SHEPHERD TO SHEEP
(Deu 25:18) how he met you on the way and
attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and
weary; and he did not fear God.
I want to address something that
is so practical in nature it might not even seem spiritual at all. And that is H.A.L.T. Never make a decision if you are Hungry,
Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
Decisions are important. And we can really exercise poor judgment when
our body and emotional needs are at their height. When Israel was coming out of Egypt the
Amalekites attacked their rear ranks where the tired and weary were lagging
behind. They had no strength to fight
against this raiding band and succumbed to their advancements. God said they were not to forget this attack
and that they were to blot out their remembrance from under heaven. We too can blot out many spiritual attacks if
we take care of some practical needs in our lives.
HUNGRY – How awful we can feel
when we are just plain hungry. Our “fangs”
can come out and we can be irritable and downright ornery until we eat
something. (Mat 15:32 )…“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now
continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send
them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
ANGRY – When we are mad our
emotions get the best of us and we can do something we will later regret. It’s always best to settle down before we pick
up that phone and chew somebody out. (Eph 4:26) “Be angry, and do not sin”: do
not let the sun go down on your wrath. (Neh
5:7) After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles
and rulers…
LONELY – We all have a need to be
accepted and to fit in. When we feel
isolated in life it can drive us to make unhealthy choices to meet those deep
emotional needs. The classic case is the
lonely woman will marry not the best for her because she is so tired of being
by herself in life. (Pro 2:11) Discretion
will preserve you; understanding will keep you.
TIRED – How dark and dismal the
world can seem when you are just plain tired.
Ant hills can seem like mountains and maybe all you need is a good night’s
rest. One time a friend told me, “Louie,
one of the most spiritual things you can do is sleep!” How the colors seem brighter and the burden’s
lighter after a time of rest and refreshment!
(Mark 6:31) And He said to them,
“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were
many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Remember something so practical but
yet so spiritual: Before you make a
decision H.A.L.T! Stop and take of your
practical needs. It is more spiritual
than you think. Time for a granola
bar!
Louie
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