Colossians 3:15, Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
“Let” implies that if we do not stop something, it will occur automatically. To “rule” means to “umpire” or to make judgment on whether something is according to the rules. Paul is telling us to let the peace of God make the decisions about what happens in our lives. Many times in the New Testament, God is called “the God of peace”. We should all let the God of peace rule the peace of God over our hearts.
What is the “peace of God”? It is the supernatural calming effect of the Holy Spirit. God does not always block the irritations in our lives. But He brings this supernatural calming effect in the middle of the irritations. Philippians 4:7 states it this way, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” There is a God-kind-of-peace that goes beyond normal understanding. “Guard” means to put a body of troops in control. We should have an army of peace protecting our hearts and minds.
How can this happen? The peace that transcends is obtained and maintained by the principles in Philippians 4:4-6.
- Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice!
- Exude gentleness
- Do not be anxious
- Pray in faith
Doing these simple things will help keep us in the “peace that passes understanding.”