The Secret Ingredient

I'm not much of a chef. In fact, my wife would tell you that I, like Garfield, am much more of an eater than a cook. However, as an eater, I have a deep appreciation for the difference that one single ingredient can make. A single ingredient can make or break a recipe. A missing or wrong ingredient can sabotage what might have otherwise been a perfectly good recipe, but the right ingredient can also turn an ordinary dish into a family favorite.

Ingredients are important, but secret ingredients make culinary masterpieces. Some of America's most iconic foods boast such a secret ingredient. McDonald's Big Mac relies on its secret sauce, KFC is built around Colonel Sanders' secret 11 herbs and spices, and don't forget about the Krabby Patty secret formula. Secret ingredients are a key part of many restaurants' successes.

What does this have to do with the ChASM Project? I'm glad you asked. We also have a secret ingredient that helps us succeed. When this ingredient is missing, we're not very good. But when that ingredient is mixed in, we become extraordinary.

What is it? Our secret ingredient is prayer. Through prayer, we communicate with God, and that makes a huge difference. Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life. Jesus taught us to pray and Scripture tells us to make our requests known to God. Prayer is powerful, but I think many people misunderstand the reasons for its effectiveness.

Often, the real power in prayer comes not from our requests, but God's answers. He created the universe and is all-knowing. He knows everything about you and everything about your situation. God knows in advance exactly what you need, how much of it you need, when you need it, and how to get it to you. Far too often, people feel like they are too busy to pray until they find themselves in a crisis. When they finally become desperate enough to pray, they are too busy explaining the problem to God to hear what He has to say about it.

If it wasn't so serious, it would be comical. Instead of listening to God's answer, people interrupt Him to explain a problem that He already understands better than they could ever hope to know. It is good to make your requests known to God and cast your cares on Him, but it is also important to listen and hear what He has to say about the situation. In prayer, there is always an Expert in the room. Ask Him what to do and listen for His answer.

Take time to pray, today and every day. Don't wait until you're at the end of your rope. And when you pray, take time to listen. I believe it will transform your relationship with God.

I firmly believe in the power of prayer. That's why the ChASM Project has a dedicated prayer team that meets weekly to pray for whatever is most pressing at that time. What do you suppose we do at the close of each meeting? We listen.

Could I ask a special favor from you? Take a moment, before you move on with your day, to pray for the ChASM Project. Simply ask the Lord to show or tell you what to pray. Listen for His answer and pray about that. Thank YOU for being part of our secret ingredient.