I know that Christmas has come and gone, and we all have five pounds to show for it. But I still feel it necessary to spend a few minutes bragging about the success of one of my Christmas cookies. Indulge me for a moment, if you would. Every year, I make biscotti dipped in white chocolate and peppermint candy. And, if I must say so myself, it is quite good. However, this year, it came better than ever before. The reason why? The addition of a new ingredient. A secret ingredient.
Now, I’m not one of those women who share a recipe and omit one ingredient to ensure that mine is better than yours. Although, I must admit that I have been the recipient of that shenanigan many times. So I will happily share with you what I did. This year, I simply added a few teaspoons of peppermint extract to the biscotti batter itself. It made the peppermint flavor spread throughout the whole cookie. The result – fabulous!
Some of you are reading this right now, scratching your head, and wondering where I am headed with this. Well, let me tell you. Have you ever seen a woman of God and wondered why she seems to have it all together and her faith is so steadfast? Or while reading through the Bible, are you curious as to why these mighty men and women were able to perform such amazing things for the Lord? The answer is in the secret ingredient.
There is no clearer example of an individual who recognized the importance of the secret ingredient than Paul. Paul wrote most of the New Testament and had faith that could not be shaken, even while facing persecution and death. Why? He was just an ordinary person just like you and me, but he was man of deep, committed prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul instructs us to:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Prayer makes things happen. Paul understood this. Whether he was seeking God’s will or wisdom for a situation, or praising him in the midst of a trial, Paul prayed without ceasing. He desired to know God better and to have a life that pleased God. This could only be accomplished by spending time with God.
Ladies, we can’t be successful in life without a successful prayer life. We need to spend time in prayer with Jesus each day, talking to Him and allowing Him to build us up in His strength. You don’t need to be eloquent or super spiritual. He just desires an intimate relationship with you that is open and honest. He wants prayers that come from the heart, not those recited out of duty.
Spending time with Him will allow you to hear his voice clearly in any situation and will give you peace no matter what circumstance life brings. Want a successful life? Want a successful 2015? Forget the resolutions. Add the secret ingredient – PRAYER!