silence Archives - Margaret Feinberg

We began a breathtaking journey together of reading the entire Bible during Lent. The 40-Day Bible Challenge has been incredible. We never expected more than 5000 people (and growing!) to download the Free 40-day Reading Guide. You can grab your copy by clicking here.

We’ve heard from people around the world—pastors, leaders, moms and dads, grandmas and grandchildren. One dad wrote this week to share:

“Just want to say thank you for your vision and encouragement on the 40-day reading. As a husband and dad of 4 with two jobs, finding time to read is a challenge, and my wife has almost become a Bible reading widow.

“Still, this exercise has reawakened (really, resurrected) my hunger for Scripture, and even made Christian music my sole choice (just lost my taste for others). And best of all, I feel a greater clarity of scripture and closeness to God than I had before. Ah simple faith, my old friend. How I’ve missed you!” Continue Reading…

I’ve been reflecting on spiritual disciplines, practices, and activities that nurture my desire for God. I’d love to have you add to the list:

1. Spending time in Scripture. Something about spending time in God’s Word just makes me want to know more of the character, attributes, presence and power of God.

2. Twenty minutes of unbroken silence. I have a theory that for some people silence comes easier; for other people, stillness comes easier. If I try to sit still, I’m easily distracted. But silence comes more naturally. When I enter into a time of silence with God and allow my mind to be drawn to who he is, my desire for God grows.

3. Listening to stories of how God is at work in someone else’s life. Stories of God moving, healing, revealing, providing, strengthening, speaking, and showing himself spark my faith and make me want more and more.

4. Fasting. Even fasting a single meal helps me center my thoughts and mind more on my need for God.

5. Asking for the desire I don’t have. Sometimes I don’t want God. I don’t have any longing, not even the faintest whim. That’s when I pray, “God, I want to want you.” What’s amazing is that God soon answers this prayer with another glimpse of himself.

6. Taking a hike. Being in creation draws my heart and mind to the creator. Nature is ablaze with reminders of God’s power, sovereignty, provision, goodness, tender care, and so much more. The more I experience expressions of God the more I want to experience him.

7. Faithful prayer. I still keep a prayer list at the back of my Bible as a reminder of God’s faithfulness that I started years ago. Many of the prayers on the list are immeasurable (aka: praying for political leaders) or haven’t been answered in the way I’d hoped, but in others I see God’s power displayed. Such answered prayer makes me want to pray all the more-and increases my appetite for God.

How do you nurture your desire for God? What would you add to the list?

**Photo courtesy of here