Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 76

One of the Best Christmas Gifts You Can Give

Today's women are busier than ever. Juggling the demands of motherhood, relationships, work, church, and community, we're trying to be all things to all people. In the press of everyday life, however, something important often gets squeezed out -- our time with God.

The struggle is real. That's why I wrote my 5-minute devotional book, Hungry for God ... Starving for Time, to help busy women connect with God in the craziness of everyday life. 
I suspect there are quite a few busy women on your Christmas list. Friends, co-workers, fellow church members, and your children's teachers, coaches, and babysitters, just to name a few. If you'd like to give them a gift that will draw them closer to the Lord, encourage them to spend time in God's Word, and think biblically, Hungry for God is the gift you're looking for. 
Each 5-minute devotion tackles a subject 21st century women face. Relationships, busyness, conflict, insecurity, loss, and jealousy are just a few of the topics introduced by the daily Facetime questions. Then, in the short devotion, with insight and humor, we discover what God has to say about each subject. Like a spiritual power bar, HFG's devotions provide spiritual nutrition to help busy women get through the day.
And what about those special women in your life that you're not sure whether they have a relationship with the Lord? After we laugh about bad hair days and other things unique to women, in the last devotion in the book, I share what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Giving someone you care about a copy of HFG is not just passing along spiritual encouragement, it's a gentle, winsome way to share the gospel.





Hungry for God . . . Starving for Time is available through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. 

If you live in the Columbia, South Carolina area, I'd love to autograph and personalize copies for your special friends. Email me at LoriAHatcher@gmail.com.
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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

6 Resolutions to Reclaim the Holidays

Many people make New Year’s resolutions, but I’ve always been a trailblazer. This year, in order to preempt stress, disappointment, and hurt feelings (I hope) during the holidays, I’m making a few early resolutions. 

As I enter the holiday season, this is what I hope to do: 

I RESOLVE, during a time when everyone’s rested and in a good mood, to prayerfully open a conversation about where, when, and how we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. As much as possible, we’ll take everyone’s schedules and preferences into consideration, but I will remember that the primary goals of our holidays are that Christ is honored and our family is together. Whether we celebrate the weekend before Christmas, the week after, or by Skype at 2 a.m., I will surrender my hopes for a “perfect” family gathering and accept a realistic one. 

I RESOLVE to sit down with my husband and determine what we can and should spend on Christmas this year. I will stick to this figure no matter what. This will involve deciding in advance who will receive gifts, who will receive cards, and who will receive a sincere Merry Christmas hug with no accompanying guilt. I will recognize that I do not honor the Christ of Christmas by foolishly and wantonly overspending. 

I RESOLVE to thoughtfully ponder each loved one’s love language and use it as a guideline for gift giving. While love languages don’t solve the mystery of why some Christmas gifts evoke squeals of joy and others prompt a sigh or (worse yet) a grimace, they do help. 

Instead of giving my quality-time-loving mother another collectable she has to find a spot for and dust into perpetuity, I’m going to give her a gift certificate for a manicure and a lunch date. Instead of giving my acts-of-service-loving friend a book, I’m going to give her a homemade meal, frozen and ready to reheat. As often as I can, I will strive to put careful thought and purpose into each loved one’s gift. I encourage you to read Mary Hunt's wonderful blog post on this called "The Gentle Art of Gift-Giving."

I RESOLVE to honor and acknowledge the empty chairs around our holiday table without letting their presence steal the joy from the day. I will treasure the memories of past gatherings without comparing them to the ones unfolding in front of me. I will think of special ways to pay tribute to our missing loved ones, but not in a somber, morose way. Instead, we will give thanks for the celebrations we shared, continue the traditions that bear their fingerprints, and perhaps even start a new tradition they would have approved of. 

I RESOLVE not to allow other’s poor manners, thoughtless actions, or ungrateful attitudes to suck the joy out of my celebration. As much as it lies within me, I will seek to spread holiday cheer, but I acknowledge I can’t make others happy, nor am I responsible for their happiness. 

I RESOLVE to take time to sit at Jesus’ feet every day. I want to reread the Christmas story in all four gospels (yes, there’s an account in the first chapter of John as well). I also want to read an advent devotional. If you have a favorite one, I’d love to hear about it. 

Some of my family’s favorite Advent devotional stories for children are those by Arnold Ytreeide. Jotham’s Journey is the first book we read and is still my favorite. The stories are written with elementary/middle school children in mind, but teens and adults will hang on every word and eagerly look forward to each day’s brief chapter. I can’t wait ‘til my granddaughters are old enough so I can read them again. 

These are my resolutions for the 2015 holiday season. I’m sure you can think of a few of your own. You may find it helpful, as I did, to write them down. You may prefer to keep them to yourself or share them with family and friends. 

As you approach the holiday season, I encourage you to enter prayerfully, reverently, and intentionally. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all the other details will fall into place. Purpose to model Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve. In this way, you will honor your friends, your family, and most of all, your Savior. 

May you enjoy a blessed and holy holiday season.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

God's Heart for America

There are parts of the Bible I struggle with.


I don’t struggle because the language is challenging, or because I don’t understand the symbolism. I find some parts difficult because what I read hurts my heart. The passages offend my senses and paint violent and disturbing pictures in my mind. In other words, I struggle because I don’t like the content.

The book of Ezekiel is one of these books. Written at the end of Judah’s long period of apostasy, when the people had forsaken God and were chasing every idol that beckoned them, it is a frightening and horrible book. Most of its 48 chapters contain God’s solemn warnings that if Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel) doesn’t turn back to God, it will face severe judgment. (And I won’t go into detail about what that looks like, because the details made me cry.)

The book of Ezekiel upsets me because Judah’s falling away greatly parallels my own country’s, the United States, moral and spiritual demise. It makes me fear for my nation, my state, and my fellow citizens. Like Israel centuries ago, if my people don’t repent of their sins and turn to God, they will suffer unimaginable horror. This is God’s only appropriate response to a people who consistently rejects his offer of forgiveness, cleansing, and peace.

But there are sparks of brilliant beauty on these dark pages. They burst through the shroud of death and destruction like a mighty comet blazing a fireball path across the heavens. Here’s one of my favorites:

“’Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?’” (Eze. 18:23).


From the dawn of time, God has been pursuing mankind. Inviting us to have a relationship with him. Showering us with care, provision, and love. He has wooed us and offered the ultimate declaration of his love when he allowed his beloved Son to die on a cruel Roman cross for our sins.

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all . . . .” Romans 8:32 reminds us that God signed his love letter to us in his own blood. It’s no wonder, in the middle of God’s heartbreaking declaration of the coming judgment, that he interrupts to say,

“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies. . . . Therefore, turn and LIVE!” (Eze. 18:32).

If you've never surrendered your life to God, please don’t wait. God calls to you. Begs you. Pleads with you. Listen to his words in Hebrews 3:15:

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts . . .”

Our only hope, but our sure hope, is to trust in Christ as our Savior, Lord, Protector, and Provider. It is only under the shelter of his almighty wings that we will be safe in the perilous days to come.

My invitation is twofold: 

If you haven’t surrendered your life to Christ, asked him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, and change you, don’t wait another day. Here’s a link to my How to Know God page, which contains verses from the Bible and my personal testimony to show you how.

 If you do have a relationship with Christ, it’s time to get serious. We can’t be wishy washy in our witness while the world rides a bullet train toward its own demise. During ever-darkening times, the light of Christ will shine brightest through clean vessels.

To this end, we must confess sin quickly and seek God’s face daily through prayer and Bible reading. Like a runner preparing for a marathon, we need to be spiritually strong and healthy to run our faith race with endurance and finish well. We cannot shrink away. We cannot compromise. We must finish our course to receive the prize and hear our Lord’s words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” 

Do you ever encounter parts of the Bible you find disturbing? How do you handle it? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

If you're reading by email and can't see the link for "On Eagle's Wings" by Josh Groban, CLICK HERE.

 


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

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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If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher