Pressure Cooker Faith in a Chaotic World
Devotional
Daniel 1:8a (NLT)
But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
What is pressure cooker faith in a chaotic world? Let me explain. In a pressure cooker, the food cooks more quickly when locked into a pot with liquid, a sealed lid, and heat. The combination of heat, and boiling liquid in the sealed pot results in pressurized food that cooks up to four times more quickly than if it were cooked on a stove or in an oven. The result is a delicious meal in no time at all.
The pressure cooker is a masterful invention. Using it can be a bit intimidating at first, but with time you begin to appreciate its value and learning how to use it the right way is a freeing experience. What could have taken hours to prepare suddenly takes minutes. So, what does this have to do with faith?
Daniel was under pressure. He and his friends were captives in Babylonian who were recognized for their intellect and wisdom. They were given access to some the best “treats” the king had to offer, but that access came at a cost. The king wanted the young men to become Babylonian in every way. In fact, their names were changed to make them a part of the culture. But Daniel was a determined man with a made-up mind. He would learn about how to live in this new culture without compromising his faith in God.
The Babylonian culture had lots of temptations and pressures and Daniel was asked to do things that did not align with his faith. He knew that God was in charge of world events, so he made a decision not to bend to the culture or tarnish his relationship with God.
Today, we are under pressure. It can be difficult to keep our thoughts and attitudes in the right space as we listen to the news media, have conversations with friends and co-workers, and entertain our own thoughts. Now more than ever Christians have to demonstrate pressure cooker faith- the ability to see and do things God’s way regardless of what’s going on around us and in us.
God has given us the power to demonstrate pressure cooker faith and a ‘no matter what’ mindset every day. We can choose to serve God no matter how things look or feel because we know that the truth is still the truth- God is in control. We can trust Him and He will help us.
We can hold on to these truths:
- Society brings pressures but God brings peace (Philippians 4:7)
- So many people are responding to life events from a place of fear but God settles our emotions (Philippians 4:4-7)
- Many of our leaders are compromising and even corrupt but God is trustworthy (Psalm 56:3-4)
- Circumstances are uncertain but God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)
What can we do?
- Live in this culture without doing what everyone else does (James 4:17)
- Remember that God will give us everything we need to do what He wants us to do (Philippians 4:13)
- When stress mounts we can use prayer as a safe place to vent and be refreshed (Jeremiah 29:12)
- Keep like-minded friends close (Proverbs 17:17; 1 Corinthians 15:33)
- Reach out and get the help we need to relieve the pressure of our circumstances (Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 15:22)
It’s said that “A faith that isn’t tested can’t be trusted” (unknown source). The purest prayers, thoughts, plans, and conversations and the best versions of ourselves can come out of our pressure cooker experiences. No one lies being in that state but the results are unquestionable- if we let it happen. Our trials help us understand the value and intricacies of life more clearly when we’ve been through something.
We’re more effective when we realize that the pressure is a gift. How is that? We learn a lot about ourselves and get to know more about God when we’re in stressful situations. When the heat is on and we have to get it all done, respond from a place of grace, honor those around us, and manage our emotions, humility, prayer, and faithfulness are our most effective weapons.
Life can certainly be chaotic, but God has allowed pressures and provides us with relief and guidance. When we’re faithful we have full access to all of His benefits.
Prayer
Dear Lord, We’re so grateful that we are not alone in our difficulties. The pressures are mounting, but You are good. We have doubts, but You are faithful. We’re not always sure about what to do, but You provide direction. And, we have so many things to do with so little time, but we can trust You to help us every step of the way. We’re encouraged by Your presence and Daniel’s example.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Live well,
Michele
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