Hungry for God's Word

Do you have a certain food that you absolutely hate? We all have that one thing that it doesn’t matter who brings it to us or what the circumstances are, we are not touching that food. For me, it's most things green. I know what you are thinking, but yes, just about anything green is the worst food ever to me. But no matter how much I hate green foods, once I reach a certain hunger level I'm grabbing whatever I can find. We have all experienced this; the moment when you never would have eaten at that restaurant because of its reputation, or the food you swore you wouldn’t eat because you're trying to be healthier, but because you were hungry, you settled.

The same principal is true for your spiritual life. When you are hungry, you will settle for almost anything. Think about it. When we look back at past regrets, most of them were not made over night. No one wakes up one day and decides to make a decision that will ruin their lives. No, it starts small. Small compromises to go to that place but not partake. Small steps towards settling to just go on a date with that guy, despite his reputation, because after all, it's just a date.

How can we tell though when these moments are coming? Because if it starts small, that means we need to be able to see the small things heading our way. I believe it all begins and ends with God’s word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

This means that when we are focused on what God has to say, it's easier to see when our thoughts and the words from others don’t line up with His truth. All of God’s word is here for us. Not to be a book on our shelf, but a word that we store in our hearts. It helps us realize what is wrong, and it teaches us to do what is right. This isn’t condemnation; this is loving correction from a loving Father who wants us to have a John 10:10 life.

John 10:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

That rich and satisfying life that we are all searching for, and that we so easily fill with other things, is available. We just have to stay full on God’s word.

Return to Your Rest

Return To Your Rest

I had the opportunity to do something this past weekend that I haven’t done in a long time…too long! I went hunting with a friend! Please don't be offended if you don't have the same opinion about hunting. I was reminded how something so simple can be so filling and beneficial to my soul!

I read a book once by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro that had a huge impact on the way I lead my life. The book was Leading on Empty. In this book, Cordeiro gives a great principle to help us live a balanced life and to take care of our souls. He says to identify the top three to five things that “drain your tank,” and that “fill your tank". The idea is to limit the things that drain you and pursue the things that fill you. Only when we balance these things are we able to properly care for our souls.

Slowing down enough to do the things you love allows rest to do what it does best!

I love being outside, and I love the outdoors. Whether it’s hunting, camping, fishing, golf, working in the yard, or some project around the house, walking with my wife, you name it…if it has to do with the outdoors, I love it, especially hunting! I remember the first time I ever went hunting, I had no idea what I was doing, but I absolutely loved it. Hunting fills my tank! Slowing down enough to do the things you love allows rest to do what it does best!

It will allow you to see and notice things that your day-to-day velocity makes you miss. When I was in the woods this past weekend, I noticed things I don’t normally see. I saw nature living its day right in front of me without even knowing I was there. I noticed the distant sounds of vehicles on a busy road that didn’t seem to phase the life of the woods.

I saw leaves falling! One leaf fell on me. I started to flick it off, but I picked it up and looked at it and studied it. I. noticed. the. leaf. It was surreal! There was no stress, no busyness, no deadlines, no meetings! I was not “on;” I was disconnected. My soul was resting!

David the Psalmist spoke to his soul when he wrote, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” – (Psalms 116:7). Returning to something that I love to do provided so much rest for my soul. I feel rejuvenated, refreshed, refueled. My mind is clearer, my outlook more positive, overall healthier. Rest has amazing spiritual benefit.

What do you love to do? What fills your tank? How’s your soul? Maybe it's time for you to say, “Return to your rest…my soul…”