When I cook, I almost never use a recipe. I like to be creative and “let the spirit move me.” But I also cook things that are easy and that I am used to cooking (you could argue there is a recipe; I simply memorized it).
But if you cook challenging meals for large groups of people, you can’t afford to wing it, to “play it by ear.” You have to get it right. So good cooks use recipes, and often have books full or a box of them. My mother keeps an alphabetized box full of 3″ x 5″ cards. There are recipes in the box that go back generations.
If you need to cook well when the stakes are high, you must follow a recipe.
Life is like that. You can wing it every day if you that’s your choice. But if you want to be certain of reaching your goals, there are plans, ordered ways of approaching challenges that will yield the desired results.
Have you ever failed? Have you ever set a goal and NOT reached it? If so, maybe it’s time to follow the recipe. Open up the recipe book and look for instructions. Do you need wisdom? Read Proverbs. Love advice? Consider the Song of Solomon—and many other books. Help with your finances? It’s all in the Bible.
What about simply being happy? Would you like to know the recipe for having a good, happy day?
I think there are two key ingredients in scripture.
Step One toward happiness is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
Why do I say cultivate? Because gratitude is like a plant—it will grow larger the more you pay attention to it. Spend time every day being thankful. Make a list. Thank God for every good thing you can think of. If you do that, you will become much, much happier. That is step one.
Step Two toward happiness is obedience.
Consider Hebrews 1:9: “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, therefore God has anointed you with the oil of joy above all your brethren.”
Jesus obeyed the Father. And because he was obedient, what did God do? He “anointed [Him] with the oil of joy” above all His brethren. In other words, because Jesus obeyed God’s plan, God blessed Him with more joy than anyone who ever lived. Can you imagine that? Can you imagine meeting the most joy-filled person who EVER LIVED? No wonder children loved Jesus and were drawn to Him. No wonder! He was bursting with joy because He did not walk in sin every day. In fact, He never got dirty with sin. So not only did He not have to battle the guilt and shame that sin brings people every day, but also God gave Him an extra dose of joy as a reward for His obedience. Imagine that—the most joyful man who ever lived. Isn’t that awesome? (You don’t see that in most movies or paintings of Jesus, do you?)
But this is the second step to being happy—be obedient. If you are following God’s plan every day, then you will be blessed with so much joy.
- Step one—cultivate an attitude of gratitude. PRACTICE gratitude by thanking God for every good thing every day; and
- Step two—walk in obedience. Seek His plans and do your best to follow them. Avoid sin at all costs. And He will fill you with His joy!
Pray. God, teach us to be thankful. Remind us to count our blessings. And help us to walk in obedience. Remind us that sin will rob us of our joy. Help us to obey you and spend time with you every day, and when we obey more, give us more joy, just to remind us of the importance of obedience. We need your joy, Lord Jesus. Life on this earth can be staggeringly hard. But we have so much to be thankful for. Remind us to count our blessings and to obey you in the big things and the small things. Anoint us with your joy, and show us how to share that joy with others! We love you.
ΑΩ
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