As I prayed about what to write this blog about. The Lord instantly gave me Hebrews 6. I had no idea why, but as I turned there in my bible- it instantly confirmed everything that I have been feeling in my spirit. It’s a feeling, a hunger for so much more, something deeper. It’s an unexplainable desire to just be with Jesus Christ. It’s a feeling of dissatisfaction. It’s a drive to not settle for complacency. It’s a willingness and readiness to dive into the intoxicating living waters that are available right before our eyes.
A fire has been stirring up within me to take things to a deeper, more intimate level. I feel the word “intimacy” blaring in my spirit. I believe that the Lord is pouring out something so intimate and so deep among his people.
In the sixth chapter of Hebrews, it starts off –
“ 1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.”
This totally blows be back. It makes me question my hunger.
You see, your hunger dictates your intimacy with God. And your intimacy with God dictates your maturity. And your maturity dictates your understanding. And your understanding dictates your belief. And your belief dictates your foundation.
How will we ever have a FIRM AND SOLID FOUNDATION in God without first having hunger? The bottom line is- you won’t. As I read, this here is saying that repenting from evil deeds, placing our faith in God, baptism, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment are all BASIC TEACHINGS! I find that many of us today haven’t even reach this place.. and this is BASIC. As I read this, and hopefully as you do too, it brings me to a place of humility. It engulfs me into a place where I can do nothing but want more of him. It allows me to be stirred up and crave for a deeper walk with him. It persuades me to beg for opportunities to be used by him. It leads me to a point where I can’t be satisfied, and I won’t be satisfied. Not beat myself up, but move forward in my future. I can see people today in two different places. You’re either one who hasn’t reached the basic things, or one who has reached these basic things but is content in believing that that’s enough. Either is fine, but staying there isn’t an option.
LORD, I DON’T WANT TO BE SATISFIED WITH THE BASICS.
As I continue reading it says-
“ 9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. 10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers,[a] as you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”
I believe that the only reason that these things might be considered basic, is not to beat ourselves up over it, but to realize the better things that God really has for us. He has so much more than we can ever imagine. He wants to use us so much more than we can ever comprehend. I feel as though, the time IS NOW, that people begin to set their standard of holiness higher, to embrace a father more aggressively than ever before, to not be conformed to this world, to not feel the need to fit in or be popular, to recognize that Jesus is enough, to see the beauty in being saved, to find a purpose that’s been stolen for so long, to seek out the place where they belong, to not be able to obtain satisfaction anywhere else other than his presence. These things are no different than salvation. It’s not a special gift, it’s not some people have it, and some don’t. Do not allow the enemy to steal from you something that God has freely given to you. You are fully equipped and fully worthy of anything and everything. The word says in James, “You have not because you ask not.” I pray that you would develop a holy greediness out of a pure hunger for more of who he is. I see that this verse declares that it ALL comes with salvation. Therefore, this leaves no excuses for people who are saved to not operate in the fullness of God.
YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE.
I believe that for so many people excuses are their best friends. But it’s time that you take responsibility for what you do or don’t do.
Verse 11-12, it hits me hard. This is my prayer and my desire - - for everyone to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, and LOVE. God is love. And anything without Love, can’t be God. Love is the key to not becoming spiritually burned out and unmoved. But how do you know love, if you don’t spend intimate time with Love, or God himself? But how can you want to spend time with Love, if you’re not hungry for it? Again, your hunger is what launches you into intimacy, which eventually leads to your foundation, which is everything. Love allows you to obtain faith and endurance of those who enter into God’s kingdom. This is good news, friends. Oh, God, teach us the power of love. I encourage you today and challenge you everyday, to love when you feel hated. To love, when you feel sad. To love, when you feel guilty. To love, when you feel ashamed. To love, when life is hard. To love, when stress is strong. To love, when the waves are crashing. To love, when the world is falling. Just to love. Simply love.
To wrap all of this up, it comes down to two things.
Hunger and Love.
Lord, I pray that you would birth in us a supernatural hunger for you and a supernatural love that would not only overwhelm us, but everyone around us. I pray that we wouldn’t be satisfied with the basics, God but we would continue to dig to the very depths of your heart. God teach us how, because
without you- Nothing is possible.
-Natalie Hallford
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