Do You Need a Hug from God?

I woke up in sort of a funk.

Maybe it was the gloomy weather.  Maybe it was the fitful night’s sleep in a humid room.  Maybe it was the lack of structure now that activities and work are winding down as summer approaches.

Maybe it was nothing.

Ever been in a funk for no apparent reason?

Funks tend to make me unproductive. My brain feels thick. I wander aimlessly from task to task, never quite landing on what it is I need to do, or feeling good about things I actually accomplish.  I’m just sort of emotionally vague.  Not bad.  Not good.  Just kind of directionless.

I shuffled through the morning taking care of  routine stuff; unloaded the dishwasher, checked e-mail, threw in a load of laundry as I made my way out the door to the gym. Finally, though, mid-morning I paused.  I knew something had to change and it needed to be me.

When I’m in a funk, I need to get rid of the junk.  Know what I mean?

So…I pulled out my Bible. Asked God to talk to me. Read one verse. Wrote it down, word for word.

As I followed the routine I’ve practiced countless times in the past, I felt my heart shift.  I felt my burden lighten; my perspective change.  Hearing God speak to me through his words in the Bible feels like a giant hug from God.

And all it took was 10 minutes.  Tops.

God’s Word does that.  That’s why the Bible says (about itself):

 “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart”  (Psalm 19:7-8)

Have you experienced this in your own life?

Have you experienced it today?

If not, why don’t you take 10 minutes and give your soul what it longs for—a hug from God?

Here’s all you need to do:

1. Grab your Bible (you can read it online or with a Bible app, too!)
2. Ask God to speak to your heart as you read His Word.
3. Read a passage of scripture. Try Psalms for encouragement.
4. Pick one (two tops) verse(s) that resonates with you and write it down, word for word.
5. Ask “what does this verse teach me about God? About myself? About my circumstances?
6. Ask “is there anything God wants me to know, to feel, or to do?”

Reading the Bible—and allowing it to transform your life—is as simple as this.  And here’s the best part—you don’t have to wait until you’re in a funk to do it!

So do it today. And let me know how it goes, will you?

By the way, don’t forget to tell your friends and family that Amazon is offering Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God on sale for kindle devices for only $1.99 until Monday, June 15^th.  Grab a copy to read on the go, and tell a friend!!