How Would You Rate Your Pace?

Friends!  Now that summer’s simmering and the days are getting shorter, have you been able to slow down your pace a bit?

Or, has it picked up…still racing from point A to point B? For me, that old game, “Beat the Clock” rears its’ ugly head from time to time and I can never win…

My friend, Meredith, gave me the best journal I’ve come to love.  I previously wrote about it as an idea for a Christmas gift, however it would make a great gift any time of the year! Here’s the LINK to the post if you’d like to read more details about the journal.

As I’m progressing thru’ each week, this week’s word really hit home. The word?

“PACE”

Let’s look at how Cleere spells it out:

Then we’re given this beautiful verse from 1 John 2:5-6,

The next thing Cleere gives us is a definition of pace.  Look at this:

“WHAT IT IS:

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Keeper of our pace and direction, while moving forward with intention.

Prioritizing health and holiness above rewards and recognition.

Trusting God’s timeline.

WHAT IT IS NOT:

Hurrying for the purpose of being fast.

Moving in a direction that is unclear and has no purpose.

Letting the rushed world around us determine the posture of the Spirit within us.”

So, as God would orchestrate, this week I’m reading thru’ the Book of Galatians. How funny I should land on Galatians 5:25 which directly relates to our pace. I believe the Lord is trying to tell me something!!!!

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (NIV)

And look at the NLT’s version:  “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Years ago in Women’s Ministry at Southeast Christian Church, we were hosting a huge event (several hundred women came).  Galatians 5:25 was our theme and in the centerpiece of each table, we had a pretty floral arrangement coupled with the verse, and a very fun shoe!  We girls of course love shoes and as a result, everyone could easily memorize that verse! (I can’t remember milk at the grocery store, but I can still remember that verse and those shoes!)

Oh, and this gets better.  The pages following the acronym of “pace” and definition of your word for the week contain questions to get you journaling.  Tuck your toes under the table, as they’re about to get stepped on:

Cleere asks three, count ‘em three, killer questions:

“Is your pride related to your pace?

How have you learned to let go of hurrying?

Have you noticed that your PACE is directly related to your PEACE?”

I’m happy to report that today as I type, I have a “free” day of sorts. A friend had to cancel a lunch we’d scheduled, so I purposely chose not to make other plans and as a result am having quite a peaceful morning!  So I could answer that yes, to the third question, my pace (of today!) is directly related to my peace.

Oh, but that first question regarding pride being related to pace?!!!  That occurs sometimes when we say we’re so “busy.”  Such a bad word!!! And honestly, nobody is impressed by how busy we are.   

I finally learned to quit using the word “busy” after a mentor taught me the scary acronym for it:  “Being Under Satan’s Yolk!”  Yikes! No thank you.

And the second question, about letting go of hurrying is tough too. My friend, Kathy, and I joke about how we always run late.  Why do we run late?  We’re always trying to do “just one more thing” before walking out the door—always to our detriment.

Hebrews 12:1b says,

May your PACE give you PEACE today and every day….

Now normally I’ll close with “Run, don’t walk….,” However today allow me to say, “walk very slowly (LOL) to your nearest bookstore and grab this thought-provoking journal, The Focus Journal: 52 Weeks to a More Intentional Life. You may just enjoy and savor this summer even better!

Amen. And Amen.

‘Til next time!

  Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.”