The Master Chef

By: Kandice Adams

I logged on to Pinterest for the very first time about a week ago.  It didn’t take me long to become enamored with the site as I found millions of recipes within an index finger’s reach, just waiting to be “pinned.”  There was such wisdom within those carefully scribed words that I couldn’t wait to gather the ingredients for my very first recipe.

The next day I decided to get started on some of the yummy goodness I had found. I planned the meal perfectly with all of the ingredients laid before me, and I followed that recipe every step of the way. When the recipe called for a sprig of fresh mint, I joyfully added a sprig of fresh mint; when it called for fish sauce, I obediently added fish sauce.

And the outcome was pure heaven in my mouth.

I have been on the other side of things; when I had the recipe at my fingertips lovingly written on the page before me, but as I began adding ingredients, I chose my own creativity over the chef’s competence. I rashly omitted juniper berries, and added thyme; I impulsively replaced tapioca flour with cornstarch.

There have been times when I walked away from the oven with confidence, and I waited with excitement to unearth my stroke of genius-- only to find out I had made an utter mess of things.

How often have I done this in my spiritual life; how often have I read the words with awe and wonder that our Father penned for me thousands of years ago, only to ruin His carefully laid out plan for my life?  How often have I poured over and painstakingly memorized His directions, only to take a shortcut, create my own path, and make an utter mess of things?

Just as it is important to follow the chef’s carefully written steps in a well thought recipe, it is important that we place the conviction we have in God’s wisdom over the confidence we have in our own abilities in our lives.

He has lovingly shared His very thoughts regarding how we live our lives, and how we raise our children so…

Let us not only hear His words, let us be doers of His word.

Let us not only memorize His directions, let us etch in them on our hearts.

Today, if you are thinking about changing the recipe, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into being intentional about following the Master Chef’s instructions.  When His word calls for forgiveness, let’s joyfully add forgiveness to the rue; when His word calls for humility, let’s obediently add humility to the rue… and then let’s watch as heaven touches earth in our lives and in the lives of those we love.

Word of the Day:
“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way”. Psalm 37:23 (ESV)

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your word that speaks to my heart, for your truth that guides my steps and for your Spirit which redirects my path when I lose my way.  When I begin to place my confidence in my own abilities, please remind me of your promise and remind me of your devotion, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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