Yesterday in church service my Pastor told the congregation a story of how God used the peace of Christ in his heart, to help him and his wife make an important decision at that time in their lives. He referenced the part of scripture in Colossians 3:15, that says; “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”
As he told his story, it took me back 20 years to a time when God directed my husband and I in the same way, using His peace in our hearts to help us make a very important decision. At the time, we felt God prompting us to move, but we just didn’t know where or when, but we knew it was a big move that would effect every part of our lives.
It began one summer when we took our family on a vacation to North Conway, NH, and we fell in love with that part of the state. The mountains were breath taking, the people were very friendly, and their lifestyle was more relaxed. We were enjoying everything about it, so when the vacation was ending and it came time to head home, we had no desire to leave.
Both my husband and I were raised, and lived in the city all our lives. Over time, we found ourselves growing tired of the business, the high cost of living, and everything else that came with that style of living. As we prayed about how we were feeling, we made a decision that we wanted something different for our family.
As we drove home from our vacation, we talked for two and a half hours about how nice it would be to raise our family in a town like that, and what we would have to do to make it a reality.
By the time we arrived home we had made up our minds, and immediately started looking at homes for sale in the North Conway area. A few days later, we called a realtor and put our house up for sale.
At that time, we knew God was stirring our hearts to make a move but we still didn’t know where. Though we didn’t have clear direction, we began taking steps of faith by beginning the process and trusting God to open doors. However, we weren’t expecting Him to shut any of them. This was a good example of the scripture in Proverbs 16:9, which says; “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Within one day of putting our house up for sale, we received an offer for asking price, sight unseen. We were astounded and thought “Wow! God is so good!” We immediately accepted the offer and thought it was a miracle straight from God, but as reality set in and a day went by, we had absolutely no peace about the situation.
We didn’t understand why at first and thought we were allowing the devil to fill us with fear to overcome us from receiving a blessing. However, the more we prayed the more we realized, it was not God’s will for us to move there at that time.
God graciously enabled us to get out of the contract we had signed, without any repercussions. We are so thankful for His provision, guidance, and peace which kept us in His will.
Now looking back, we see we were clearly headed in the wrong direction. Approximately two years later, we moved to Pennsylvania, in the opposite direction of North Conway, NH.
In Colossians when it tells us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, the word rule in the Greek means umpire. When I looked up the definition for umpire it says: one having authority to decide; finally a controversy or question between parties: one appointed to decide.
When we allow Jesus to rule our heart with His peace, we will make the right choices, and receive the blessing that comes from being in His will.
