Peace Over Performance

I don’t feel like I have anything profound to share today, but I do want to share something that I realized this week that has encouraged me. And maybe that’s all God asks me to share with you anyway. :)

At the beginning of the year, I had been making it a priority to set aside time for me to study God’s Word and journal with Him. Even when I didn’t feel like I had learned something that would change my life instantly, I knew that making Him a priority would benefit me and strengthen our relationship. It made me excited to think about how much closer He and I could be by the end of this year if I choose to make spending time with Him a habit.

But then this week has been a little chaotic, which has made me not feel like sitting down to study the Bible as much. Since I didn’t want to break my “streak”, I tried to read a Psalm or a small passage before bed.

And that’s what I wanted to share - God still speaks through His Word even if we don’t take an hour out of every day to deep dive into a passage.

Some seasons will be busier than others. Sometimes health issues or mental issues will affect our motivation to seek Him. He can use whatever time we give Him, whether it is a longer study session, a Psalm before bed, or talking to Him on our way to work.

He is not constrained by a set of rules or suggested ways for us to seek Him. All He asks of us is our hearts, soft and ready to be molded to reflect the Savior. And if it’s comfort we seek from Him, He will encourage us. If it’s conviction we need, I pray we will be willing to accept that from Him as well, and not just the blessings He offers.

I want to end with some encouraging words that Jesus spoke in the book of John.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27

Whatever we go through this weekend, next week, and the coming months, I pray this verse can be an encouragement to us. God offers us peace because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He defeated the Enemy and every scheme used to trip or trap us. Because of Him, those 'unclimbable' mountains don't have the final word. Jesus loves you all! And I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week! Hannah Patten