“May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.” (2Thess.3:16). “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (Col.3:15)
Lord Jesus, there’s no part of our being, chapter in our stories, or concern of our hearts outside your care. Though you’ve never promised to give us immediate solutions, fixes, and resolutions—you have promised never to leave or forsake us. And you are always with us as the Lord of Peace. Hallelujah and thank you.
Paul’s admonition to “let” your peace rule in our hearts comes both as invitation and indictment. We know that, ultimately, we cannot stop your hand and heart—for which we are eternally grateful. However we can temporally rob our hearts of joy, hope, and gentleness when we don’t surrender to your peace as Lord, Sovereign, and King or our hearts.
We’re often happy to “let” your peace be like a refreshing décor, a new color scheme, or even a welcome guest in our heart-manor. But, Jesus, you didn’t enter our lives as decoration and guest, but as reconstruction and Lord.
Hallelujah, we have the Lord of Peace as the Lord of our heart-manor—willing to give us his peace “at all times is every situation” (2Thess.3:16). So, if your peace isn’t ruling in our hearts, what is? This is our confession time, Jesus. You already know this stuff, but we need to own it before your throne of grace. Here’s a few; there are many more. Show us and free us:
Fear is a lousy heart-lord, but we often give him the keys to the manor and the thermostat. Anger only dwells in our hearts to rob, kill, and destroy—and shouldn’t even be a guest, much less a ruler. Control—really, the illusion of control. Insistence on “it’s my way or the highway” is more like a jungle trail that leads to aloneness and deep regret.
Jesus, your banner over us is love, so we hoist afresh our white flag of surrender. We want your peace to rule in our hearts more than we want our way, period. And So Very Amen.
