The "H" in H.A.L.T.: (spiritual) Hunger

My Favorite Food

Something you might not know about me is the fact that bread is absolutely my favorite food.

There’s just something about the strong smell of alcohol and yeast when it is toasting in the oven.

The soft crackle of its buttery crust.

The steaming warmth as butter melts on a freshly cut piece.

The mouth-watering flavor as it dissolves in my mouth.

Is it just me or are you hungry now too? ;)

Sinning in Our...Hunger?

It’s true, being physically hungry does affect my attitude toward others. I find that I’m often impatient, quick to anger, and slow to forgive and never eager to listen to others when I’m hungry.

No, I’m not blaming my sins on hunger. I’m just saying, it’s easier to give a soft answer when my belly’s full. :D

As I have been dwelling on it for quite some time many stories have come to my mind about sinning in hunger.

The first story that came to mind was of Esau:

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Genesis 25:29-32

As we all know Esau truly regretted selling his birthright and blamed Jacob for causing him to sin.

Surprisingly, I had to think a bit before the story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit came to mind.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Paul also speaks of sinning in hunger in 1^st Corinthians 11:33-34.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another-- if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home--so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

Hunger for God and His Spiritual Nourishment

Have you ever been spiritually starved?

Famished for the word of God?

When I was first applying H.A.L.T. to my life I was using it in a physical sense. But I soon realized that it is also very important to apply it in a spiritual sense. For in the end my flesh will pass awaybut my soul will remain throughout eternity.

As Jesus said:

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

Without Him, we are a skeleton in the dark, incapable of bringing glory to His name.

It is truly important to recognize the life in God’s Word and His presence.

Closing Thoughts

Truly sinning in our hunger is a serious thing if God has mentioned it so many times in his Word.

And not only in times of physical hunger but when we are famished for his holy presence and the bread of life.

Solving spiritual hunger comes only in time by dwelling in His Word, by death to self, and life to Him in our lives.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

We are being daily fashioned in His likeness—He has set us on the path to pure holiness. Yet not until we are in His eternal kingdom will the dross be burned and the gold of His refinement stand in His house to worship Him.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:1-5

What a hope of glory in His eternal love!

Part 2 of Spiritual Addictions: What is Halt?

Can this be a slightly double post?
My brother is graduating today with a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry. He'll continue his studies in Tennessee until he receives his masters.
I'm so proud of you, N!

It's going to be so hard without any brothers in the house! My other brother, Joshua, left a few weeks ago and is living in New Mexico.

***

So here's my 'second' post for today.

Review and a bit of clarification

Okay, the long-awaited moment has finally come. Or at least I like to think it was long-awaited...

H – Hungry

A – Angry

L – Lonely

T – Tired

As you read in my previous post on Spiritual Addictions, H.A.L.T. is used in most rehabilitation programs. Now that you know what it means, let me clarify something for you. It’s not a Christian based idea, but I’m looking at it from my own, Biblical point of view.

I think we can consider H.A.L.T. as a safeguard for sin.

A short allegory to illustrate my point

There once was a rich Landowner who bought slaves from a cruel slave driver and set them free. They were ignorant and poor, but he gave them guidance. He read to them from a book which refreshed them and renewed their spirits. He gave them each a piece of land and taught them how to grow plants and tend to animals. They loved the landowner because he had set them free from their pain and poverty and they lived near him, under his kind protection.

But there were those who would try to deceive the people. In a neighbouring village, there lived people enslaved under cruel and hate-filled leaders. These people lived in total darkness and were blind to all sin. These deceived people attempted to lead the now free people astray by telling them that they were still slaves of the Landowner; that he did not love them and only used them for their labor. The newly freed people were weak and listened to these lies occasionally and sometimes they would get a bit homesick. They would long for their former life of slavery because it was comfortable and all they had ever known.

So the Landowner protected his people by laying down boundaries and setting up a strong metal fence enclosing his sweet, green pasture from the other village. The people were prone to folly and often ventured toward the edge of the fence where the grass didn’t grow and the ground was rocky. The Landowner was patient and kind and always forgave his people for their foolishness.

But one day he told the people that he was making a trip to his father’s home and, though he would be gone for a while, they were to wait for his return. He left his book with them and showed them how to read from it. He also wrote them many letters to remind them that he was coming back and to give them hope. The letters also told them what he expected of them and were meant to help them when they were tempted to go into the other land of slavery.

And thus the people waited.

Waiting in sin, yet striving for perfection

As I’m sure you’ve guessed, we are those people.

And we often return to the shameful way of slavery.

I admit that it is so hard to be free from sin. In fact, it is impossible, isn’t it?

Only He can be free from sin.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

A ‘safeguard’ for sin

H.A.L.T. is a safeguard for us.

A safeguard from sins.

Just bear with me.

Suppose that the Landowner in the story put up a guideline for his people.

On a small wooden sign, weak and battered, he wrote this:

DANGER!

My children do not return to your evil ways. You are prone to sin and can hurt each other. Remember this in every action, thought, and deed:

Do not proceed if you are any of the following:

Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired

Closing thoughts

Okay, so maybe that’s taking it a little too far. After all, God did not give us H.A.L.T.

But I do believe that it’s a pretty useful tool.

It often stops me in my path and helps me to remember that God does not want me to do any evil.

I also like to think that H.A.L.T. can be speaking spiritually. If you are Spiritually Hungry, Angry...you get the point.

Don’t worry if you’re just a bit confused.

I’m going to keep posting on this—at least that’s my plan for the time being.

The next post will hopefully be on Satisfying Spiritual Hunger, but you never know what I might dish out. Ahem....well.

So, what do you think of H.A.L.T.?