Recipe for Life

dreadnought

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A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.
 

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I suppose it depends on how you define "enjoyable". If enjoyable requires that things go your way and activities please your "self" then it's pretty much a given that few people can have that - and honestly, it's not really good for us to do so. But I don't get the sense that's what you mean. :)

The thing that has made the biggest difference for me is to realize - not just with my mind, but deep in my heart - that God (1) is fully in control, fully knowing what I need and how things will ultimately affect me, and wants my best good and total salvation. And (2) that I can trust He is working all things, however pleasant or unpleasant, toward that end, and so thank Him for whatever happens, relax, and trust that it is for my good.

From Romans 8:28, 29
We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, ... to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren

Many people have quoted v.28 alone, thinking that they would experience all things as pleasurable. But the purpose is not enjoyment - it is becoming like Christ.

And that should be our ultimate desire. So even if something happens that might seem terrible, and we don't "enjoy" ... if we trust God in the midst of it, "giving thanks in all things" and knowing that He is after all helping us to "work out our own salvation" ... we can begin to truly experience that "peace that passes all understanding" and with this comes the ability to enjoy ALL of life, knowing that God is in control.
 
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Halbhh

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A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.


Doing the greatest commandment fully, with all you have, "all your might", everything, is a profoundly life changing thing, and what happened is better than anything else I've experienced in life. Luke ch 10, v 27. To get there, give it all you have. The first time I tried to do all of it took an hour or two of total effort and focus. My own wording: On the level of heart, I remembered all He has done for me, redeeming me from my profound level of sin, and accepting me back. So much gratitude and love. (Repentance or remembering how you are forgiven is a powerful entry to this gratitude and love -- knowing you are forgiven even despite what you've done!) Another person might remember the blessings He has given, and how that makes them feel. That's the heart level. The mind level is will and intent. You know what God has done for you, redeeming you from sin even when you were an enemy of righteousness, or protecting you even though you did not earn it, and you are choosing to give it all you've got to Love God. Knowing this is the greatest commandment, we choose to put ourselves all in for it. The soul is that part of you that is always there and unchanging, and not affected by the events of the moment. The most natural....relationship of your soul to the Creator of your soul is simply belonging/love. It's the natural condition, and the real challenge for most of us is finding our own soul, and meditation or focus can help, to get in touch with that. The deepest part of you loves God, wants to be with Him. You embrace that. All of your might is to drop all else for a while, and devote every bit of your ability and self into this, all at once. It's worth hours, because eternity is his gift to you.
 
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Divide

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I don't think that this life on earth is quite meant to be enjoyable. Jesus said repeatedly that the world will turn on us and hate us, and that we will suffer. It's a big test. Life and death has been set before us. Will we choose life or death?

There is the joy of the Lord. But generally speaking that is more of a contentment and peace within us than an enjoyable earthly life...

Or so it seems to me...
 
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dreadnought

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What if you are granted a life like Job's?

Forgive me...
If Job had happened in our lifetime, doctors could have pumped him full of painkillers. I don't know if painkillers existed in Job's time.
 
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dreadnought

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I don't think that this life on earth is quite meant to be enjoyable. Jesus said repeatedly that the world will turn on us and hate us, and that we will suffer. It's a big test. Life and death has been set before us. Will we choose life or death?

There is the joy of the Lord. But generally speaking that is more of a contentment and peace within us than an enjoyable earthly life...

Or so it seems to me...
I disagree. I believe paradise is available here and meant to be discovered. Matthew 4:17 is the bright neon sign pointing out the way.
 
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W2L

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I disagree. I believe paradise is available here and meant to be discovered. Matthew 4:17 is the bright neon sign pointing out the way.
What does paradise look like?

Im not sure about paradise but i know we will have much tribulation in life. It helps us grow spiritually.

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
 
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Halbhh

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What if you are granted a life like Job's?

Forgive me...

Well, over time, more slowly, we all will experience what Job did, in that by the very end, we will lose everything here.

The wonderful book Job has real surprises and delights in it we don't guess or expect at all!

Totally worth reading through, even if you have once long ago. Like, Job actually spoke even things like this! -- "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth." !! Imagine. This is one of the first books in the Bible written down, and already this profound foresight is present.
 
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W2L

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A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.
I agree, but don't forget tribulation. Romans 8 says that we are like sheep to the slaughter. It doesn't promise that we will be free from poverty, death, persecution, or tribulation, but it promises that nothing can separate us from Gods love.

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
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dreadnought

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What does paradise look like?

Im not sure about paradise but i know we will have much tribulation in life. It helps us grow spiritually.

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Paradise is when our worries disappear.
 
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dreadnought

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I agree, but don't forget tribulation. Romans 8 says that we are like sheep to the slaughter. It doesn't promise that we will be free from poverty, death, persecution, or tribulation, but it promises that nothing can separate us from Gods love.

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But tribulation doesn't bother a person who has perfect faith, I don't believe.
 
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Halbhh

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Paradise is when our worries disappear.

Here is some of the help He gives us, which we've may have heard, but it's amazing and good.

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
 
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If Job had happened in our lifetime, doctors could have pumped him full of painkillers. I don't know if painkillers existed in Job's time.

But should Job simply accept being numbed to his pain? I suppose wine was available in his day. He could have numbed himself, just as you say. Would it have brought him to God, to trust God even in his trials?
 
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Targaryen

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But should Job simply accept being numbed to his pain? I suppose wine was available in his day. He could have numbed himself, just as you say. Would it have brought him to God, to trust God even in his trials?

Perhaps....but crisis points are usually the best times for revelations. Wine might have dulled his pain but also his perceptions.
 
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Halbhh

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You, my friend, have asked the burning question.

Well, what happened to Job in the first few chapters (and some parts later too, like getting judged and reproached when innocent also) will happen to you, me, everyone.

Just slower, not so much all-at-once, but in pieces, and then a lot at once during the end of this body, as we lose all here. Like Job, then we need to keep faith in God!, and will be rewarded, as he was.
 
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brinny

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If Job had happened in our lifetime, doctors could have pumped him full of painkillers. I don't know if painkillers existed in Job's time.

No, Job was isolated, misunderstood, avoided, spurned, afflicted to the nth degree (even in his dreams), had oozing putrid sores full of worms from head to toe, and in this particular chapter of his life, was destined to suffer inexplicably WITHOUT relief of any kind. Even God (for His own purpose, and that purpose was unknown to Job), was silent, distant.

This verse succinctly describes not only Job's affliction, but for any child of God suffering through inexplicable affliction:

"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." ~Isaiah 48:10

This is anything but "pleasant".
 
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