The Umpire of My Heart

There was no referee that day. The soccer sidelines were full of parents, and on the field stood five-year-olds all doing their own thing. Since the rules were not understood by those in the game, and no one was making calls with the whistle and flag, the game couldn’t go on. Each child would follow what felt right for them. That would be chaotic. As soon as the referee arrived, the game began, and the uniformed judge made the calls. At this age, it’s about learning, developing skills and strength, and growing as team players.

The chaos of a kid’s soccer game without a referee is often how we may live our lives. We may slip into thinking everything centers around us. At times we allow our feelings, opinions, and circumstances of the day to call the shots or act as judge. Paul, in Colossians 3:15, instructed the church to live in unity with these words, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

It doesn’t say, “Let your opinions or hurts rule in your hearts,” or “let the anxiety of the day rule in your hearts,” but let the peace of Christ rule. When I read those words, my hands open and my shoulders relax. I’m not a kid trying to call the shots on a soccer field, I’m called to look to Jesus to have the final say. I am not to allow my emotions to be the umpire or referee, or to make the calls. I am to look to Christ and let the peace of Christ decide, and so are you.

Three Steps for allowing Christ to be the Umpire of Your Heart

1. Pause before you react. 

When a stinging review, a missed invitation, or a rejected proposal lands, resist the urge to let that moment make decisions for you. Take sixty seconds to breathe, open your hands, and ask: Is this circumstance ruling my heart right now, or is Christ? That brief pause creates space for His peace to step in before your emotions do.

That stinging book review, the missing invitation, the proposal rejection, we can let those moments define or decide things for us and divide us. We can allow these things to stop us or redirect our hearts and minds, pulling us away from God’s call to unity in Him, glorifying Him, and a unique call to walk out His plans for each of us.

        2. Memorize and personalize Colossians 3:15.

Write the verse with your name inserted: “Let the peace of Christ rule in [your name]‘s heart.” Post it where you work and speak, and return to it whenever opinions, hurts, or anxiety crowd in to make the calls.

So, as we move about in our different gifts and ministry positions, may we each look to Jesus, and let His peace rule. Jesus isn’t late like the kids’ soccer game, He’s present, active, and working. Look to Him, listen, obey, trust, and move in unity.

3. Choose unity over offense today. 

Identify one relationship in your ministry or writing community where hurt or comparison has quietly taken the referee’s whistle. Take one concrete step toward unity this week: a note of encouragement, a genuine prayer, or simply choosing to celebrate someone else’s “yes” without letting it diminish yours.

Question: Take some time to reflect on who or what is ruling your heart: What or Who has the final say in your life? Opinions? Feelings? Circumstances? or Jesus? I’d love to read your comments on this subject.

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