You go to a friend’s house and they serve a wonderful dinner. You go on and on over the entree and you even ask for the recipe so you can imitate it, or duplicate it at home. Then the day comes when you make the item, and you have great anticipation of it melting in your mouth the way it did when you first tried it, but it doesn’t. You go over the recipe line by line and you swear to yourself you followed it 100 percent. Disappointment sets in, perhaps even anger.
I have noticed whenever there is a guest speaker, people will flock to the church and sit there with pen and paper taking notes. The speaker may be sharing their testimony of what God did in their life. The people listen with intent. Then when they go home they start doing the things in their life, just like the guest speaker, but they don’t get the same results. Disappointment with God sets in, and perhaps even anger.
There are two reasons why:
1) You aren’t them. God worked in the guest speaker’s life in a unique way knowing the best process to minister to and through them. Now, with that said, there certainly are some principles based on the word of God that can be applied to every believer.
2) God is creative. I think he likes doing things differently for each person.
Is it the guest speaker’s fault?
No. There is nothing wrong with them sharing their experiences with God, because their victory can increase your faith. Just don’t expect God to do the same thing as he did for them at least in the same way.
A better way:
Instead of trying to duplicate someone else’s success with God try getting to know him. I mean know him so well you don’t ever second guess his commandments, or instructions. There are no shortcuts in this process. It takes time, lots of time hanging out with the creator of the universe. Did you know God had a great sense of humor? There is nothing like talking to God and then having a belly laugh moment with him! Get to know his nature, his love, and then imitate him.
Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
brady, mark a. 
Very good and needed at this crazy time.
Thanks Linda. Love ya, miss ya. Keep safe in God and at peace during these days.
Excellent insight, Brother Mark. We all tend to expend way too much energy and emotion trying to imitate or duplicate what God has done/is doing in others’ lives. He is way too creative to stamp out cookie-cutter followers. He truly wants us to have unique, individual experiences with Him by faith, in the Spirit, for His glory.
“Cookie-cutter”, I like that. No cookie-cutter Christians here! All hand made. Thanks for your comment, I appreciate ya, and pray for ya. May God keep you and those you know safe and at peace in these days.
Amen. Shalom, Mark.