking peace anywhere other than the Lord and spending time in His word, I’m missing out on that sweet place of perfect peace.
I love my smart phone and my smart watch. I love the connection they bring. They are not in themselves evil. They can both connect me with loved family members, and keep me up late at night watching a video of a hippo opening a Christmas present. Both are fun. But if I’m not careful, I can reach for the phone too much.
In my page today, I used Shawna Clingerman’s digital set Here With Us, available in the Illustrated Faith Print & Pray Shop. I started with a painted background. I wanted the ombre blue effect with white dots to represent a storm outside, fading into a peaceful interior. I love this card, because the sentiment, “I just wanna spend a little time with you,” is so apt. I want to spend time with Jesus, connecting to His perfect peace, listening for His voice. Anyone else?
Thanks for joining me here today, friends!
*Foster, Richard J. A Celebration of Discipline, 4th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 2018. Page x.
