Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 75

The One Prayer God Won't Answer

Jealousy is a powerful thing. 

Those who succumb to its green-eyed madness have made public spectacles of themselves, done things they’ve regretted later, and even committed crimes like assault and murder. 

But why am I talking about jealousy when the title of this devotion is "The one prayer God won’t answer"? Because jealousy is at the root of the answer. 

God is a jealous God. He said so himself in Deuteronomy 5:9: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God . . .” 

But God’s brand of jealousy is very different from human jealousy. We get jealous when our husbands talk too long to other women. Or come home raving about how the cute new intern at work has the most innovative ideas. Or mentions how terrific the neighbor looks since she lost all that weight. Human jealousy is self-focused. 


We feel jealous because we feel threatened. We compare ourselves to the other woman, the intern at work, or the svelte lady next door and realize we don’t measure up. We fear our well being is in danger. Human jealousy is rooted in self-preservation. 

God’s jealousy, however, is rooted in other preservation. 

God doesn’t feel jealous because people pray to Buddah, or Muhammed, or any of the thousands of gods in the world. He doesn’t compare himself to Pantheism and wish he had thought to suggest people worship trees and nature. And he doesn’t look at himself and think, If I looked more appealing, people would love me more. 

Instead of being self-focused, God’s jealousy focuses on the well-being of those he loves. That’s us. He wants us to serve him because he knows that true fulfillment comes from serving him, not from serving ourselves. He wants us to think about him, spend time with him, and get to know him because he knows our lives will be better if we know him intimately. 

He wants us to follow him only because he knows wholehearted devotion gives our lives direction, purpose, and peace. He wants us to love him not because it’s good for him, but because it’s good for us. 

Because God wants the best for us, the objects of his love, he jealously pursues us. He loves us unconditionally and forgives us every time we genuinely repent. And he withholds anything that will draw our loyalty and affection away from him. 

In his book, Taste and See, in a commentary on James 4:2-4, John Piper writes about “people who use prayer to try to get from God something they desire more than God” (328). 

“. . . something they desire more than God.” 

We do our best to pray for good things, but sometimes good things can replace God in our lives. Sometimes even the desire for these good things can replace God in our lives. We think if we could just find a husband (or get rid of the one we have), we’d be happy. Or have a child, get a promotion, or buy our dream home. We set that thing—whatever we’ve set our affection on—smack dab on the throne of our lives. 

And if something else is on the throne, guess Who’s not? The scary part is, most of the time we don’t even realize our desire for something good from God has displaced God himself. 

God, however, knows the truth—that we won’t be truly happy until we find our satisfaction in him alone. God knows this, because he created us this way. 


Which brings us back to the answer to my question, “What‘s the one prayer God won’t answer?” 

The prayer for something we desire more than God. 



What about you? Have you ever struggled with wanting something from God more than you wanted God? Leave a comment below and share your story.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

4 Steps to Take When You Can't See God

I awaken to a fog-filled morning. The warm, moist mist crept in while I slept, shrouding my neighborhood and reducing visibility. Peering out my front window, I can’t see farther than my mailbox. My neighbor’s house, just 25 feet in front of me, is gone. It isn't until three hours later, when the fog lifts, that the house reappears—right where it has been all along. 

Sometimes I feel like my life is shrouded in fog. Difficult relationships, job uncertainty, the loss of a loved one, or an illness hedge me in and block my spiritual vision. Like a blind man, I stumble around frightened and unsure. I develop spiritual amnesia, forgetting spiritual truths I’ve known and trusted for decades. In the uncertainty of my circumstances, I have trouble seeing my heavenly Father’s face. And while I know he is always near, my struggles sometimes blind my eyes to his presence. 

Elijah’s servant also suffered from foggy faith. He went to sleep confident and comfortable and awakened to find an army of enemy chariots surrounding his city. In danger of being killed or captured, he panicked. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" he cried (2 Kings 6:15). 

The prophet Elisha’s spiritual vision, however, was 20/20. Although his physical eyes saw the enemy surrounding him with apparently no way out, he wasn’t fooled. He saw with his spiritual eyes what his physical eyes could not—thousands of angels in fiery chariots encircling him. 

"’Don't be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see’” (16-17). Suddenly the servant’s eyes were opened, and he could see the help that had been there all along. 

If you can’t see God in your present circumstances, don’t assume he isn’t there. Like my neighbor’s home, God and his angels are often quite near. You may not see them clearly, but that doesn’t change the certainty of their presence. God is intimately acquainted with your circumstances, and his arm is not short that he cannot save (Isa. 59:1). 


If you’re struggling to see God in the midst of a trial, here are three steps to take: 

1. Pray. Like Elisha, ask God to open your eyes to see his work in your life. 

2. Look intentionally for signs of his presence. Don’t miss the little things. 

3. Keep a list of what you see. 

4. Thank him specifically for his gifts, large and small, and for his tender care for you. 





Sample prayer: 

Father, open my eyes to see how you are at work in my life. Show me tangible, visible evidence of how you love and care for me. Thank you for the comfort of your Word, which reminds me that you will never leave me or forsake me. Thank you for strength to rise from bed this morning, food to nourish my body, and sunshine to warm the earth. Thank you for the chatter of birds outside my window, because they remind me that just as you care for the sparrow, so you also care for me. Thank you for the simple pleasures of a warm bed, a faithful dog, and Christian friends. Thank you for the ways you’ve shown yourself faithful on my behalf in the past, for this demonstrates that I can trust you for the future. May you be glorified in me today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Why Not Have Thanksgiving MONTH?

One of the first things conscientious parents teach their children to say is “please” and “thank you.” More than just good manners, these three little words are foundational to a polite society. 

When we say please, we transform a command into a request—unless, of course, you’re my third grade teacher. When Mrs. Cavanaugh said, “Please be quiet and take your seats,” it wasn’t a request. It was an order. 

Generally speaking, however, please reminds us that we are making a request. When someone honors our request, the proper response is to say, “Thank you.” Mrs. Cavanaugh never said thank you, but my mom taught me to. Under her gentle tutelage, I learned to acknowledge gifts, courtesies, and compliments with gratitude. 

As our world becomes more consumer-oriented, genuine expressions of thanks become rarer. I’m as guilty as the next person. I don’t always thank my husband for taking out the trash, replacing the ratty windshield wiper on my car, or working hard to provide for our family. Sometimes I complain about poor service in a store or restaurant, but seldom offer anything more than a cursory, “Thank you,” to my waitress or clerk when I receive good service. 

One of my goals during this Thanksgiving month is to go beyond the simple thank you and offer a more intentional, thoughtful response. It could be as simple as sending an email that says, “Thank you so much for your help on this project. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I’m very grateful for your participation.” Or I might say to the cashier at the grocery store, “You have a great smile. It’s so nice to see a happy face at the cash register.” At least once this month I plan to write a letter to a store manager bragging on one of his employees. 

I took my idea for a trial run in September. I was preparing for a trip to Japan to visit my daughter, who lives in Yokosuka with her Navy husband. When I asked if there was anything I could bring that she couldn’t get in Japan, she responded with a sigh. “What I miss the most is Chick Fil A nuggets, and there’s no way you could bring them to Japan.” With 20 hours of travel time ahead of me, we agreed that Chick Fil A nuggets were out of the question. 

But mothers don’t give up easily. A suggestion from my sister-in-law led to a phone call to Patrick, an employee at a local ice company. “I think five or six pounds of dry ice should get your nuggets safely to Japan,” he said confidently. “Stop by on the way to the airport, and I’ll be glad to package it up for you. It’ll cost you about $12.50.” 

Knowing I had to arrive at the airport by eight a.m., I asked what time they opened. Eight o’clock, he said, too late for me to stop by and still make my flight. “I don’t mind meeting you here early,” Patrick said. “I’ll see you at 7.” 

You’d better believe I wrote that young man’s boss a letter expressing my thanks and praising his willingness to go far beyond what was expected of him. I hope my letter made them smile as much as those Chick Fil A nuggets made my daughter smile, but I doubt it. 

Thanksgiving Day will soon be upon us. We’ll eat too much, watch football, and acknowledge God’s blessings. Why not go a step further? Why not join me in dedicating the rest of the month of November to thanksgiving? I suspect the more we find to be thankful for, the happier our hearts will be. And so will the hearts of those around us. 


“He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).





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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Suspending Belief - It Works for Star Wars, but Not for Faith

I struggle with science fiction/fantasy movies. 

Alien invasions, super powers, and time travel don’t set very well in my logical mind. The basis of many movies of this genre is so far-fetched that I just can’t convince myself the events could happen.

There’s a literary term for this. It’s called “suspending disbelief.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge coined it in 1817 and defined it as “a willingness to suspend one’s critical faculties and believe the unbelievable; a sacrifice of realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment.” 

Children are especially gifted at suspending disbelief, and many children’s books depend on a child’s ability to do this. Remember Pippi Longstocking? The brainchild of Astrid Lindgren, the red-haired little girl lives by herself in a cottage called Villakulla with her monkey, Mr. Nilsson, and her horse. She seldom goes to school, gives others presents on her birthday, and regularly sticks bullies and rude policemen in trees. As a 10-year-old girl, I quite happily set aside my disbelief to enter into the make-believe world of Pippi Longstocking. 

Many people think Christians simply suspend disbelief. They see people of faith in one of two ways—either as either simpletons who have yet to be “enlightened,” or as those who have set aside their senses of realism and logic in order to enter into a fantasy world. 

How else can you explain why someone would believe men can rise from the dead and people live forever? Or that you can repeat a list of wishes over and over in your mind and most will come true? Or that saying a simple prayer can make an alcoholic, drug-using, drop out become a clear-headed, educated, contributing member of society? 

Faith appears ludicrous to the unsaved. 

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). 

Faith, however, isn’t a suspension of disbelief. It's an intelligent, rational course of action based on centuries of irrefutable logic and evidence. The resurrection of Christ, for example, is a well-attested and well-documented event in history. The power of prayer has been proven over and over and over again, even being recognized as an irrefutable source of healing. 

And God’s ability to transform lives has been demonstrated from the dawn of time. Consider John Newton, the 18th-century slave trader turned hymn writer and preacher. Or my husband, David, once a 17-year-old alcoholic and drug abuser who was miraculously redeemed when he confessed his sin to God and asked him to take control of his life. 

We may have to suspend disbelief, set aside logic, and embrace the impossible in order to enjoy the new Star Wars movie, but not so with faith. Logic, common sense, and intelligence can sit quite comfortably on a church pew. In fact, believing in Jesus Christ and his redemptive work on the cross is unquestioningly the wisest thing anyone can do.

I'd love to hear from you. Do you think you have to suspend disbelief to have faith? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.







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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

5 Ways to Grow Praying Friendships

When I was young, I’d tell my friends everything. I’d talk for hours on the phone with my girlfriends and stay up all night chatting at sleepovers. We never lacked for subject matter. We talked about which boys we liked, how unreasonable our parents were, and what our hopes and dreams were for the future. 

This changed some as we became adults. We still talked and laughed and shared, but we began drawing boundary lines around some areas of our lives. That fight with my husband? Too personal to talk about. Those fears that I might not be a good mother? Too painful. The shame of losing my temper and screaming at my kids? Not something I wanted anyone to know about. 

I remember the first time I shared a tender place with a friend. My husband had recently lost his job, and I was only working part time. I was putting on a brave faith face before most of my friends, but it was hard to maintain. Sharing a bench at the park while our children played, my façade began to crack. 

“I’m so afraid of what might happen,” I confessed. “What if God doesn’t come through? What if David is unemployed for years? What if we lose our house, or I have to go back to work full time? What if we have to stop homeschooling and send the kids to public school?” 

Like a tiny leak that destroys a mighty dam, once one fear broke through, the flood came. My kind friend listened, nodded, and acknowledged that my fears were valid and real. She shared a story about a similar period of unemployment and how frightened she had been. Then she gently laid her hand on my shoulder and said, “Let’s pray.” 

We closed our eyes, and while she prayed, I cried. Not the blubbery, snotty-nosed sobs I’d been crying when I was by myself, these were silent tears of relief. And gratitude. And hope. 

I felt relief, because I no longer had to carry my load of fear by myself; she had lifted one corner of my heavy burden. I felt grateful, because she hadn’t condemned me for being afraid. She hadn’t pummeled me with Scripture verses about God’s provision or chided me for worrying. She had empathized and sympathized, but hadn’t judged. And I felt hopeful, because she was talking to the almighty God of the universe on my behalf. She was adding her faith-filled prayers to my weak ones and making them stronger. 

Since that first time I made myself vulnerable by sharing something close to my heart with a friend, I've often been blessed by the solidarity of my faith sisters. God has given me a handful of friends to whom I can entrust the intimate details of my life without fear of exposure, judgment, or condemnation. I know I can call them at any time when I need counsel or prayer. They have inconvenienced themselves for me, and I have done the same. My heart safely trusts in them. 

I hope you have godly Christian friends like this. If you do, you are rich. If you don’t, it’s time to begin cultivating these types of relationships. They are rich, joyous, and necessary, especially if we hope to successfully navigate the troubled waters of our day. 


Here are five suggestions for cultivating a praying friendship: 

1. Go where godly women go. Find the godliest woman in your church and ask her which Sunday school class she attends, which Bible study she goes to, or which prayer group she is a part of. Join it. There you will find women who love God and are serious about their relationship with him. 

2. Take a risk by reaching out to someone. Invite her out for coffee or to a playdate with the kids. Meet for lunch, invite her and her family over for dinner, or call her on the phone, just to chat. 

3. When the time seems right, share something personal. Watch to see how she responds. Is she sensitive? Understanding? Does she respond by sharing something personal about herself? As your friendship develops, you’ll find yourself growing more comfortable and safe. The natural bond God created us to have with other believers will begin to strengthen. 

4. Look for ways to love and support your friend. Be a good listener, lend a helping hand when she needs it, and tell her how much her friendship means to you. Friendships, like marriages, take time, effort, and energy to maintain. Don’t take without giving back. 

5. If your first (or second, or third) attempts don’t produce a friendship, keep trying. True friendships take a lifetime to mature, but they all begin with first steps. 

In my lifetime, many friends have come and friends have gone. Some have moved away, others have drifted away, and others have become invaluable parts of my life. I wouldn’t want to do life without them. We are committed to praying each other all the way through our lives and on into eternity.

What about you? Do you have a praying friend? What did you do to develop your friendship? Share your thoughts in the comment box below. I'd love to hear from you.


Here are some of my dearest praying friends, celebrating my daughter's engagement.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Are We Abusing God's Unconditional Love?

“I know my mom’s not pleased with me,” Katie told her college roommate, “but she has to love me—she’s my mom.” 

Like Katie, I’ve been on the receiving end of this type of unconditional love. As a teenager, I never questioned that my parents loved me unconditionally. I was secure in their love and support. I knew they’d be there for me in whatever way I needed them. 

Unfortunately, I made choices and did things that hurt and disappointed my parents. I cavalierly dismissed my parents’ love, hopes, and dreams for me. I never considered that they might be hurt by my actions. I was selfish and self-centered. Because I knew, deep down inside, that they’d love me no matter what, I took advantage of our relationship. 

I abused their love. 

Since I’ve become a parent myself, I understand what if feels like to love someone unconditionally. My husband and I thought we loved each other this way—until our children came along. As strong as our love is, we've come to realize that parental love is the pinnacle of selflessness. To be willing to sacrifice for, protect, and even die for a child is a powerful thing. 

Our frail human version of unconditional love, however, pales in comparison to our heavenly Father’s love. Sacrificial to the point of death on a cross for us, he proved forever that he is 100 percent committed to his children. 

And we abuse his love. 

Like Katie, and my teenaged self, we make decisions we know won’t please him and expect him to love us anyway. We neglect our relationship with him and know he’ll be waiting for us when we turn back. We come to him when we need something, but ignore him when things are going well. We selfishly pursue what we think will make us happy and fail to ask him what he thinks would be best. We embrace sins, habits, and vices that shame him and harm his (and our) testimony because we know he’ll forgive us. 


But we miss something crucial. 

As Miles McPherson says, “Having God’s unconditional love does not mean you have God’s unconditional approval.” 

We cannot willfully and selfishly abuse God’s unconditional love and thrive. When we drink abundantly of God’s unconditional love and accept his salvation, God promises that nothing will ever separate us from his love. Our eternal destiny is settled. But for most of us, there’s a whole lot more living that happens between the two events. 

How we continue to respond to God’s unconditional love determines the quality of our lives. 

“Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace?” Paul asked in Romans 6. “May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (15-16). 

When we pursue our own way instead of seeking God’s will and way, we always miss God’s best for our lives. We fail to acknowledge that the God who created us knows what’s best for us. He knows best how to fill the empty spaces in our lives. 

As the recipient of the unconditional love of her parents, Katie the college student should have wanted to honor her parents, not break their hearts. Making wise choices, spending her time and money in worthwhile ways, communicating often and honestly, and eagerly desiring to live the kind of life that would make them proud should have been her goals. 

As the recipient of the unconditional love of God, we should want to honor him, not break his heart. Making godly choices, investing our time and money in kingdom work, spending time in his Word and prayer, and living the kind of life that would make him proud should be our goals. 

And in the mystery of God’s plan, when we put him and his will first, we fully experience the riches of God’s grace in our lives. Love, joy , and peace. Patience, kindness, and goodness. Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Power, direction, and provision. Purpose, inspiration, and significance—everything we seek when we go our own way. Instead of regret and failed attempts, however, there’s only joy. 

“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it” (Pro. 10:22 NJKV).

Now it’s time for an honest assessment. Are you abusing God’s unconditional love by being cavalier about sin? If you are, confess and forsake whatever sinful action or attitude God brings to your mind. If you’re genuinely repentant and honest with God, he will forgive you (1 John 1:9). After you’ve done this, commit to honor him in all you do. God will empower and enable you today.


“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence to God” (2 Cor. 7:1).

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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Why You Can't Stop Praying

I checked off something in my prayer journal that I’ve been praying about for fifteen years. 

Fifteen YEARS. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been tempted to give up and quit praying about it. Cross it off the list and mark through it with a permanent marker. It’s never going to happen. Why waste my time? I’m the only person who cares about this anyway. 

But every year, when I’d revamp my prayer journal, I’d write it down again. And I’d keep praying. 

I’d keep praying because I still wanted it to happen. I still believed it would please the Lord. I knew it would bring God glory. 

Sometimes I’d pray with powerful, believing faith, and sometimes I’d pray with wimpy, doubting faith, but every morning, as I prayed down my list, I’d lift the request to God. 

Today, as I prayed through my list of requests, I realized God had answered my prayer. 

I was shocked. 
And amazed. 
And humbled. 
And ashamed. 

Why am I surprised? I asked myself. Because the answer was so long in coming. I thought God had forgotten about me.

“Continue earnestly in prayer,” the apostle Paul encouraged the Colossians, “being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). 

The Greek word for “continue earnestly” means “to be courageously persistent” or “to hold fast and not let go.” I like that—courageously persistent. And my Portuguese/Italian stubbornness appreciates “holding fast and not letting go.” But my wimpy self sometimes grows weary. 


John Piper, in his book, Solid Joys, says,     “. . . prayer pursues God’s glory by treating him as the inexhaustible reservoir of hope and help. In prayer, we must admit our poverty and God’s prosperity, our bankruptcy and his bounty, our misery and his mercy.” 

If you’ve been praying about something for a very long time, please don’t give up. You’ve invested too much spiritual sweat equity to stop now. Throw yourself at God’s feet in humility and trust, knowing that he is your advocate. Your defender. Your mighty warrior. 

And if you’ve given up, why not dust off that prayer request, write it in your prayer journal again, and shake your fist in Satan’s face. 

And while you’re at it, write a few of these names underneath your prayer need: 

Abraham, who waited decades for a son. 

David, who waited years before he became king. 

The Israelites, who endured 400 years of slavery before God sent a deliverer. 

Hannah, who suffered through years of infertility before she birthed Samuel. 

Abigail, who struggled for years with an arrogant, foolish, drunkard of a husband before God released her. 

Joseph, who was kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned for years before God made him leader over Egypt. 

And Jesus, who set aside his deity for 33 years and died on a cross to purchase our salvation. 

These heroes and heroines of the faith were mighty prayer warriors who were courageously persistent and who held on and wouldn’t let go. May our names be listed one day beside theirs as a testimony of our steadfast faith and belief that “he who promised is faithful.” 

“Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD” (Ps. 27:14).  

Have you been praying for years about something? If you’ll leave a comment in the box below, I’d be honored to pray along with you today.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

What I Learned at a Japanese Shrine

Japanese who practice the Shinto religion believe one must be ceremonially clean to approach the god of the shrine.

“Walking through a torri gate is the first step,” my guide explained. The tall red archway stood at the entrance to the Tsuragaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, Japan. Some shrines have dozens of torri gates, but this shrine had only one.


We walked under the gate to a row of metal basins filled with running water. I watched as one woman lifted a bronze ladle, dipped it into the bubbling water, and splashed it onto her hands. She rubbed them together, then shook the water droplets from her fingertips. Dipping her ladle into the water once more, she poured some into her hands, raised it to her mouth, swished it around, and spat discreetly on the ground. She had completed steps two and three of ceremonial cleansing.


As we climbed the tall steps to the shrine, the sweet smell of incense greeted us. To my left was a display that held ribbon-tied “wishes” worshipers had penned in permanent marker on chips of wood. Farther on were more wishes, scribbled on strips of paper and tied to cords that hung like harp strings from a wooden frame.

As I watched the worshipers perform their steps toward purification, I remembered Isaiah 29:13:

"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”

My heart was sad for the Japanese people, because I know their “wishes” go no further than the wooden frame that keeps them earthbound. The Bible makes it clear that the only way we can approach God is through his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Japanese have one thing right, however—our hands must be clean to approach God. Listen to the words of the Psalmist as he asks, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol, or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior” (Psalm 24:3-5).

But how do we become clean? Not by walking through a torri gate or washing our hands in a bubbling basin. We become clean by acknowledging that we are sinners—that within ourselves dwells no good thing. By repenting of our sins and accepting the forgiveness Christ offers as a free gift. And by surrendering our lives to the all-powerful, all wise, all-loving God of the universe.

Then and only then, God promises, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isa. 1:18).

And one day, every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And those beautiful red torri gates? I believe even they will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord:

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” (Psa. 24:7-8).

Sometimes I’m guilty of taking my relationship with God too casually. I forget that I am approaching not only my Abba Father, but the righteous, holy, all-powerful God of the universe. To give him the honor and respect he deserves, I must come to him with clean hands AND a clean heart.

My trip to the Japanese shrine reminded me how important it is to examine myself regularly, confess sin quickly, and treat God and his house with reverence and respect.




What about you? Do you struggle with the balance between familiarity and respect when approaching God? How do you keep the balance? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

For the next month or so, I'll be sharing pictures from my trip and Fun Facts about Japan on my Hungry for God Facebook page. From the brilliant to the bizarre, electronic toilets to exotic foods, these peeks into Japan will educate you, surprise you, and even make you laugh. To LIKE my Facebook page, CLICK HERE so you won't miss a single fun fact.




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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Are Your Daily Habits Killing You or Keeping You?

My boss, a dentist, often says, “What you do every day will either kill you or keep you.” 


Case in point—one day a college student who worked at a fast food restaurant several nights a week came in for his semi-annual dental checkup. We found 12 cavities. When we quizzed him about his daily habits, he admitted that he often sipped his favorite soft drink, Mountain Dew, to keep awake during his late-night shifts. He was shocked to learn he had so many cavities. 

We weren’t. 

Another patient, an older man who taught at a local private school, was also surprised when I announced he had two cavities. “You must be mistaken,” he said. “I haven’t gotten a cavity in 20 years.” 

Remembering that he’d complained about a dry mouth, I asked about his daily habits. “Do you regularly suck on candy or chew sugared gum?” 

His eyes grew wide. “Now that you mention it,” he said, “I started sucking on peppermints to keep my mouth moist while I lecture.” 

Mystery solved. 

Unfortunately, destructive daily habits aren’t limited to the dental realm. Regular smokers die of cancer and emphysema. Regular drinkers experience liver disease, digestive problems, and heart disease. Chronic couch potatoes are often obese and diabetic. 

More serious than any health problem I’ve mentioned, though, are the destructive results of poor spiritual habits. Studies have shown that those who never miss a Facebook update are more likely to be depressed and discontent. Those who spend every Sunday on the golf course or the beach have great tans but pale spiritual lives. Those who seldom miss a workout but never exercise spiritual discipline are strong on the outside and weak on the inside. 

If you’d like to cultivate daily spiritual habits that will keep you rather than kill you, here are a few suggestions: 

1. Read good books. 

One godly woman I admire has three books going at all times—one spiritual, one practical, and one just for fun. She puts them in strategic places like in her car, on her nightstand, in her purse, and yes, in the bathroom. Even if she only reads a few pages, she’s still reading more than if she hadn’t been intentional about it. 

2. Keep a thankful journal. 

Ann Voskamp began the movement to catalog at least three gifts from God every day in her book, One Thousand Gifts. It is a habit with strong biblical roots. Physically writing down the acts of God in our daily lives helps us remember that he is always working on our behalf. Being thankful protects us against ingratitude, entitlement, and doubt. 

3. Speak blessings. 


We live in a world characterized by negativity. Every day our husbands, children, and friends are pelted with words that hurt their hearts. When we speak blessings over them, we kiss the bruises.

Imagine how your husband would face the day differently if the last words he heard from you as he walked out the door were, “I’ll be praying for you today. You’re going to do great.”? How might your child feel as he climbs onto the school bus after you reminded him of the special ways God has gifted him? How might your coworker feel if you greet her with a smile and tell her one specific thing you appreciate about her? 

 And here’s an interesting observation: In the dyslexia of the divine, God somehow often manages to multiply the blessings we give away so they come back to us. 

I hope these three spiritual habits (and my cavity-ridden patients) have caused you to think about what you do every day. Habits, good or bad, chart the course of our lives. “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it,” Job 4:8 reminds us. 

The prophet Hosea offers a better way: “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you” (10:12). 

 Are your daily habits killing you or keeping you? What habits have positively or negatively affected your life? What spiritual habit would you add to my list above? Leave a comment and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear them.





If you're reading by email and would like to hear Matt Redman's "10,000 Reasons," CLICK HERE.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

"Please, don't take pictures." -- a request from the South Carolina floods

“Please, don’t take pictures.”

Of all quotes from all the television news interviews, this one sentence pierced my soul.

The news anchor was questioning a woman who had lost her home and everything she owned in the floods that swept across South Carolina last week.

“What can people send?” she asked. “What do you need?”

“We need everything,” the woman responded. “But most of all, we need hugs.”

And then she paused.

“And please, don’t take pictures.”

My house didn’t wash away when Columbia’s lakes overflowed their banks. My car didn’t float half a mile down the street and land in someone’s flower garden. Nor did my boat, trailer and all, end up behind a tall row of hedges in a neighbor’s back yard.

My underwear, baby albums, and grandma’s afghan aren’t piled on the side of the road next to my baby’s crib. Rescue workers aren’t donning masks before they enter my house because the smell from my molding walls is making them gag. And I’m not crying quietly in a corner when I think no one is looking.

But I understand how this woman feels.

I remember a time years ago. Stung by a jellyfish one hot South Carolina day, I lay writhing on the beach. Red-hot pain from where the creature’s poisonous tentacles had brushed against my leg had left angry stripes in its wake. Trying not to cry, I watched my husband trek across the sand in search of help. He spoke to the lifeguard, who hopped on his 4-wheeler and roared over. Almost immediately, a crowd began to form.

Strangers surrounded me, pointing and talking, their curious eyes assessing my injury. Like rubberneckers at a highway accident looking for the next thousand-hit YouTube video, they cared little about me. Their presence magnified my pain as they gathered to gawk, not to help. I was embarrassed, hurt, and angry. 

In a small way, I feel my neighbor’s pain. I hear the cry of her heart.

Thankfully, for every gawker there have been a dozen helpers. For every looter there have been a hundred givers. For every sensationalistic newsman there has been a compassionate soul holding the camera.

They’ve captured stories like the one about a football team full of boys tackling the gridiron task of demolishing their rival team’s coach’s first floor to prepare it for cleanup.

Or the one about the rescuers who discovered a woman sleeping through the storm as floodwaters lifted the mattress from her bed.

Or one of my favorites, the one about how Earl and Cynthia Pierce returned to their flooded home to see if they could salvage any of their possessions. They feared all was lost until they spotted a miracle. Although five to six feet of water had filled their one-story home, two things had stayed high and dry—Earl’s Bible and the check Cynthia had written to her church the night before the flood. 

Apparently the chair that held Earl’s Bible and the table on which Cynthia had laid the check had floated up with the floodwaters and settled gently back down again without disturbing their cradled treasures. The Pierces accept these tokens as gifts from the Lord and a reassurance that El Roi, the God who sees, sees them.

If you’d like to help those who have lost their homes in the South Carolina floods, Samaritan’s Purse has set up a command center in Columbia. Working with Shandon Baptist Church, they are coordinating ongoing relief and restoration work. Click here to learn how you can help.

Thank you for being a giver, not a gawker. And thank you for praying.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher