I love my instant pot. It cooks dinner in a fraction of the time of my old crockpot and to me, it feels safer. (Hello-that horrifying episode of This Is Us, where we lost our favorite and most important character of the tv series.) The instant pot builds up pressure and heat inside and has a little valve that you either let naturally release or do a quick release to let the steam out and then safely open the lid and enjoy the dinner you've made. 

Sometimes, I feel like I'm that instant pot, contents under pressure. I find myself "keeping a lid" on my emotions and powering through my day. However, I find myself getting to that point when I feel like I'm going to "blow a gasket"; the tears start to creep out of my eyes, or I'm tempted to say something unkind or hurtful. Can anyone else relate? 

The word that I have chosen for my phone screen saver this month is "peace."

I want Jesus to be my release valve so I decompress naturally and not have a "quick release" on an unsuspecting bystander. Jesus is my Prince of Peace. I don't need to allow the contents of the day to build up. I can release them to His ever capable hands to do as He wills. I do this better when I give myself time to read, relax, and pray at the end of a busy day. 

"I leave the gift of peace with you—My peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but My perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!" (John 14:27 TPT)

May you find that sweet place of peace, resting in His embrace when you feel that life has your contents "under pressure". 

This post was prompted by Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with little editing. (Some weeks I have more trouble with that part than others.) Check out the other writers on this topic!