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Thoughts From John Piper

Dear Friends,

My “thought” for this week comes from John Piper. It is found in his book "A Godward Life" and is titled, "The Lord's Touch." I share it because I can testify (with most of you I am sure) that some of the most precious times in my life have been those moments when, “God touched my heart.” Times when seemingly out of nowhere, I was surprised to find myself experiencing what I believe the book of Acts would call, being “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4, 4:8, 4:31, 6:3, 6:5, 7:55, 9:17, 13:9, 13:52). I have sometimes described it as being, “overcome by the sense of God’s presence.” 

 
Rudolf Otto, in his book, “The Idea of the Holy” described it this way: “It is the emotion of the creature submerged and overwhelmed by its own nothingness in contrast to that which is supreme above all creatures.” Have you experienced it? Did you seek it, or did it simply happen unsolicited in any way by you? How would you describe it? Enjoy.

Saul also went to his house at Gibeah;and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched, went with him.
(I Samuel 10:26)

"Reading these words has moved me to pray for a new touch from God. What a wonderful thing to be touched in the heart by God! There is nothing unusual about the Hebrew word here. It is simply "touched" in the ordinary sense. God touched their hearts.  


The touch of God on one's heart is an awesome thing. It is awesome because the heart is so precious to us – so deep and intimate and personal. When the heart is touched, we are deeply touched. Someone has gotten through protective layers to the center. We have been known. We have been uncovered and seen.

The touch of God is an awesome thing because God is God. Just think of what is being said here. God touched them. Not a wife. Not a child. Not a parent. Not a counselor. But God. The One with infinite power in the universe. The One with infinite authority, infinite wisdom, infinite love, infinite goodness, infinite purity, and infinite justice. That One touched their hearts…  


The touch of God is awesome because it is a touch. It is a real connection. That it involves the heart is awesome. That it involves God is awesome. That it involves an actual touch is awesome. The valiant men were not just spoken to... God with infinite condescension touched their hearts. God was that close. And they were not consumed.

I love that touch. I want it more and more. I want it for myself and all my people. I pray that God would touch me and all his church in a new, deep way, for his glory. The text says they were valiant men – 'the valiant men whose hearts God touched went with him.' The Hebrew word carries strength and courage and substance. Oh that the saints of God would be valiant for the Lord – courageous and mighty and full of weighty truth and beauty!

Pray with me for that touch. If it comes with fire, so be it. If it comes with water, so be it. If it comes with wind, let it come, O God. If it comes with thunder and lightning, let us bow before it. O Lord, come. Come close enough to touch. Shield us with the asbestos of grace, but no more. Pass through all the way to the heart and touch. Burn and soak and blow and crash. Or, do it through a still small voice. Whatever the means, come! Come all the way and touch our hearts." 


Those who know and have experienced such a touch from God in the past, cannot help but desire it again. Come Lord, and by your grace touch your people. Come and strengthen us with that touch. Renew dormant affections. Restore our first love. Remove all within us that would keep us from loving and serving you with all our hearts. We want it. We crave it. We need it. And may we, by your grace, receive it. Revive your people once again, we pray… and begin with us.

May this yearning underlie all we say, think, and do, as we move into 2026. Have a blessed New Year.

May such grace be yours, Pastor Jeff

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