Pause: A Month of Peace in Five Minutes a DayChikamu

Thank you for choosing to read Pause! This journey will be unlike anything you've ever experienced because each day has the same template to help you find a rhythm and cadence as you journey through the month: Proclaim, Prompt, Prod, Praise, and Pray.

Proclaim: Each day, you will read the verse from our theme passage in Philippians. Read it at least once and read it OUT LOUD. I hope by the second or third week, you will have it memorized and can begin reciting it throughout your day as you need to. This passage is meant to become your foundation, which is why you will read it every single day for the whole month!

Prompt: This is the devotional for the day. It’s usually only about 150 words, give or take, just enough to give you the concept, encouragement, teaching, or guidance you might need for the day. Use it as a launching pad, not a destination. My goal was to plant some ideas, share some insights, and let the Holy Spirit activate in you how this applies to what you are currently experiencing in your life.

Prod: This is an activation question that I am gonna ask you to respond to. I would encourage you to write your response, thoughts, prayers, ideas, confessions, or whatever you'd like. Wherever you write, make it your own and take action! Fill up the pages with what God reveals to you! That’s where change begins, and hope is activated!

Praise: This is a song I want you to listen to. You can listen to it while you read, you can listen on the way to work, you can listen any way you want. But my suggestion would be to listen to the song with headphones on or really loud in your car WHILE you pray to close each day’s devo (more on that in the next section). This will help you to hear the words of the song, engage with the Holy Spirit, and truly have a moment with God. I am so convinced that God wants to spend alone time with you every day. Even if it’s just these five minutes, He longs to give you the hope you need not just to survive the day but to conquer it!

Pray: Every day closes with a prayer to get you going. Obviously, make this prayer your own! Don’t just recite it—make it personal. I’ve tried to provide a prayer path for those who might be new to praying, but even so, remember God wants a relationship with you, so talk with Him and make it personal. God does not desire for you to pray perfect, eloquent, religious prayers. He just wants to hear your heart, hear your requests, hear your gratitude, and fill you with the POWER to live in freedom! God loves you!

Got it? Great! Let's start with Day 1:

Proclaim

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)

Prompt

Peace is one of my favorite words. Just saying it oftentimes connects my soul to God. But because peace is often associated with serenity, we tend to think of it as something that comes to us. Like, if you want peace, you should just sit still and meditate all day.

But that’s not true. Like, at all.

Peace takes action. A ton of it.

Peace is the fruit of labor. Mountains of it.

Peace is found on the side of tough conversations.

Peace is found when you actively listen and apply what your spouse, boss, or mentor asks.

Peace is found when you simply accept what God asks you to do—and then do it.

Peace is found when you make good on the promises you make to yourself.

Peace is found when you look for it.

Peace is the result of taking proactive steps to clear your heart and invite God to fill you.

Prod

What actions are you taking today to find peace?

Praise

Listen to “No Longer Slaves” by Bethel Music

Pray

Jesus, thank you that the promises of today’s song ring true. I am no longer a slave to fear. Please guide my steps and the work of my hands, my heart, and my mind to seek peace today. Because I know when I look for it with your eyes, I’ll find it. Amen.