Let God's Peace Guide You
Last week, I wrote about the peace that passes all understanding. This week I want to give a little more about God's peace and how important it is in our lives. We need to learn to look for and listen to God through the peace that only He can give and to let God's peace guide us.
In all of our lives, there come times when we don't know what to do. We have decisions in front of us, but we are not sure on how to proceed. There is such an uncertainty on what to do. These are the hard times in life. For me it is not hard to do what I know is God's will for my life, but instead the hardest part is understanding what the will of God is for a particular circumstance. One of the passages that I have leaned upon for help in these types of circumstances is Colossians 3:15. The first part of it says, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts”. God's peace can help you understand what He wants you to do.
The word used in Colossians 3:15 for “rule” is a word that means to arbitrate or to govern. Let the peace of God govern and arbitrate your hearts. I think another way to put this is to let the peace of God umpire or call the shots in your life. Let the peace of God decide things for you. God is not the author of confusion, and He wants us to follow His leading. Pray and ask God for peace about the decision that you have to make. Ask specifically! Ask God to give you peace about going in that specific direction. If He gives you peace, then you have your answer. If he does not, ask Him to give you peace about not going that way. Be willing to do whatever He wants you to do. God will give you an answer of peace.
I have read that when translators were seeking for a word or phrase for "peace" in the Chol Indians language, they discovered that the words "a quiet heart" was the wording that best suited the idea of peace. It was a good word picture for them. The "way of peace" becomes the phrase "the road of the quiet heart”. That is a wonderful mental picture of how God gives peace to guide out hearts and minds.
As you seek to find what God wants, ask God for peace, and look for it. He can give you peace. God can give you the peace that you desire, so that you know you are doing the right thing. Don't rush out ahead of God. Wait on Him and be willing to do whatever He says. Let the peace, which Christ gives, settle all the questions in your heart.
Let me encourage you today to "Let the peace of God rule in your heart”. Let the peace of God guide you so that you can enjoy the peace that God gives you in all the decisions you have to make.