Peace Through Framing Our Thought Life

You will keep him in perfect peace (shalom, shalom), Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

— Isaiah 26:3

The idea and experience of peace sometimes elude us as we live life in this chaotic fallen world and these bodies of flesh. Our thoughts can become as storm-tossed as a raging sea in these times and conditions. The above portion of Scripture calls us back to our right mind, right thinking, and rightful positions as children of another kingdom, not of this world.

The Hebrew word translated "mind" in this passage is "yatzar," meaning to frame or form in the mind, with the concept of purpose and intention. It also includes the idea of meditative thought. "Yatzar" is the first word in the sentence when reading this verse in Hebrew, signifying that perfect peace begins with framing our thoughts and being purposeful and intentional about it.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

— Hebrews 11:3

The above verse reveals how our inner world is to be framed by the Word of God. The Father has shown us by example how this works in the way He created all things.

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

— John 5:19

Jesus also compares the firm foundation of a life of those whose thoughts are framed and built upon His Words.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

— Matthew 7:24

Thoughts are the materials that are used to shape and form our lives. What our thoughts are conformed to will have a determined outcome.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

— Romans 12:2

The second word in Isaiah 26:3 is "samech," which means to support. The frame of a house must be supported and held up by something. In this case, the reference is to God.

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

— Luke 6:48

When the framework of our thoughts is sustained and supported by God, we are assured He will keep ('titzor" ) watch over, tend to, guard, and make sure of our peace.

The literal translation for perfect "peace" is "shalom shalom." When a term is repeated twice in Hebrew, it is done so for emphasis. It signifies abundance, greatness, completeness, totality, infinitive absoluteness, and complete satisfaction.

The Hebrew word "shalom" means completeness and wholeness on all levels. It is an all-inclusive state of well-being, including health, relationships, and finance, and carries the idea of being safe and secure.

The pictograph interpretation of "shalom" offers us some further insights.

The first Hebrew letter in the word "shalom" is a "sheen," represented by teeth, and comes with the idea of chewing, devouring, and or destroying.

... the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

— I John 3:8

The second letter of the Hebrew word shalom is "lamed." It is a picture of a shepherd's staff. It carries with it the idea of authority. As it refers to our above verse, we might say that it also can be like a shepherd corrals his sheep, so we ought to corral our thoughts deliberately and take authority over them.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ...

— II Corinthians 10:5

The Lord brought the above verse to mind during a most recent challenge.

Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion!

— Isaiah 52:2

It is often our thoughts and imaginations that hold us captive, and by taking our thoughts captive, we are loosing ourselves from captivity to them.

The third letter of "shalom" is "vav" and is a nail symbolizing attached things. It can also indicate cause and effect.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

— John 10:10

The last letter is a "mem" and is a picture of waves of water and can indicate chaos. At the end of the word, it is a closed "mem," meaning hidden water or hidden disorder.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

— Ephesians 6:12

Putting these concepts together, we can see that a state of well-being has to do with destroying (sheen) the authority (lamed) that is the underlying cause (vav) of chaos (mem) in one's world. It also implies that "shalom" is already there. It is the chaos that prevents us from experiencing it. It is like the sun that is always shining, but storms may come and deter us from seeing it

"Bless, O my soul! the living God. Call home thy thoughts that rove abroad. Let all the powers within me join, In work and worship so divine"

— Isaac Watts

... a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!

— Mark 7:37

This portion of Scripture shows us a type of chaos that is obvious and visible. In our private worlds, we might see them as real problems that arise with people and circumstances.

... They were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

— Luke 4:32

This portion of Scripture shows us the "behind the scenes" chaos that we cannot see with our natural eyes and, in this particular example, can symbolize the internal turmoil that comes from the spirit realm.

The last thing mentioned in this verse is because we trust "betach" in Him, we are enabled to experience this "shalom"!

According to the Word pictures, the definition of trust is "to abide and rest inside the goodness of God, protected, embraced, and surrounded by His compassion and favor." Our thoughts must be built upon this concept of trusting in His goodness and revealing the Word so that we can experience His ultimate peace (shalom, shalom).

It is clear that the battlefield is in the mind and that our thought life is the framework of our experience. Our battle is to destroy the authority causing us chaos by taking jurisdiction over our thoughts and actions and purposing them to God's thoughts and desires so that we might experience the wholeness and security of a life lived well.

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. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

— Philippians 4:6

When the framework of our thoughts, meditations, and imaginations are leaning upon, resting upon, and being supported by Him, He will keep us in perfect, perpetual, most assured wholeness, soundness, security, and tranquility.

* All scripture references are taken from King James or New King James versions of the Bible.