Last night, I made homemade sourdough bread for my family.

Okay.  Maybe not TOTALLY homemade, but there was a bowl, a mix and some kneading involved.  As homemade as it gets these days.

As I prepared the dough, I made sure to follow the directions exactly knowing that (from past experiences) not giving the bread the right amount of time to get ready would result in a big, lumpy mess. 

Even knowing this however, when I got to the kneading part, I created a short cut.  I mean really.  Is it REALLY necessary to knead dough for 15 full minutes before putting it in a pan?  I didn't think so.  So, I cut it to ten minutes.  Then, I stopped at five.  What can I say?  My two year old showed up soaking wet and covered in grass after sitting too close to the sprinklers.

As dinner preparation came to a close, I checked the oven to see how my bread was coming along.  It smelled delicious.  The top was golden and crusty.  But, it seemed to have stunted growth.  It was only half of what it could have been.  I was a little embarrassed to even put it on the table in front of three little ones who have a knack for pointing out the obvious. Though it still tasted good, and I even got complements on it, I knew it wasn't right.  It could have been better.  And, it was all due to hurried efforts.  An unwillingness to put in the time needed to make it right.

It reminded me of another short cut I sometimes take when life gets busy.  My time with God.  While I strive to spend time with Him each day, as my days get crazier I sometimes cut my Bible study or prayer time short.  Whenever I do this, my week has a way of getting crazier and more stressful.  I can always tell when I'm taking shortcuts in growing my faith because I begin to feel as if I'm stunted in some way.  As if I'm not as connected to Him as I could be.  And, it's during those times that I tend to do things that are embarrassing or that I regret in my relationships with others.

Can you relate?

Can you tell a difference in how you feel each day based on whether or not you've drawn near to God?  On days that you do, do you feel better as a whole?  What about days that you don't?

Isaiah 26:3 says

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

Want peace in your life?  Stay committed in your walk with God.  Daily.  Share your struggles, your joys and your gratitude with Him for all aspects of your day.  Finding peace is easy.  Keeping it takes commitment and a willingness to put in the time.  Some short cuts aren't worth it.  Be steadfast in your efforts.  You will be glad for the results.