Ingredients

One of my favourite things to consume and the share are my Chocky Chip Cookies!
Since tweaking a recipe for a cafe over 10 years ago to suit, I have just kept on making them.
They always taste great - just have have to ignore how naughty they are...

The key I have found is having all the right ingredients.
You have to get the proportions just right otherwise they aren't right, they aren't consistent and the making process becomes frustrating.

The same thing applies I believe to being a disciple of Jesus.
If you get the ingredients right in your life, it is truly a wonderful thing.
Get the proportions wrong or inconsistent and it can be a frustrating relationship at times...

To paraphrase Psalm 37:23 a little - God has your steps and processes for following Him all worked out! We just have need to go with the recipe He has for our lives.

What are the ingredients you need to be a disciple?

1. Trust
Trust is key for the best relationships. How much do you trust God? Have you truly given over all of your life to Him and His Lordship.
2. Faith
Without faith it is impossible to either please God or to do the things that Jesus said you should be able to do.
3. Heart
God judges our heart far more than our appearance. Is your heart right with him and with others?
4. Love & Forgiveness
We are told in scripture that without love we are nothing. It is what we need to receive and accept from God and also pass on to as many as we can during our lifetime.
5. Prayer
The lifeline to any relationship is communication. Speaking, listening and processing it right.
6. Word
As the psalmist said, we need to hide His Word in our hearts. It is also your spiritual food and without it we starve ourselves.
7. Worship
The lifestyle God is looking for you is based around a lifestyle of worship. Where you see your life as a living sacrifice. Where you desire to express worship to our Father in Heaven whenever possible and in all sorts of ways.
8. Service
You are created by God to do something very special. Discovering what that is is part of the process and doing it should become part of your joy.
9. Rest
You are a human being not just a human doing. You need to balance your work with your rest. You need to 'enter' the rest that He has for each of us.
10. Presence
You can experience some of heaven here on earth before we go there. Seek His presence and you will find His peace.

Have you got all those ingredients in your life?
Anything you need to add? Do you need to adjust some proportions?
Simply begin right now by praying this a little through, letting the Holy Spirit point the way to getting your ingredients list right.

Something to think about...