Many things vie for the reign over our hearts. Emotions, stress, fear, anxiety, circumstances, relationship issues, what others think of us, or even what we wrongly think of ourselves, comprise a good beginning list that proves our human hearts are fickle. In recent years, the state of our world attempts to capture and take control of our hearts. It’s so easy to succumb to that darkness. But the Word says that peace is to reign over our hearts!

A rewording of Colossians 3:15 from the Living Bible gives a bit more insight: “Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of His body.” Our hearts are our responsibility! God has a solution. Jesus is the way.

To control means to rule, direct, manage and keep. The only way to manage our hearts is by the peace of Christ. The only way to keep our hearts (not let anything capture and rule them) is by the peace of Christ. Jesus is our peace.

When we are born again, Jesus comes to dwell in our heart, a temple formed by His own hands. The Prince of Peace intends to reign there! How that works out is our responsibility—free will is in play. He has not left; perhaps this temple has given extended room to the noise of the world and that of our own minds. We must strain for His whispers within; we must struggle to manage our heart. Don’t let externals direct it—we are not defenseless. Stop and ask, who’s in control here? We can receive the peace that both rules and renews our heart at any moment, but we must choose. Our decision for peace is the way to keep our hearts.