Hello ,

In an interview with NPR, former Beatles star Paul McCartney said:

It seems to me that no matter how famous [you are], no matter how accomplished or how many awards you get, you're always still thinking there's somebody out there who's better than you. I'm often reading a magazine and hearing about someone's new record and I think, "Oh, boy, that's gonna be better than me." It's a very common thing.

The interviewer then asked, "But, Sir Paul McCartney: You have had success in so many dimensions of music. You really feel a competitive insecurity with somebody else that's coming out with a record?" 

McCartney replied: "Unfortunately, yes ... I should be able to look at my accolades and go, 'Come on, Paul. That's enough.' But there's still this little voice in the back of my brain that goes, 'No, no, no. You could do better. This person over here is excelling. Try harder!' It still can be a little bit intimidating."*

The world has often told us through expressed or implied terms that performance is the key to happiness, but when that mindset begins to bleed over into the spiritual realm, there can be stunning ramifications.  

There are some who like to try and measure their spirituality based on their performance.  This can either lead to smugness or despondency...most often, the latter.  Many see spiritual performance in the following terms:

Victory = Peace

They are waiting for that elusive day when they will finally have victory over this struggle, or that challenge, but when it comes, most often, peace doesn't come along with it.  May I suggest a different formula?

Peace = Victory

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"                1 John 2:1

Knowing that Christ is in our corner can give us the peace that we need to get back up and begin again.  Despondency cannot live in that kind of an environment, because we can know that Jesus is always there for us.  The result?  More victory than we could have possibly imagined.

May the thought that Jesus is there for you...(even when you fall and fail), give you great hope for a wonderful day in Him.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word