Isaiah 26:3, 4

(All Scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated)

More than seven years ago, I wrote my ninth Gem on March 25th, 2013. I titled it, Perfect Peace in a Dentist Chair! In that Gem I told of my experience going to the dentist for a root canal. I was very nervous, and the dentist had prescribed Valium for me to take an hour before the appointment. As he prepared for the root canal, I told the dentist I didn’t take the sedative, and he was hesitant to proceed because of my history of nervousness. Halfway through the procedure I was so relaxed I had almost fallen asleep as he worked on me! He asked me, “Are you sure you didn’t take the Valium? ”

“No,” I replied, “I took something else! ”

“I knew it! ” he exclaimed. “What did you take? ”

“I took a healthy dose of Isaiah 26:3 and 4! ” And then I quoted those two verses:

     Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is 
     stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.  Trust 
     ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is 
     everlasting strength....

He leaned back on his stool and said, “I wish more of my patients would take that kind of medicine! ”

You can still read that Gem by bringing up March 2013 and scrolling down to the third Gem from the top.

Why am I referring to what I wrote over seven years ago? Because…

• …I have always believed Isaiah 26:3 and 4 to be true! These two verses are one of the Scripture portions I committed to memory early on in my Christian walk.

• …I have proved the truth of God’s peace many times over the years! Such supernatural peace is very useful in stressful situations.

• …I used these two verses again just the other day in another doctor’s office.

And I want to tell you about it.

I injured my right knee, tearing the cartilage years ago playing softball. Eventually I had to have a knee replacement. But over time I developed a painful bone spur on the kneecap which had to be removed. The surgery was successful in removing the spur, but seven weeks later my knee pain can still at times be extreme. Last week at the surgeon’s office, he suggested I have a cortisone shot into the inflamed tissue. I had never had a shot in my knee, and I was nervous about it! The doctor explained that none of his patients who had received such injections had complained of much pain. But, although his words were meant to calm me, I still felt my anxiety rising! “Ok,” you might say, “A cortisone shot is no big deal! ” You are right! And it didn’t turn out to be so! But try telling that to a person who is experiencing unreasonable and escalating anxiety!

While the doctor was out of the exam room to procure what he needed to administer the cortisone, I began to think of what I had written long ago, Perfect Peace in a Dentist Chair! “So why am I getting so nervous now? Isaiah 26:3 and 4 worked in a much more stressful situation back then. So let’s practice it in this situation!” And I began to quote in my mind..

     Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is 
     stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.  Trust 
     ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is 
     everlasting strength....

It was only a few minutes later the doctor came in with swabs, a needle and a band aid. But in those few minutes God’s peace had permeated my mind and heart! My anxiety, heart rate, and blood pressure were all returning to normal! Isaiah 26:3 and 4 worked its ‘magic’ and I came through this simple procedure with perfect peace!

I am not just writing this Gem for you. I am writing it for me also! You see, too often I forget to remind myself of what I have stored of God’s Word in my mind and heart. I need to bring up into my consciousness appropriate Scripture that speak to the situation I find myself in!

It is a very practical book, the Bible! In one way or another it speaks to every situation that life brings – everything you could ever experience! It may be a direct address of the situation, a command, an inference, an example (positive or negative), a parabolic illustration, etc. But there is nothing in life with which the Word of God does not deal – even with a cortisone shot in the knee!

So read the Bible! Study it! Mediate upon it! Memorize it! Then you will have God’s Word to bring up into your mind in any situation!