Follow the Recipe

The LORD says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” – Jeremiah 31:3

Have you ever enjoyed a wonderful meal at a friend’s house and asked for the recipe? 

I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful for others’ recipes because I’m not a naturally  good cook.  I learned how to bake chicken from the Barefoot Contessa and have finally  been able to make a decent lasagna thanks to the Pioneer Woman.  Recipes have saved me!

At my wedding shower, each person was asked to bring and share a well-loved recipe.  Almost twenty-five years later, I still use that priceless collection in my kitchen. The next wedding shower I plan, instead of requesting recipes for food, I’ll ask successfully married couples for their recipes for a Long Lasting LOVE Relationship.  

What would make your top ten list of the most important ingredients in a Long Lasting Love Relationship?  I recently asked a group of women that exact question.  Here’s what they said. 

Recipe for a Long Lasting Love Relationship

1. Quality Time
2. Commitment
3. Faithfulness
4. Honesty
5. Trust
6. Compassion/Understanding
7. Patience
8. Kindness
9. Selflessness
10. Forgiveness

What would you keep, add, or delete from the list to personalize it?

Now, what if we changed the question a bit, asking instead for the key ingredients to a close relationship with God?  

Wouldn’t the recipe be the same?  In order to grow closer to God, don’t we need to spend quality time with Him?  Don’t we need to be fully committed and faithful to carve out time in our busy lives for Him?  Isn’t our relationship enhanced when we’re honest with God and trust Him more?  And don’t we grow closer to God when our understanding of Him increases? Then, God takes care of the rest of the list.   As we know God personally and intimately, he’ll transform us into the likeness of His son Jesus.  We’ll shine with Jesus’ compassion, kindness, selflessness and forgiveness.  

It’s common to intentionally focus on building relationships with our spouses, children or friends.  But how often do we intentionally focus on our relationship with God?  If you look at it through the lens of LOVE, believing that God’s is everlasting, then it won’t be hard to follow the recipe.  You’ll make a love like no other.  A love that lasts forever.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a Part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement