Spiritual Popcorn

Most people have not heard of the term "Spiritual Popcorn".

Whenever I bring it up, I’m always interested in hearing what people think I am talking about.

Some people think of Christian Worldview vs. Modern Movies.

Some people try to compare it to the heat and the pressure, that creates a perfect piece of popcorn, with how God touches a cold heart and makes it light and fluffy.

A few people think it has something to do with Popcorn Chicken Prayer.

But I’m talking about something a little more addictive.

Actual popcorn.

You smell it.

You yearn for it.

You start craving it and you can't get over it until you get a bite.

Even those, who don’t really like popcorn, crave the salty buttery snack when they smell it.

My youth worship leader taught me about Spiritual Popcorn while we were preparing for service and the amazing smell came wafting through the door.

We laughed about it all day, but two years later, we discuss it in youth group and I still hold that moment very dear in my heart.

I made a friend, a few weeks ago, whom I was sure had been going to church her whole life. We sat down to talk, and she started getting so excited.

"Guess what? I just started reading Genesis! Have you read this? It's amazing! The angels are huge and they have flaming swords! They are warriors!"

I've read the Bible all the way through a few times when I was younger, but her excitement was getting contagious. I briefly mentioned that David and Timothy were some of my favorite stories in the Bible. She, having never heard about them before, asked me to tell her about David and Goliath.

We spent a long and excited two hours with each other. She even asked, before I left, if we could meet up sometime so I could tell her more. She couldn't get enough of it. It wasn't just the stories that captivated her. When she got into Matthew and Luke, she was completely enthralled with words straight from Jesus.

It was a new life than what she had been living. It was a turning point for her. It was this rich craving of something more. Something better. Something sweet and precious that she longed to have more of.

She was having a Spiritual Popcorn moment.

"Spiritual Popcorn" is a craving for God and a craving for His Word, like a thirsty deer craves water.

This longing and craving is epipotheo. It is a greek term of intensity. It means to desire strongly with an intense compelling craving. 

All throughout the Bible, there are verses about loving God's Word more than necessary food, being nourished by the Word of faith, craving and crying out for that nourishment of pure spiritual milk, the Word is pure and the Word is life. We have faith by this nourishment, and faith saves us. We crave this life that is beyond anything we've ever known. It is a heartcry deep within us, written in our hearts.

We crave the words that give us life. We hear His voice, we hear of His good news, and we want more.

Breathe it in. It's okay to crave this popcorn. It's okay to bring your own wherever you go and share it with others. It's okay to sneak a little extra before bed. Take a bite of the buttery salty goodness and taste and see that The Lord is good.