How to Let the Peace of Christ Rule in Your Heart On Hectic Days

When life is uncertain or times are hectic, do you ever stop and wonder, just how do I let the peace of Christ rule in my heart as Colossians 3:15 would encourage...

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

to which indeed you were called in one body. 

And be thankful.

I find the word let so interesting in this verse.

Google's Dictionary definition of the word says, not prevent or forbid; allow.

I mean who doesn't want peace?!  Yet how many of us can say that we truly allow peace to rule in our hearts, ESPECIALLY during hectic days.  And if you are like me, there are times where you are intentionally preventing or forbidding peace to rule in your heart because you don't want to let go of YOUR plans because you feel most in control when you are operating in your own strength and purposes.  How misguided is that?!

I believe God's Word shows four practical ways to truly let the peace of Christ rule in your heart during hectic days.

                   The Peace of Christ will Rule in Your Heart                    through Prayer

As I'm sure you've noticed, when you have deadlines to meet or your calendar for the day is booked solid, you find your body and mind racing here and there to what needs to be done along with trying to focus on the task before you.

Last year, while using the Calm Meditation app for guided meditations, I learned that our brains are not wired to think of the past and the future while actively focusing on the present.    When our thought pattern is anywhere but in the present, it creates anxiety not only negatively effecting our emotions, but negatively effecting our bodies.

{I wrote more about the benefits of meditation when dealing with anxiety in my post, Mindfulness Meditation in the Christian Life, which you can read HERE.}

BUT there IS a healthy way to live in all three mindsets.  PRAY!  Remembering God's past faithfulness will bolster the present as you trust the future to the God of ALL time.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  

Philippians 4:6-7

The Lord cares about ALL the details of your lives.  Your appointments, your busy schedules, your responsibilities, your job, your ministry work, your family obligations, etc.

The God of All Comfort has built peace into prayer.  When you pray about everything that is causing you anxiety, EVEN a hectic day,  He promises that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer is surrendering your perceived control to the only One who is in control and in so doing you will let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

               The Peace of Christ will Rule in Your Heart                 Through the Study of God's Word

You might be saying, but Karen, aren't we talking about hectic days here??  How could I possibly find time to study God's Word when I have so much that has to get done!

Great peace have those who love your law,

and nothing can make them stumble.

Psalm 119:165

I have found that the Lord is sooo faithful to meet me where I'm at on hectic days.  When my schedule is chock full of things to do, if I read but one verse, the Lord will minister to me as if I spent the whole afternoon studying a book of the Bible.

There are so many ways to put the Word of God before us, EVEN when times are hectic.  Our smart phones, for example, are extremely useful for doing just that.  I have found that adding a wallpaper to my lock screen of a Bible verse helps me throughout the day as a constant reminder of the Truth of that verse which brings peace to my heart on hectic days.

The "old fashioned" sticky note is perfect for writing verses to place anywhere you might be during a hectic day.  Just a quick glance at the verse will center you on the Lord and you will feel a sense of peace.

Storing up God's Word in your heart certainly comes in handy on hectic days.  For when you spend much time in the Word during calmer days, you are building up a reserve to draw upon for the hectic days.

In fact, hectic days help you put feet to the Words of Life you are studying.   You will find that your conduct will testify to the peace of Christ in your heart causing those who observe how you operate on hectic days to wonder, "How is she doing that?!?"

How you ask?...  You have let the peace of Christ rule in your heart through the study of God's Word.

              The Peace of  Christ will rule in your Heart                     Through Imitating Christ

During Christ's time on Earth, He never rushed anywhere. 

When there were crowds pressing in, He first went to the mountaintop where he delivered the Beatitudes to the Disciples.

When He was told that Lazarus was dying, He didn't rush to go to him.  In fact Lazarus died before he got there, but this was to showcase the power of God as Jesus went on to raise Lazarus from the dead which brought Glory to the Father.

And, of course, there is account upon account, where Jesus prayed first before acting...

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”…  

Matthew 11:28-30

I have always found comfort from this verse and it tends to be one I recite to myself when I am rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off on hectic days.

If you are truly walking in the works that the Lord prepared for you to do, you will do so in His strength and in His manner.   AND you know what??  The work WILL get done!  As a result, you will find that in the midst of hectic days, you will feel at peace.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. 

And the God of peace will be with you.  

Philippians 4:9

When you imitate Christ, you will let the peace of Christ rule in your heart on hectic days.

                 The Peace of Christ will rule in your Heart                       Through a Grateful Spirit

Anyone who has practiced gratitude can attest to the fact that it is one of the more powerful ways to turn any type of bad attitude or emotion around.

It's hard to stay mad at someone, if you think of something about them that you are grateful for.

Or it's hard to feel discontent, if you start thinking about what you are grateful for.

And most especially, you won't feel anxious if you are grateful for all of God's past faithfulness.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

to which indeed you were called in one body. 

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

You have been called, in one body, to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.  

You have soo much to be grateful for.  You belong to Christ!  

How do you belong to Christ?

At the Advent of the Lord, He came in the form of a baby, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.  He lived a sinless life and then was crucified, died, was buried and rose again, where He conquered sin and death, and reconciled you to the Father through His own blood sparing you the wrath of God which brought peace to the world.

When you don't let peace rule in your heart, you are wasting the suffering of the Lord which brought about your peace with God.  You are being anything BUT thankful.

His death gave you the means to live at peace and in peace.  

Why wouldn't you then let the peace of Christ rule in your heart??  

The Prince of Peace came to bring peace; a peace that has been sealed inside of Believers through the Holy Spirit.  

There is soo much to be grateful for in Christ Jesus.  And so much peace to experience...

If you would like to read more posts related to peace in the Christian Life, please head over to the following by clicking on the titles:

 Five Steps for Becoming Calm in the Midst of Turmoil

Can't Find Peace? It's Closer than you Think!

5 Comforting Scripture Prayers that WILL Bring You Peace

Trials Usher in Peace

Looking for Peace in All the Wrong Places

Peace that Surpasses All Understanding: Lessons from Corrie Ten Boom

Peace in the Christian Life Hinges on One Thing

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 

The Lord be with all of you.  

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Whether you find yourself in anxious circumstances or going through a hectic day, there is NOO reason not to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart through prayer, the study of God's Word,  imitating Christ and having a grateful spirit.

               

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