Beyond the Weekend

February 23 | Pace

February 23, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2

Read: Genesis 2:1-3
Listen:
Genesis 2

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Paul wants to finish strong. Runners, swimmers, bikers and rowers know finishing a race strong is often all about pace. Interestingly enough, God is trying to teach us about pace when we look at creation. God creates light on the first day. He creates the sky on the second day. He creates ground and plants on the third day. This goes on for six days. And then God rests on the seventh day. It isn’t that God needed to pace himself, but God’s seems to be showing us something.

Pace is determined by the length of the race. No one can run a marathon by trying to run at their top speed the whole way. One way to tell if our pace is off is to reflect on whether we focus continually on escaping. A life focused on escaping daily activities often reflects an unmanageable pace. If we become obsessed with escaping through a vacation, affair, alcohol, drugs, video games or social media feed—it’s likely our pace isn’t manageable. Watch this video clip as Pastor Jeff Manion explains how an escape will not sew together the tattered, frayed edges of our life. These things might feel like they bring temporary escape but can’t fix the real problem. The solution to an unmanageable pace is a manageable pace.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

In your journal or your notes app, consider what kind of pace your life is going at right now. Spend some time charting out a typical week. List your commitments for each day. Ask yourself whether the pace is right. Is there somewhere you need to adjust or a commitment you need to stop? Prayerfully consider what it looks like to live at a manageable pace.


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse!

PHILIPPIANS 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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