H.A.L.T. (1)
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Psalm 107:9 NASB
Hungry – Every addict knows the warning signs. Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired. H.A.L.T. The lethal combination of temptation. Any one of these emotional and physical states can bring about the desire for self-medication, the temptation to apply anesthetic to the soul wound and relieve spiritual pain. Addiction is nothing more (or less) than a substitute for God. The Lord is the one who promises to satisfy our hunger with what is good. Addictions promise only to satisfy for the moment. But the moment is the critical point. Hunger satisfied tomorrow is of no consequence today. Unless—unless we have learned that fasting brings good. The addict’s problem is not hunger. Everyone hungers but not everyone medicates the need with addictive behavior. The addict’s problem is time. Addicts have taught themselves not to wait for God. They are incapable of delaying satisfaction in order for the Lord to fill the need with goodness. They are citizens of the fast-food empire of the mind.
One of the techniques used to delay addictive behavior is chocolate. Just enough to relieve the hunger pangs in order to maintain temporal perspective. Of course, if you are addicted to overeating in order to relieve the pain in your soul, this technique is probably not healthy. Every addictive cycle requires its own particular delay tactics. But sometimes delay isn’t enough. Knowing that we can fast and survive is an important part of maintaining a godly temporality. Practicing fasting is the only way to know this is true. Addicts never operate on theory. If they did, then would not be addicted. Addicts operate on present reality, and present reality is the battlefront. Whatever enables us to recognize the present crisis as temporary is ammunition we need in order to resist collapse.
What this means is that the promise of God must be real now! Heaven can wait, but addictive behavior cannot. That’s why the Hebrew phrase, nephesh re’ebah mille’-tov (“the hungry person He fills with good”) is a piel perfect. OK, so what does that mean? It means that this action of God is a declaration of a quality that is completed now! The verse does not say that someday, sometime God will fill the hungry person (nephesh – not “soul”) with good. It says that God declares He has already filled the person with good. It has already been done. The addict does not have to wait with white-knuckled hope for satisfaction. God is good and declares His filling with good right now, at the crucial moment. All the addict must do is realize, recognize and give rise to God. Temporal crisis must give way to eternal promise.
Easier said than done, especially in that moment of greatest pain. That’s why we must practice the fast. Hunger need not lead to destruction. It can lead to recovery. But the path is dangerous so the solution must be radical. Be hungry. Fast before it counts. And live another day.
Topical Index: addict, hungry, ra’eb, fast, Psalm 107:9
Our lesson is in the 4th chapter of Esther today. We will talk about fasting. Why do I keep going to a church? That is where the most deluded souls are that need salvation. A few of them are searching like I was several years ago. I try to gently move them to discover the paradigm shift without confrontations. Shifts happen. but very slowly as they think they have discovered a new truth in the scriptures.
Thank you God for providing Skip and his ministry.
Most of those without any serious church background don’t really care about their spiritual condition. It is a real mine field among them that must be walked with care. You can be blown up at any minute.
Hungry? (Let’s Eat!)
~Open wide your mouth and I will fill it ~ (Psalm 81.10) Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more! Why was The Messiah (the Christ) born (of all places) in Bethlehem? In the Hebrew language, Beth-lehem is translated “the house of bread.”
Our LORD Jesus (Himself) declared, ~ I AM the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty ~ (Isaiah 6.35)
Listen to the invitation of Isaiah:
~ Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. – “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, (and) – delight yourself in abundance! – “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David.. (Isaiah 55.1,2)
This short passage, to me, is so convicting, yet so comforting! It is an “open invitation,” to everyone/anyone who is thirsty. Friend, we have been offered “something” (a drink?) that satisfies! And that “something,” -is a Someone!
In the middle of this invitation for us to “come,” are the words- “listen, (in order) that you may live.” Shema, O Israel! Selah. (Deeper and deeper we go!) “Shema” is a wonderful (practical) word we all should add to our vocabulary. To “shema” is to listen AND to act, according to instructions. Football players “shema” the quarterback. They listen, and then they “execute.” Soldiers “shema” the senior officer. They listen, then they execute the orders given. Lather, rinse, repeat. “Shema!” Children, please “shema” your parents! (lol!)
“Eat that which is good!” Physical fitness, my friends, is (in a very large percentage!), diet. According to the “powers that be,” – some 80% diet, 20% exercise! Again, shema! Eat well, – and live!
Listen! (why?) – Faith, (that which pleases God) comes “how?” By hearing. (Romans 10.17)
Our Savior speaks.
We “shema!” (listen and obey)
And life, (at times a miracle!) occurs.
Best advice ever? ~ Whatever He says unto you, – DO IT!! ~ John 2.5
(Maybe Mary did know!)
Let’s ask Adam. Adam, what is the absolute wisest thing any man may do? Adam knows. He knows from (painful) experience! Adam has what we now refer to as 20/20 “hindsight.” Adam would say to us, (if he were alive today), “obey God.”
What about King Solomon? (the second wisest man ever to have lived!) How would he counsel us? – Hear his words:
~ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: – Fear God, and keep (shema) His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man! ~ (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
And The Joy of Jeremiah? ~ Your words were found, and I devoured them. Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight, because I am called by your Name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies ~ (Jeremiah 15.16)
And The Delight of David? ~ I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction lives within me ~ (Psalm 40.8) ( I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them! )
And The Mission of our Messiah?
Our Savior said unto them, – My meat (My food, My nourishment, My passion, My delight, my mission ) is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish His work ~ (John 4.34)
Seeking for rest? for comfort? for strength? Shema the Savior! Hear (and obey) His words..
~ Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.. ~
~ I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint ~ (Jeremiah 31:25)
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”– but (??)
– they would not (??) – listen.
~ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear ~
We always think of addictions in a negative light, but is there such a thing as a positive addiction? I’ve heard of at least one individual who had such a wonderful experience of the presence of God that ever afterward they longed for it, in their words, as a junkie longed for another fix. Would it cure our addictions to the wrong things if we could get a taste of that true blessedness of God’s presence?
The crux of the matter, of course, is how to get from the point of starvation to the place of satiation, being fully satisfied. The journey has to start with the recognition of one’s starving condition. “Blessed are you who hunger now (Lk.6:21).” As long as we are content with filling our bellies with junk food we will never recognize our starving condition. But how do we develop that taste and hunger for what is truly satisfying, truly nourishing? In the natural, my observation is that it only happens when a person’s health deteriorates to the point where medicine no longer can effect a cure. Only rediscovering what truly nourishing food is will reverse the decline. Hippocrates said, “Let food be your medicine. and medicine your food.” Luke’s warning in his version of the beatitudes is a sobering one, “Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry (6:25).” Beware what kind of food you are addicted to! And yes, Skip, fasting seems to be a necessary part of the process of detoxifying from the wrong kinds of food so that our bodies will be able to accept and fully make use of truly good food.
For the deeper meaning of “Blessed are you who hunger,” read The Lucky Life
Hello Skip and others,
For several years I have wrestled with a particular addiction and thanks to our Creator, God Almighty, He has helped me keep it from destroying my life, marriage, and reputation. I like the points everyone has made here about the issue of hunger, powerlessness, etc. Experience shows me that when a deeper need, perhaps Spiritual or not, is being ignored or not supported by loved ones, then in time turning to something that does seem to work, does seem to support, does seem to affirm, does seem to edify is chosen, and “it” does those things only short-term to result in feeling guilt and shame over making such a stupid choice! Prayer than results and returning to G-d is truly satisfying, like coming in from a drenching thunder-shower into the forgiveness, cleansing, warmth, and even parenting of our Messiah who came to save us from our sins! If the church is supposed to be a Spiritual hospital, plenty there are great at diagnosing others for their “secret sins” but the last seemingly to own up to those secret sins that bewilder and plague them. So, an addict feels unique because he or she are then a company unto themselves. I covet your prayers today and you will have mine! By the way may we notice the Light Of The World this Hanukkah, Christmas, Holiday season and be urged into fellowship with Messiah and His kindred by its glow and warm radiation! Thank you!