Isaiah 26:12 Lord, you establish peace for us;
all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

Verse 3 of this chapter (You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.) is justly famous and I love it dearly, but this verse also is vitally important. People search after all sorts of peace, both absence of external conflict and inner peace, but this verse is a reminder that it is God who supplies true peace. Anything that we can work up on our own is at best a poor copy. That’s because we can’t have any other kind of peace in a truly meaningful way until we have peace with God, and He has supplied that through the cross of Christ. (Romans 5:1) That peace is actually a major theme of Paul’s letters, but Isaiah recognized it too, and he certainly wasn’t the first person to do so. The second half of this verse is also vitally important. It is when we realize that everything we actually accomplish is something God has done through us that we receive the peace He has for us. As long as we are claiming our accomplishments as our own, a wall of pride is separating us from God. This is an obstacle to many, especially men, because we desire pride of accomplishment so much. It’s not that it’s wrong to take pride in work well done, it’s that we need to recognize that the ability, wisdom, and everything else came from God, and give Him the glory. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that the ability to produce wealth comes from God. Those who refuse to acknowledge that are the ones who try to gain wealth through dishonest means of all sorts, but they find that in the end, any material wealth gained that way is ashes in their mouths, less than useless.

I’ve never been a big one for producing wealth, but I have as much hunger to say I’ve done something as the next guy. I’ve got to remember that as Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) The more God allows me to do, the more I’ve got to give Him the credit, because that’s only being honest. If I ever try to claim I’ve done something without His help, I lose whatever benefit I might have received from that thing, regardless of what it does for others. I am not to rebel against my dependence on God, but rather rejoice in it in profound gratitude. God’s power and ability are infinite, and He pours them through those who are yielded to Him. Just yesterday I saw a report of a man who literally twisted a car door off its hinges to rescue someone trapped inside. Had he thought about it ahead of time he would never have attempted it, but his motive was pure and God supplied the power. That should be my attitude, not considering who or what or how I am, but focusing fully on God and allowing Him to use me as He sees fit, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You did in and through me yesterday, and all that You will do today. May I be fully open to You so that I will recognize every opportunity You provide, to make full use of it (Ephesians 5:16) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!