When I was younger, one of my greatest pleasures was watching my mom as she baked snacks for us to take to school or cookies to go with Sunday dinner. She was mesmerising as she danced and sang while she prepped. First stop, removing the cookbook from the top shelf. Then she would cha-cha-cha from the utensil drawer to the baking tin cabinet, glide over to the apron hook, twirl into her apron, and skip between the refrigerator and cupboards to get her ingredients.
MOTHER’S RECIPE
Mom always used a cookbook. She liked feeling the pages between her fingers, looking at the images, measuring the portions, and using the ingredients to make up stories with some kind of moral lesson. She also made notes along the sides of the pages. The recipes seemed to speak to her. They gave her nuggets to apply to her life. Nuggets she uses to this day.
Fast forward to my young adult years, when I learned that this wasn’t so much a baking routine. My mom worked multiple jobs and hardly had time for herself. She realised that the best time to have her devotions without much interruption was while she baked. And the book I thought was a cookbook was really her Application Study Bible.
Later when I became a Christian and my life got hectic, I pulled on the amazing lessons I had learned from Mother’s devotional routine, which helped me understand the Bible’s importance and how to apply it to my everyday life and circumstances.
I learned that the Bible is more than a history book. That it is a blueprint for our lives, and if applied verbatim and consistently, would transform us and result in a beautiful, satisfying, and perfect life that pleases God (Romans 12:2).
I also learned that singing and dancing create an atmosphere of worship and praise. Furthermore, God inhabits our praise (Psalm 22:3). Scripture also shows us that victory is released as we press in with praise and worship (Acts 16:25–26).
I think what intrigued me the most was that my mom took notes. She did so as she meditated on and unpacked the Scriptures (Joshua 1:8). She knew that what was on the surface was merely the beginning. As she went deeper, she asked questions like: “How does this apply to me? Is there something about me that needs to change? Is there something that I am doing that doesn’t please You, Lord? What do I need to do to embrace Your character; Your way of doing things? How do I get rid of the contrary habits, attitudes, and behaviours and align my thoughts with Yours?”
MY OWN RECIPE
Everything about this led me to be introspective. It made me yearn to become a better me—to be the kind of woman that would please God. Over time, my routine evolved. I made declarations, called those things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17), and used different Bible versions for deeper clarity and revelation.
I joined a small group of like-minded people who were committed to being intimate with the Word (Proverbs 27:17). All because I was determined to draw near to God. As I dug in, my attitudes, perspectives, and the way I did things shifted. I became more like Jesus – thinking, acting, reacting, and being more like Him.
I learned how to press beyond my past hurts and disappointments towards peace, divine purpose, joy, contentment, and knowing who I am because of my life in Christ. Though I am far from perfect, I can rejoice in the fact that I am also far less imperfect.
DON’T ALTER GOD’S “COOKBOOK”
My final thoughts… As I prayed and asked the Lord what to share with you today, He told me to share this story. He said, “My people aren’t spending enough time in my Word. They are perishing because of lack of knowledge, and knowledge comes from my Word.” When I asked what the word “perish” meant, He said, “to hurt, miss out on opportunities, barely survive, struggle in relationships, be stuck in a rut, make poor decisions, drown in one’s fears, doubts and insecurities, unable to thrive.”
The words were harsh. Yet, they explained so much.
Our Father doesn’t want us to perish; He wants us to succeed. However, we can’t unlock all He has for us—that beautiful, satisfying, and perfect life that pleases Him—if we don’t fully embrace His Word, meditate on it, accept all of it as true, and apply it “as is” without fear or tainted perspectives.
When we became Christians, we received the ability to be completely transformed by the Word of God. To maximize this ability, we must get to know the Word of God. We must make the most of the principles outlined in it. We must accept that what God says is true. We must accept that His is the only perspective we ought to have—that which will cut through our soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12) to skyrocket our best selves and beat the enemy at his game.
Let us choose to become intimate with the Word and follow God’s recipe to a tee. Let us stop tweaking the portions, substituting ingredients, or altering the temperature gauge because we want to speed things up or cool things down. Then, and only then, will the rewards be immeasurable.
Dr. Tricia-Anne Y. Morris is an award-winning storyteller, author, transformational speaker, podcaster, and certified professional life, life purpose, and business coach. Also a Success Strategist, adjunct lecturer, trainer, and YouTuber; she has been featured in Time Magazine and Sun Sentinel Florida newspaper, appeared on Religious Hard Talk T.V. programme and is a recurring guest on WOKB 1680 AM (Orlando) where she shares success strategies and life coaching tips.
Passionate about prayer, Tricia-Anne holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). Check out her YouTube channel, Real Women Unplugged at youtube.com/@wearerwu.