• by Desiree Bustamante

Take time to cultivate your life in Christ.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 New Living Translation

There are basic baking rules that must be followed when baking bread. A better loaf is produced with the recommended type of flour, a specified temperature range of water that makes the yeast activate, and enough warmth to allow the dough to properly rise. This process takes time and patience. Shortcuts will not produce the soft, warm loaf you crave.

Our society desires pleasure and peace, preferably now! We long to create our own happy place that doesn’t involve the patience to cultivate a deep relationship with God or waiting on His timing, so it seems satisfying to merge our beliefs with what feels warm, fuzzy and comfortable in the moment.

I viewed a video of someone describing their way to find peace and meaning in life. It combined meditation, astrology and self-affirming words with some misinterpreted “God-like” quotations thrown in, that would draw good vibes from the universe to make you feel better about yourself.

This is a recipe for disaster. God alone is our abundant life. Watering down Scripture to justify our selfishness will never secure the real peace we seek. Attempting to make ourselves happy by consuming meaningless, worldly beliefs will always leave our souls missing His presence. Living for ourselves creates more anxiety and stress than ever before.

Don’t allow secular belief systems to creep into God’s truth. Make sure what you believe aligns with Scripture. Pray for discernment and wisdom. The Holy Spirit will always reveal it to you. That’s the recipe for a successful life.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado