“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Acts 10:36 NIV

Lord of What?

“You are Lord of all! You are the King of my heart!”

Singing those words, I had a moment of heart examination. Is He truly on the throne of my life, revealed through everything I do and say? Is He pleased with my thought life and prayer life? Is Jesus on the throne of my heart and Lord of my “all”?

Pondering His Lordship over my “all”, I began to go over the categories of my life. Wow. My “all” has myriad categories. It was easier to put one “God blanket” over them all and call it “God is in control of my life and everything is covered by the blood of Jesus” category.

However, because I seek to have His holiness saturate my life, I began placing my categories under His microscope. Is He Lord over my anger? (After all, anger is only one letter away from “danger!”) How about my frustration category? My expectation category? My critical, judgmental category? My relationships category? Is Jesus first in my priority category?

My spiritual eyes were being opened to the reality that I had not submitted all categories to God and made Him Lord of all. I was hiding things that needed to be revealed, surrendered, and dealt with. I was sweeping dirt under the rug and calling it all covered under the blood! “So we’re good, right God?” No. It is like hiding something in the refrigerator that I want to save for myself so that no one else could find and eat it. Meanwhile, I forget about it until the stinky odor reminds me of my little hidden treasure that now is no longer edible. It stinks and, now revealed, I have to deal with it.

I have asked the Lord to keep a short leash on me. I have asked Him to give my leash a good, hard yank whenmy attitude is stinking,and I am being an offending odor rather than a pleasing fragrance to Him.

 “Thank You, Lord, for loving me stink and all, but loving me too much to leave me that way. Thank You for the reminder that if I have made You Lord of all, I must bring “all” my categories before You, my King. Search out any hidden darkness that I have allowed to creep into my heart undetected by me but not undetected by You. When I am on the throne instead of You, help me to remove myself quickly to give You the rightful place of King on the throne of my heart, Lord of all.”