Do you like to cook? It is one of my favorite things to do. I love cooking on the weekends when we’re not rushing in a million different directions. I can take time to try new recipes or pull out old favorites.
I like creating marinades for meat to soak in for the day before putting them on the grill. By soaking in a marinade over a long period of time the meat becomes infused with the flavors of the marinade. This only happens when it is allowed to soak for a period of time. If I just place it in the marinade for a few minutes, I won’t even taste the flavors when it’s cooked. The marinade will only be on the surface and will burn off when I put it on the grill. It has to soak in order for the flavors to penetrate the surface and impact the flavor of the meat. The heat of the grill is what makes the flavors of the meat come alive. Heat intensifies the flavors throughout the meat making an average cut of meat taste like choice meat.
What do you allow yourself to soak in each day? Do you soak in television, social media, movies, books, or the company of other people? What about the Word of God? Do you soak in it? Psalm 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” To truly soak in the Lord, you must take time with Him. This isn’t a rush job if you want His Word, His Spirit, His character and personality to permeate through you. Just like a rush job of marinating meat doesn’t change the flavor of the meat, a rush job with the Lord will not change you. Psalm 37:7a says “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him” not rush through. We have to be patient and willing to wait for God to do His best work.
Trials and troubles are a part of life [John 16:33]. They are the heat that reveals what’s inside us. Everyone experiences them, even sold out believers. As one pastor said “You can’t walk into who you’re walking beside.” If you’re walking beside the Lord, you’re bound to run into the enemy. Let’s face it, if you are for Jesus, the enemy doesn’t like you. In fact, he hates you and wants to bring harm your way [John 10:10].
Fortunately for us, the later part of John 16:33 says “I have overcome the world.” Jesus is an overcomer and He protects His own [John 17:11, 15.] 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” So, when the heat of life comes at you, if you are strong in the Lord, the only thing that happens as a result of the heat is the glorification of God [Ephesians 6:10]. He rises to the surface. Now that’s a win-win situation.
On our own, we’re just average at best and we really can’t accomplish much of anything [John 15:5]. However, when we soak in the presence of the living God and allow Him to permeate us, we become royalty and nothing is impossible [Luke 1:37, 1 Peter 2:9]. What are you soaking in today?