Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

For peace to rule, we must “let it” rule.

That means we have the choice to NOT let peace rule.

There is a decision to be made.  Will I allow peace to rule in my heart, emotions, mind, and even over my logic?  Will I let fear and anxiety rule? Or, will I let peace rule?

The Greek word for rule means: to be an umpire, to decide, determine, to direct and control.  What does an umpire at a baseball game do?  He decides whether the actions going on around him are “in” or “out.”  In essence, he is saying, “Yes, we will allow this to play here,” or “No, this kind of action cannot be here. It is not permitted.”

In Colossians, Paul is telling us to allow peace to umpire our hearts.  That peace stands as the decider of what can come in and what cannot.  Too many times we allow our minds to accept and receive every thought and imagination that pops in our heads.  We meditate on strange thoughts, on fears, on concerns, when really, they never should have been allowed in.  Letting peace rule, means that the second our thoughts are recognized as being not from God, they should get the old “boot out” by Peace.

Peace has a job to do.  Let it rule. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He could rest peacefully with his head on a pillow in a storm.  Now He is in us, and He gives us His peace.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

His peace passes all understanding—it is peace that doesn’t make sense to the natural world. When storms come, the world would say, “You should be worried about this.  What will you do about that?”  But I believe Jesus’ heart would say something like this: No, you can have peace because I give it to you.  You don’t have to figure out how to get it.  Just receive my peace in your situation.

To know peace also means to know that God is in control and not us. That knowledge can help us be at peace knowing that our life can rest in His hands. He fights for us, and He works on our behalf doing things behind the scenes that we will sometimes never see. He does it because He loves us, and as we trust Him more and more, we find ourselves being able to let go of false control more and more. It is a passing of the baton, and one that God will readily take.

In John, it says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)  Jesus is saying many things here, but I believe there is a link to peace and trust.  If we believed God would truly take care of us, then could we have peace?  Is that what is stopping us from experiencing peace?  Our beliefs?

Peace is a hot commodity; it really is.  A lot of our peace can be based off of the knowledge of some simple, yet profound facts:

He loves me no matter what.

He is my true Guardian.

He is here.

He is more powerful than any other.

He is a God of Justice.

His heart towards me is good.

These things can roll off of our tongue, but we have the right to move into a place of actually believing them so much that we walk differently, think differently, and peace truly sets in.

Declaration:

I can have peace because… I know I am loved.

I can have peace because… I know God accepts me.

I can have peace because… I know God delights in me.

I can have peace because… I know no matter what I face, He will fight for me.

I can have peace because… He will provide for me.

I can have peace because… He will shelter me.

I can have peace because… He will comfort me.

I can have peace because… He will lead me and guide me.

I can have peace because… He will direct my steps.

I can have peace because… He will be with me wherever I go.

I can have peace because… He defeated Satan already.

I can have peace because… God is for me, so who can be against me?

I can have peace because… I know His name.

I can have peace because… I rely on God.

I can have peace because… God knows what I need before I do and I can trust Him.

I will let peace rule.  I give it the right and permission to be here, thereby denying unrest to enter. In Jesus’ name I pray all of these things to be a settled matter in my heart. Amen.

Be blessed & be a blessing,