2026 Sacred Whispers Blog

A PERFORMANCE-BASED FAITH

I thought I had my walk with Christ together. I was seeking the Lord early in the morning, making my tea, setting the scene beside my Bible and journal, all perfectly arranged with my pastel highlighters (because apparently the Spirit moves best in soft tones). And of course… selfie time. Gotta capture this holy moment I conjured with my Heavenly Father for the ’gram.

Story posted – with ethereal soaking worship music softly playing in the background, of course. After a quick scroll to see who had viewed it, I returned to “quiet time.” Those little detours revealed something deep in my heart: I had a performance-based faith. Even in my moments of devotion, I was still auditioning for God’s approval. If I could just worship long enough, pray hard enough, fast intensely enough, and exegete Scripture deeply enough, maybe… just maybe… I could earn more of His love and approval.

Scripture consistently warns against this subtle drift. Jesus Himself cautioned, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew

6:1). What appears spiritual on the outside can quietly become transactional on the inside, where devotion turns into currency and intimacy is replaced by effort. Here is the problem with performance: it suffocates intimacy. I had placed myself center stage under the blinding lights of my own effort. Anyone who has been on stage before knows the lights are so bright that it is impossible to see the audience. The glare of performance kept me from truly seeing the God I claimed to serve.

Performance always narrows vision. It shifts our gaze inward, while intimacy always widens it, fixing our eyes outward and upward on the Father who sees in secret (Matthew 6:6).

STEPPING OFF THE STAGE

When I finally stepped off that stage, laid down the props, the filters, and the highlight reels, silence met me first. But in that stillness, I found something sacred: holy ground where the Audience of One was sitting. And in that place, I realized something sobering. I didn’t really know Him.

I had a lot in common with the Pharisees. They didn’t really know the Lord either.

This echoes God’s lament in Hosea 6:6: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” God has always been after relationship, not religious refinement.

RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT MISSES THE HEART

Early in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes a bold statement: “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Whoa. These are the guys who knew Scripture forward and backward and served as leaders among the Jews. They were highly respected and knowledgeable about the Torah. On the surface, Jesus’ statement seems harsh. Who could exceed the standard of such prominent people of faith?

As we read on through the Gospels, the true heart of the Pharisees is revealed. They constantly missed the heart of Jesus’ ministry, led with judgment over love, and lacked awareness of the deity of Christ. They knew every letter of the Law but missed the heart of the Lawgiver. Their eyes, clouded by pride, could not see the Messiah standing before them. With spiritually blinded eyes, they locked eyes with the Savior and yelled, “Crucify Him!”

Jesus’ critique was never about their lack of discipline, but their lack of dependence. Paul later clarifies this tension when he writes, “Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:9).

FROM STRIVING TO REST

But God, in His omnipotent and omniscient sovereignty, used even the agenda behind this spirit of religion to accomplish His finished work on the cross. Even our misplaced striving cannot derail His perfect plan. With His salvific work complete, we are not called to work for righteousness but to rest in it.

We go so much farther with the Lord through resting than striving.

This rest is not spiritual laziness; it is gospel confidence. Hebrews reminds us, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9), a rest rooted in Christ’s finished work, not our unfinished efforts.

True righteousness is only received through the blood of Jesus. Every work of man is regarded as a filthy rag by God’s perfect standard. When this truth is accepted with humility, it holds the power to set us free from constant striving and performance. To enter the kingdom of heaven, we are to come to Jesus like little children. Childlike faith does not negotiate love; it receives it (Matthew 18:3–4).

FREEDOM IN AUTHENTICITY

In this place of true authenticity, something beautiful happens. The pressure to perform and check boxes fades away as we bask in the freedom that Jesus secured for us through His death and resurrection. When I finally stopped trying to earn His smile, I found it had been resting over me the whole time.

We enjoy our time in the presence of the Lord. The benefits are twofold: not only are we granted entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, but we also get to taste Heaven on earth in personal intimacy with the King right here and now. Paul describes this freedom plainly: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

A SONG OF REST

John Mark Pantana paints a beautiful picture of this in his worship song, Meet Your Maker:

You put no heavy weights on me.

You say, “Come, rest and receive.”

All of those years I was wounded by religion.

You unwind me.

You say, son, I just want you free.

You calm all my striving.

You lay your peace over me like blankets.

You put an end to my pretending show.

You are the least religious person that I know.

May we trade our stages for His sanctuary, where love is unearned, and presence is enough.

As Brennan Manning once wrote, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.” Performance may impress people, but only authenticity reveals the heart of Christ.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for inviting me off the stage and into Your presence. Teach me to res tin Your love instead of performing for Your approval. Quiet every voice of striving withinme, and let Your peace settle over my soul. May my worship be sincere, my devotion unfiltered, and my heart fully open to You. Help me to live from acceptance, not for it, resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. In Your holy name I pray, Amen.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE: RECLINING WITH THE REDEEMER

In ancient Jewish tradition, those who were once enslaved would recline at the Passover table as a sign that they were finally free, free from slavery in Egypt, free and redeemed by God. Similarly, we do not work for love or acceptance from the Lord. We simply position ourselves in Christ to receive it.

Today, or during your next quiet moment with the Lord, find a comfortable place to physically recline, on your couch, your bed, or even on the floor with a pillow. As you settle in, ask the Holy Spirit to minister the love of Jesus to you in a fresh way. May He reveal any area of your life where you can more deeply embrace the acceptance of our Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ.

Let this traditional Jewish posture remind you that by the blood of Jesus, you are not striving or performing for approval. You are simply resting in the bosom of the Lord.

Focus Verse: John 13:23, “One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining next

to Him.”