You will keep him 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 NKJV

There’s a song that we sang in the “old church”—the church of my upbringing, entitled: “I Woke Up this Morning with My Mind, Stayed on Jesus.” What was the import of that song? Well, a stayed mind is a mind at perfect peace; a single mind; a sound mind; and, a strong mind—a mind that leans and depends upon the Lord and takes hold of the unchanging truth of His Word (Ps. 119:160; Matt. 24:35).

A stayed mind will love God above all else at all times (Matt. 22:37). Nothing is more important even in the face of a crisis, test or trial. You love God with your entire mind, i.e., intellect and deep thoughts (Phil. 2:5), with your imagination (Eph. 3:20), and with understanding (2 Tim. 1:7). On the other hand, an unstayed mind is a double mind (Jas. 1:8). A double mind is a two spirited mind, vacillating in opinion and purpose; a mind that is unstable mentally and spiritually. In the field of mental health, double-mindedness can be a symptom of Schizophrenia, which is a mental disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and to relate properly to others. Let us not be a “spiritual Schizophrenic.” God is good all the time!

Any serious challenge, crisis, or temptation that you face will reveal your state of mind. If you mind is stayed on the Lord, you will show perfect peace. If not, you’ll display your hidden hurts, or some unresolved issue in your life. But regardless of the challenge keep you mind stayed on the Lord, because a stayed-mind never gives in to circumstances (Phil. 4:6, 7). Keep your mind stayed on God’s goodness. Don’t give in to sickness and disease, financial problems and uncertainty, isolation and loneliness, depression and despair, and relationship problems. Why? Because the “Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace” (Ps. 29:11). Be encouraged and keep you mind stayed on the Lord!