“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1:2-3

What’s Cookin’ In You?

I find it amazing, exciting, and comforting to know Jesus can take the seemingly mundane or innocuous experiences of life and turn them into useful, important and even valuable opportunities to serve and grow. Case in point: I love to cook and especially to feed people. It is one of my greatest joys to see people blessed by the food I prepare and serve. It’s a creative outlet for me as well. I think that is why Holy Spirit recently spoke to me with that in mind.

He said that my life (and yours) is much like cooking or preparing food. I need certain ingredients in order for me to prepare a dish that comes out well. My parents and others gave me many of the “ingredients” I need to live my life. But they could only give what they had and sometimes they couldn’t even give that. Some things were sweet, some salty, some savory, some sour, some bitter, and some had no noticeable flavor. Some things were old and moldy and needed to be discarded, some fresh and vibrant things that add color, texture and flavor to my life. But I did not get everything I needed from them and all of their “ingredients” had an effect on how I turned out.

Even though I don’t have everything to make exactly what I want, I have ingredients to make something. I could whine and complain that I don’t have what I think I need to do a good job (make a certain dish) and give up or not even try. Or I can search out the ingredients, recipes and tools I need to make something different.

There is another even better option. I can reach out to the Master Chef (Jesus, the Maker of all things), for what I need. He is always available with everything (the perfect things) I need.

Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” James 4:3 says, “You ask and don’t receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

John 16:23-24 in The Message translation, says, “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in My name, according to My will and He’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks.”

All I have to do is ask. His pantry is always full, He never runs out of ingredients and they don’t go bad. And to top it off, He’s always available to show me how to “cook ” and He will even walk me through it, if needed. And if I’m really honest, that’s most of the time.

Soooo, I think I want to study under the Master Chef and get “cookin’ ” and see what amazing concoction He makes in me when I utilize His pantry.

“Thank You, Father, for giving me everything I have and making all Your resources available to me. Help me to give to others the things You have given to me so they can get “cookin’,” too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”