Hungry for God: June 2013

Sunday

My Unpopular Opinion

It makes me cringe every time I hear it.

He sure screwed that up.

Yeah, that sucks.

Like the time I watched a beautiful lady—professionally-manicured nails, shining hair, and perfect makeup give an entire speech with cilantro stuck between her front teeth. To everyone within 20/20 range, it didn’t matter that she had perfectly manicured nails, shining hair, and perfect makeup. The cilantro rendered it all pointless—all we could see was the green glob stuck between her teeth.

This is the way I feel about coarse and vulgar speech. And I think I have biblical basis for my feelings.

“Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion” (Proverbs 11:22).

These two terms in particular are not only coarse, they have strong sexual connotations. According to the Urban Dictionary*, screwed up ranks between messed up and ****ed up on the vulgarity scale, yet I’ve even heard church leaders use it—one while teaching a Bible study and the other while giving an announcement.

With a plethora of words in the English language at our disposal, why choose those with questionable pedigrees and potentially offensive overtones? There’s no good reason.

If you’d like to remove screwed up from your vocabulary, may I suggest a few of its synonyms: bobble, botch, bungle, confuse, flub, foul up, goof up, goof, louse, make a mess of, mess, mess up, mishandle, mismanage, muck up, muddle, muff, and spoil.

Ephesians 5:4 reminds us that as children of light, our thinking, conduct, and even our conversation should accurately represent our Lord. And somehow, I can’t picture Jesus telling Peter he screwed up. Or that going to the cross really sucks.

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving" (Eph. 5:4).

What do you think? I love to hear your thoughts when they’re shared respectfully. Leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

*Normally I link my sources, but this particular page, also containing a list of synonyms, was so offensive I didn’t want any of my readers going there.

If you enjoyed this devotion, you'll love Lori's devotional book for homeschooling moms, Joy in the Journey.
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Wednesday

I Killed It - Thoughts on Parenting in the Jungle

I killed it.

Plain and simple. My fingerprints are on the murder weapon. It wasn’t premeditated, and the sad thing is, my husband warned me it would happen, and I did it anyway.

I’ve been a kept woman. The first time I ever touched a lawn mower was nine months ago after my husband hurt his back. For 28 years he’s faithfully pushed that cantankerous mower around our half-acre of sod. He made it look easy, too. He sweated a little, but I figured that was more for show—so I’d feel sorry for him and deliver a steady supply of Popsicles and Gatorade.

This spring, rotator cuff surgery again had him coaching from the sidelines. Several days of heavy rain had our yard looking lush and tropical. Too tropical. I think I spotted a boa constrictor stalking our dog, Winston, through the thick grass. When all I could see was the white tip of his tail bouncing through the yard, I knew it was time to tackle it.

I’m not strong enough to crank the mower, so Hubby got me started and pointed me in the right direction.

Forty-five minutes later, he came out to check my progress. “Why are you pushing so hard?” he asked. “This is a self-propelled mower.” He fiddled with a few gadgets and exclaimed, “Ahhh! Somehow the lever that raises and lowers the blade is set on the lowest setting. No wonder you are pushing so hard.”

He explained that because our beautiful carpet grass is so thick, it requires the highest setting on the mower. “Even though the grass is really long,” he said, “you can’t try to cut it all at once. The engine will choke, you’ll wear yourself out, and you’ll kill the grass.”

Sound advice, but too late.

You see, I already knew about the lever and had deliberately set it as low as it would go. I wanted to mow the grass in one fell swoop and be done with it.

Guess what happened? I choked the engine. I wore myself out. And I killed the lushest, thickest, most beautiful patches of grass. All because I wasn’t patient.

I’m afraid we often employ the same approach to parenting.

Sometimes we turn a blind eye to an issue with our children—anger, disobedience, lying—until we can’t ignore it any longer. Then we try to fix it in one dramatic attempt. We yell, scream, and hand out unrealistic and extreme punishments. We threaten to send them to public school or to homeschool them. We revoke every privilege they’ve ever had until they’re 30-years-old.

I wish I’d only had to admonish my daughters once to speak kindly to each other. I wish they’d learned honesty and dependability in kindergarten when we first discussed it. I wish I’d only had to tell them in passing that punctuality and neatness go a long way toward making them employable.

Instead, it’s taken years of consistent, daily encouragement, and accountability to help them develop the character qualities of mature and responsible adults. And they still have much to learn.

In hindsight, I realize that in my desire to be conscientious, I sometimes pushed too hard. Out of fear or frustration, I cut too deep. Or I choked them with too many demands. By doing so, I’ve sometimes damaged the very relationships I was trying to nurture.

I’m thankful we don’t have to be perfect parents, but we do have to be praying ones. “There are only two ways to avoid guilt as a parent,” says Stormie Omartian, author of The Power of Praying for Our Adult Children. “The first is to die soon after your child is born. The second is to walk with God every day and ask Him for wisdom about everything.” Walking with God certainly seems the better of the two options.

May God bless you as you parent your children with persistence, patience, and faith. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to comment.

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Sunday

Smart Phones and Dumb Me

As I carried the second load of laundry out to the clothesline, I eyed the sky with concern. Off to the west, dark clouds were gathering. We’d returned the day before from back-to-back trips, and everything we owned, it seemed, was dirty. Clean, really, because it was now sitting damply in my laundry basket.

Debating whether to hang the second load on the line, I remembered one of the apps my daughter had loaded onto my new Smart phone. In seconds I had the 36-hour forecast in front of me. Zero percent chance of rain, the page declared, and I smiled smugly to myself. That was easy. Won’t Kristen be proud of me for remembering to use my technology? How did I make decisions before the IPhone was invented?

Confident that I had accessed the most up-to-date weather information, I quickly pinned the load of wet clothes to the line and went back to work.

Fifteen minutes later, the bottom dropped out of the sky.

Rain that would make Noah weigh anchor poured from the sky. The deluge drenched my already-wet laundry so thoroughly that the clothesline drooped under its weight. Towels dragged the ground, vainly trying to absorb more water as giant raindrops splashed dirt onto their edges.

It was a technological and domestic disaster.

But using common sense isn’t always the answer either. Many Christians today take a common sense approach to decision-making that completely excludes biblical wisdom and faith. And the results are much more disastrous than my pile of soggy laundry.

Naaman almost missed a miracle because of common sense thinking. You remember the story: Naaman was a mighty man of valor. The captain of the army of Syria, esteemed by the king, and empowered by God, Naaman had everything a man could want—fame, fortune, respect . . . and leprosy.

Leprosy? Ewwww!

Second Kings Chapter 5 tells the rest. One day a servant girl, taken captive during a raid into Israel, shares with Naaman’s wife that there is a prophet in Israel with the power to perform great miracles. "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy," she says (5:3).

Like every good wife with a leprous husband, she quickly shares this hopeful news with Naaman, who immediately asks the king for permission to pay Elisha a visit. "”By all means, go,’ the king of Aram replied. ‘I will send a letter to the king of Israel.’ So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing” (5:5).

We can tell from his approach that Naaman was a man of common sense. Step 1 – secure permission from the king. Step 2 – network. Step 3 – bring lots of money. Step 4 – plan exactly what to say. Step 5 – achieve desired results.

All goes well until Elisha upsets the game plan. Obviously he hasn’t read Michael Hyatt’s book on social networking, because he doesn’t accept Naaman’s friend request, answer his FaceTime call, or open the door when he knocks. Unimpressed by Naaman’s fancy chariot, retinue of servants, and American Express Gold Card, Elisha sends an old-school voice mail via his servant: “"Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed” (5:10).

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Stinging from the utter dismissal and the ludicrous instructions, Naaman leaves in a huff. "’I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy!” he said. ‘Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?’ So he turned and went off in a rage” (5:11-12).

Common sense told Naaman what a good old-fashioned healing should look like. Prophets' Weekly gave him a good idea how a prophet should operate. And popular opinion dictated how God should work . The only problem was that common sense, extra-biblical literature, and popular opinion leave no room for faith. Or for a God who does the impossible when we believe. “Without faith,” Hebrews 11:6 says, “it is impossible to please God.”

Thankfully, a man of faith traveled with Naaman and offered spiritual counsel. If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" (5:13)

“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy” (5:14).

Naaman not only received physical healing; he received spiritual healing. “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel" he said to Elisha (5:14).

God seldom tells us to completely disregard our intellect, common sense, and knowledge. He does tell us never to become so dependent on facts that we leave no room for faith.

Facts told me there was no hope for my nephew who lay dying in a coma.

Faith said while there is breath there is hope.

Facts told your husband can't afford to go back to school.

Faith said “My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory” (Phil 4:19).

Facts told me her life was ruined, and so was mine.

Faith told me “Fear not. Only believe” (Luke 8:50).

Facts told me their marriage was too broken to fix.

Faith told me, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

What faith challenge stands before you today? Will you allow the “facts” to rob you of a miracle, or will you jump into the river of faith?

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

How have you seen God work in miraculous ways when you've stepped out in faith? I'd love for you to leave a comment below and share your story. For those of you who are reading by email, click here to leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this post, you'll love The Day I Missed a Miracle.

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Wednesday

Security Blankets - A Guest Post

I love sneak previews and samples, and today's devotion is just that. It's no coincidence that Jesus talked more about money than he did heaven or hell. We deal with money every day. How we gain it, spend it, give it, and invest it says much about our faith.

My friend Martin Wiles has been through the financial fires. He's come through them not only with his faith intact, but even stronger than ever. And he's learned quite a few lessons along the way. He shares them in his new book, Grits & Grace & God.

And being the southern gentleman that he is, he graciously agreed to share an excerpt with us below. Enjoy Martin's wise words, leave a comment to share your thoughts, and order your copy of Grits & Grace & God today.

Security Blankets

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall (Proverbs 18:11 NIV).

On Peanuts, Lucy’s brother Linus drags around a blanket. Without it, his life falls apart. With it, he finds security and sanity. It’s common for children to have “security blankets.” They come in different shapes: stuffed animals, actual blankets, pacifiers, a favorite cup, or a thumb. My middle brother’s security blanket was a stuffed dog that he wanted beside him at all times.

Why do young children need security blankets? One explanation is that they’re stress reducers. That leads to a second question. How much stress can a young child possibly have? Probably more than we imagine when we remember they’re little people living in a very intimidating, big world.

Solomon says the wealthy hold on to their possessions as security blankets. They imagine their wealth is an impregnable wall. In the ancient world, walls surrounding cities were essential for adequate defense and protection. Cities without walls were very vulnerable. Nehemiah was disturbed when he discovered the returning exiles hadn’t rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 1:1-4).

Some people carry different types of security blankets into adulthood. Reading a book, going to the gym, seeing a therapist, taking a soothing bath, indulging in sinful or questionable activities, or meditating are just a few.

Not all security blankets are appropriate for believers…wealth being one of them. While wealth…in whatever form…isn’t evil in itself, it’s foolish to wrap ourselves in this security blanket at the expense of trusting God to drape us with His grace and comfort.

Ask God to reveal to you the false items of security that may be taking His place—things that divide your mind and shift your focus.

Prayer: God of all security, challenge us to envelop ourselves in the security blanket of trust that You will always meet our needs according to Your divine plan.

Martin Wiles is a “preacher’s kid,” author and minister who understands the struggles believers face. He can be followed on Love Lines From God (www.lovelinesfromgod.com) Dr. Wiles has been published in The Secret Place and Light From The Word, and is a regular contributor to Christian Devotions. He is also a regular columnist for the Common Ground Herald newspaper. Wiles has authored Morning By Morning, Morning Serenity and Grace Greater Than Sin. He and his wife Michelle reside in Greenwood, South Carolina.

Sunday

Are You a Philistine or a Rahab?

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The Philistines.

I often think of them as big, dumb oafs. Goliath is probably the most well-known of this Cromagnum race. I picture him as a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Hulk with a little Andrae the Giant thrown in for good measure.

The sixth chapter of 1 Samuel tells us about them. The Philistines and the Israelites were at war. God wasn’t about to bless the Israelites in battle while they were dead-set (pun intended) on handling the war in their own strength. When things got dicey and it looked like they might lose, the wicked sons of Eli the priest pulled out their lucky rabbit’s foot—the ark of God—and carried it into battle. The Philistines defeated the Israelites and captured the revered Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of Israel’s might and power.

This is when the story really gets interesting. In every city where the ark was housed, plagues broke out. Thousands died from painful tumors, and cities were overrun with rats (probably carrying the Bubonic plague.)

And while the Philistines were known more for their brawn than their brains, it didn’t take them long to connect the dots. “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god” (1 Sam 5:7). Even their wise men agreed—the ark had to go. To continue to deny that the true God, the God of Israel, was behind these events was simply foolish. “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go . . . ?” (1 Sam. 6:6).

Unfortunately, even though the light bulb turned on for the Philistines, they didn’t apply their understanding to their personal lives. Although they acknowledged that the God of Israel had done mighty things among them, they didn’t take the next logical step and place their faith in Him for their salvation.

In contrast, citizens of another pagan city, Jericho, also had the opportunity to hear of and see the God of Israel at work. Listen to the testimony of Rahab, one of the city’s less-than-upstanding citizens, “I know that the Lord has given you the land. . . For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt. . . and as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted.”

Unlike the Philistines, however, Rahab didn’t just acknowledge that God was mighty, powerful, and able to do miracles, she went a step further. She applied the truth about God to her own life: “. . . For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”

She heard and saw what God could do, and she acknowledged him as her Savior. She moved from head knowledge to heart knowledge, from intellectual assent to wholehearted acceptance.

And then, as is always the case with a true faith experience, she staked her life on the truth she had accepted. She tied the scarlet cord the spies gave her to her window, turned her back on her pagan lifestyle, and waited with her family in faith and trust for God’s deliverance.

Today, which type of hearer are you?

Are you a Philistine—one who has heard about God and acknowledged his work in the world, but has never wholeheartedly committed your life to him? Or are you a Rahab—one who has seen what God has done in the world, repented of your sins, and placed your faith and trust in him for your salvation?

The Philistines were eventually annihilated as a race. In contrast, one of the descendants of Rahab became the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Saving faith always demonstrates itself by action. What would your actions demonstrate about the state of your faith? Don’t be a Philistine – one who watches God work from a distance but never knows him personally. Be a Rahab—one who experiences how God wants to use us, change us, and give us life and purpose.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy "Have You Put Your Hand on the Goat?"

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Thursday

What would he hear?

Woosha woosha woosha woosha. Woosha woosha woosha woosha.

It was one of my favorite parts of my monthly doctor’s visit. Even before I felt pregnant, and certainly before I looked it, I’d raise my shirt and expose my non-existent belly so the doctor could listen to my baby’s heartbeat.

After a pregnant pause, the ultrasound device he used would begin its rhythmic sound projection, and I would smile. “That’s a good strong heartbeat on that little boy,” my doctor would pronounce. A month later he’d listen again. “That little girl sounds like she’s exercising in there,” he’d say, completely oblivious to the fact that he’d just contradicted his earlier prediction. I realized that while the Doppler device was very helpful to confirm that my baby’s heart was beating, it was almost useless for other diagnostics.

As I look back on those doctor visits, I think about my own heart. And about yours. If someone listened to our hearts, what would he hear?

Would he hear a heart that is sold out to Jesus? Paul had one. He often referred to his love for God, whom he served “with his whole heart.”

Would he hear a heart that is sensitive when God convicts us of sin? The Jews at Pentecost had one. “When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Would he hear a heart that is pure? Jesus said the pure of heart would see God (Mat. 5:8).

Would he hear a heart that deeply pondered the things of God? Mary had one. She “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

Would he hear a heart that is willing to invest some of this world’s resources to gather eternal ones? Jesus observed, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Mt 6:21. Would he hear a heart committed to peacemaking and unity? The believers of the early church were of “one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32).

Would he hear a heart that speaks with gentleness, kindness, goodness, and self-control? “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” says Matthew 12:34.

Would he hear a heart that is good and noble, eager to learn God’s word, apply it, and let it work its way out through our lives? “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 18:15).

Would he hear a heart that doesn’t despair when difficulties come, but rests in whom it has believed? Those suffering for the gospel’s sake had hearts like this. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).

And finally, would he hear a heart so full of God’s love that it bubbles out for all to hear? Paul encouraged the Ephesians to have this kind of heart. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).

How's your heart today? If you're missing some of the most important components of spiritual heart health, go to the Great Physician. Confess your need, and commit to do what he tells you.

“Let us, therefore, draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water,” (Hebrews 10:22).

And above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

If you liked this devotion, you'll enjoy When I Realized I Didn't Love God.

If you enjoyed this devotion, may I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

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Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.

Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.

Sunday

Beautiful Eyes

I knew what my husband was going to say before he said it.

We had just spent a few hours with our new neighbor and her mother. I invited her to our church, and she and her mom had surprised me by coming. Wanting to get to know them better, we asked them to join us for pizza after the service.

Whitney is a beautiful woman about my age. She has wide, tawny eyes with long lashes. Her teeth are straight and white. As I sat across from her while we talked, I watched her, thinking again how attractive she was. That’s how I knew what my husband was going to say before he said it.

“I was thinking about Whitney,” he said later, and the little worm of jealousy and insecurity wiggled inside me. “I was watching her eyes.”

“She has very beautiful eyes,” I acknowledged.

“. . . but they’re not like yours,” he said. “They don’t smile.”

David saw what I had missed that day. He echoed the observation of the old English proverb that says, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” Unlike me, he had looked past Whitney’s outward beauty and peered into her heart, which was empty without Jesus.

When we encounter beautiful people, it’s easy to forget that what we see on the outside doesn’t always reflect what’s going on on the inside. Hollywood actors and actresses are a good example of this, but so are our friends and neighbors.

As we talked about spiritual things with Whitney and her mom over pizza that day, I hope it was the first of many conversations we’ll have with them. I pray, in time, Whitney will come to know God personally as her Savior. Then she can experience what the writer of Proverbs describes: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”

And there’s nothing that makes a heart happier than knowing Christ as Savior.

Today I’m praying for Whitney. What about you? Whom has God brought into your life that needs to experience the joy that only comes from knowing God? Not superficial happiness, but the deep-down-inside joy that only Jesus can give? Pray for them today, and then take a step toward building a relationship that will one day grant you the opportunity to share the reason for the hope that lies within you.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like Why My Husband Took the Cold Shower.

This devotion is an excerpt from Lori’s new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women.

You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray?
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me?
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit?

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.

Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.

Thursday

When Someone You Love Is Struggling Spiritually

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They’ve been a pillar of spiritual strength. A source of biblical wisdom. Prayer warriors who have bolstered others with their faith and love.

But now they’re struggling.

A health crisis has entered their lives. Or a wayward child, or a job loss. Perhaps a mountain of unanswered prayers are weighing them down. Ministry is difficult, unappreciated, or non-existent.

Instead of speaking words of faith and hope, they’re drowning in a sea of questions and disappointment. They’re struggling spiritually, and you don’t know how to help.

What can we do when someone we love is struggling spiritually?

1. Be Patient. The deeper the hurt, the longer it can take to heal. When someone’s been through a serious personal, financial, or spiritual crisis, we can’t expect them to reorient immediately. If you’ve ever experienced grief, you know that oftentimes the process involves two steps forward and one step back.

2. Resist the urge to set them straight theologically. If they say “God doesn’t love me,” don’t quote John 3:16 to them. They already know it, and deep inside they believe it. John Piper, in A Godward Life, says,” How quickly we are given to defending God—or sometimes the truth—from words that are for the wind alone. There are enough words, premeditated and studied, that need our rebuttal, but not every despairing heresy blurted out in the hour of agony needs to be answered. If we had discernment, we could tell the difference between the words with roots and the words blowing in the wind.”

3. Recognize the source of their words. When they speak foolish, faithless words, recognize that the source of these words is pain and hurt, not true disbelief. When someone is hurting, they have a tendency to strike out at those closest to them. For men and women of faith, that Someone is God. When they fling hurtful, faithless accusations at the One they know could have spared them from the crisis, they speak from their humanity. Even David did this as he penned the words of Psalm 22, “My God. My God. Why have you forsaken me?”

4. Pray often and intensely for them. Consider fasting. While it’s ok to pray that God will lift their burdens, pray also for them to accept and live in the grace God has provided. Ask God to strengthen their faith and give them a vision for how they can glorify him in their circumstances. Pray that God will reveal himself to them in personal, intimate ways that demonstrate his love and care.

5. Trust the Holy Spirit. Pray for God’s Spirit to speak truth to their hurting hearts and break through the pain. Rest confidently that He will take the truth they know and apply it to their situation.

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6. Do what you can to restore their bodies and souls. When Elijah alternated between despair and depression while hiding from wicked Queen Jezebel, God ministered to his physical needs first. He fed him and encouraged him to rest. It was only after his physical needs were met that Elijah was ready to hear the “still, small voice” of God (1 Kings 19).

For us, this might mean taking them a meal, babysitting their kids, or inviting them out for a fun, lighthearted afternoon. Send them a silly card that makes them smile, text an encouraging Bible verse, or share a Youtube video like Mandisa’s “He Is with You” or Third Day’s “Cry Out to Jesus.” Invite them over for dinner with a few close friends and end the evening by laying hands on them and praying.

Piper gives wise insight into how to minister to someone whose spirit is hurting: “Let us learn to discern whether the words spoken against us or against God or against the truth are merely for the wind—spoken not from the soul, but from the sore. If they are for the wind, let us wait in silence and not reprove. Restoring the soul, not reproving the sore, is the aim of our love.”

What about you? Has there been a time when you were struggling spiritually and someone ministered to you? I’d love for you to share your story in the comment box below. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to leave a comment.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like “When Life Chews You Up and Spits You Out – How to Banish the Dark Night of the Soul.”

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Hungry for God; Starving for Time

Sunday

My Unpopular Opinion

Wednesday

I Killed It - Thoughts on Parenting in the Jungle

Sunday

Smart Phones and Dumb Me

Wednesday

Security Blankets - A Guest Post

Sunday

Are You a Philistine or a Rahab?

Thursday

What would he hear?

Sunday

Beautiful Eyes

Thursday

When Someone You Love Is Struggling Spiritually

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Disqus for Hungry for God; Starving for Time

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