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Written by Lynne Hammond

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Some time ago, I spoke with a minister of God I greatly admire. He has preached the Gospel in more than 60 nations. He has prayed the prayer of salvation with more than two million people. His ministry is constantly marked by signs and wonders. He has literally seen the dead raised, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the blind see.

Early in his Christian life, he had such a sweet relationship with the Lord and such a passionate hunger for Him that God’s abiding presence was upon him day and night. He walked in that abiding presence for eleven years.

But do you know what he told me when we talked? In tears, he said that in recent years he had gotten so busy with ministry that he had lost the hunger he once had for Jesus. He was still passionate about winning souls. He was still committed to the call and work of God. Yet his heart had been drawn away from Jesus Himself.

For a while, he didn’t even know it had happened. The realization didn’t hit him until he went to conduct some meetings in another nation and found the Christians there aglow with the abiding presence of God. Their faces shone with joy and love for the Lord. When they worshipped, my minister friend wept and wept for he recognized in these people the wonderful presence of God that he himself once had—but lost.

When he told me his story, I too just wept.

I said, “How can this happen to us?”

The more I’ve pondered that question, the clearer the answer has become. I’ve realized that any of us—no matter how fervent and committed we might be—can lose our passion for Jesus if we let ourselves get too busy and stop stoking the fire of our love for Him. But I’ve also realized that if we will repent and draw near to God, He will draw near to us and help us rekindle that fire again. If we will open the door of our hearts to Him, He will come in and commune with us.

If we will cry out, “Lord, make me hungry again!” He will be faithful to answer.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 85:6 – 7