There are many days where peace seems elusive in our home.  I’m fairly certain that my children’s inside voices are the same volume as their outside voices, and on many occasions they are all speaking at the same time.  And when everyone is speaking, no one  is listening.

If I’m being really honest (which I usually am), I am just as guilty of robbing our home of peace.  I am short-tempered, sharp-tongued, and short-fused.  I promise you though I’m working on these things, especially when it comes to my children.

Luckily, the Bible doesn’t just list peace as one of the Fruits of the Spirit and leave us to figure it out.  God gives us practical advice.

Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”  Do you remember the scripture for joy?  It said “the joy of the Lord”, and now we have “the peace of Christ.”  Once again, we cannot do this on our own.  And do you want to know what’s even better?  God neither expects us to nor wants us to.

The Bible doesn’t say “let peace rule in your hearts” and I’m pretty sure that’s on purpose.  We need the peace of Christ.  And it needs to rule in our hearts.  Not fear, anxiety, doubt, anger, frustration, sadness, or anything else you might be feeling today that is holding on oh so tightly to your heart.  Our hearts need to be ruled by the peace that only Christ can provide.

So when I want to yell, or rush to a consequence, or just send everyone to bed (at 4pm)…. I must first pray and ask for Christ’s peace, and I’m so thankful that He never runs out.

[subscribe2]