Awakening Faith with Kari Hunnicutt

With Kari Hunnicutt

In today's fast-paced world, many individuals find their faith in God drifting into a state of dormancy. In a recent episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast, author Kari Hunnicutt explores the idea of "dormant faith." She goes deeply into this concept. She shares her insights on how to reignite that passion for a thriving relationship with God.

Kari Hunnicutt describes dormant faith as a belief that exists but is not fully engaged. It is not about rejecting God, but rather a state where the relationship has grown quiet. Many believers find themselves in this scenario, knowing the truth but no longer actively seeking intimacy with God. Kari emphasizes that when engagement fades, obedience often follows. This disconnect can lead to a sense of complacency in one’s spiritual walk.

Hunnicutt highlights the Great Commission. It is the final commandment of Jesus to his disciples. He urged them to make disciples of all nations. Many are familiar with this command. However, a survey she conducted revealed that nearly half of the respondents felt ineffective. They felt disobedient in their efforts to live it out. Many hesitated due to fear of rejection. Others had a private approach to faith. Feeling unprepared was also common. Some were simply too busy. This gap between belief and action is where dormant faith often lives.

The church serves as an essential institution designed to bring believers together. Kari underscores the importance of community in maintaining and strengthening one’s faith. When individuals feel isolated, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay committed to their spiritual journey. Disconnection from their church community also contributes to this difficulty. Encouragement, accountability, and support from fellow believers are crucial in keeping faith alive.

Kari shares her personal journey of faith, illustrating that it is a continuous process of transformation and growth. Engaging in a relationship with God requires effort, much like nurturing a friendship. The more priority one gives to their relationship with God, the stronger that connection becomes. Kari states, "God doesn't need our performance. He just wants our presence."

Many believers may recognize their dormant faith when they label themselves as "lukewarm." This self-awareness is the first step toward revitalizing their relationship with God. Hunnicutt encourages honesty in assessing one’s spiritual state, suggesting that acknowledging the need for a deeper relationship is pivotal.

Kari Hunnicutt's insights on dormant faith remind us that our relationship with God requires ongoing engagement. We can reignite our faith by confronting fears. Seeking community also plays a significant role. Prioritizing our spiritual practices helps us live out the Great Commission effectively. Remember, dormant faith is not the end; it is an opportunity for renewal and deeper connection with God.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

At uniformt.com weakening or being strong is personal, but how does church as an institution influence individual position in this?

SPEAKER_00 0:12

So church as an institution, I think God designed to bring his people together. We aren't meant to do this alone. I think that we need community around us. We need people who are there to uplift us, to encourage us, to hold us accountable. And so I think the more that we're pulled away from that community and feel like we're doing this all alone, that also makes it more difficult, you know, to stay in this race towards the Lord. So church, I think at its core, that's what's God's heart is behind it. It's to bring his people to take you deeper into it.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

Might you be knowing why people often weaken in their faith?

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Well, I would say there's all kinds of different reasons for that. I think that people can be fighting really hard and just get exhausted. And so they start to pull back a little bit or feel like they need a break. And sometimes I think there's a good season, like a season for rest. But I just always say, in those seasons, like make sure that we're still working through it and that we're not getting stuck there. So I think a lot of times we get stuck in a season for some reason and we don't know how to get out. And I think our spiritual practices too are huge and the world is noisy and we're busy people. And if we start focusing on other things and prioritizing other things before God, that's also going to weaken our faith together.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

Maybe we would also have to look at you, the lessons you've learned. Obviously, you were not born with this awareness. So, how did you come to know that it's important to awaken this faith?

SPEAKER_00 2:06

Well, I think I've had, I mean, I've been a Christian since I was a young girl, and I've had all kinds of various seasons in my walk of faith with God and different times when I was confused about what it meant to follow him, how I was supposed to prioritize him, you know, all the way up to times where I'm really looking to him for everything and having him guide my life. And I think that that is for all of us a journey and an ongoing process. The Bible talks about being transformed and being sanctified. And, you know, all of those terms, I think, are our learning process of turning to him and becoming more and more like him. And so the closer that we are in relationship with him, just like in any relationship in our life, you know, like to have a close friend, we have to be engaged with them. We have to be in conversation with them, um, you know, spend time with them. And so for me personally, I know the more that I have put him and his relationship in my life as a priority, then the closer I feel to him, the stronger I feel like that relationship is, and the more I can just feel his presence and sense him in my life.

SPEAKER_01 3:37

How can someone recognize dominant faith in their own life?

SPEAKER_00 3:41

So I think, you know, I think a lot of people are very aware of where they're at in their relationship with God. And I think when we, if you're honest with yourselves, you know, a lot of Christians might even say and label themselves as lukewarm, meaning that, yeah, they know God is there, but they probably know that they aren't really engaged, that they aren't really putting that relationship with him as a priority and that they are, you know, running around in their everyday, more wrapped up in other things besides him. And so I think most people can recognize that in their lives and know that their faith can be stronger and that they can live it out or just have a better relationship with him.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Thank you. Would you like to tell us once a person has identified themselves that they actually are walking in domain faith, what would be your advice? What are the spiritual, what are the steps they could take in order to activate their faith?

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Yeah, that's a good question. I think um, you know, even even just the the smallest steps to try to put more of a focus on their relationship with God. So I would say, you know, I know that it's busy, like a lot of times people are just feel like it's just another thing and they don't know how to even set aside more time for that relationship with God. And so, like, and I, you know, I agree, like it's hard. And that is a struggle. So I want them to not feel alone in that, and that it does take dedication and it does take practice to learn to set our spiritual practices as priority. And so I can just share even some of the things that I know in my busy life to help that maybe someone out there can glean from and think, okay, I can do that. Like that doesn't seem that hard. That doesn't seem like too big of a step of my first step to try to awaken my faith again. You know, it can be as easy as, I mean, finding even five minutes in the morning, first thing, waking up five minutes earlier and trying to find a quiet, cozy place in your house where you can open up the Bible and you can just start to get into the word a little bit. But even if that is not an option for you, you don't feel like you can do that. I know I spend a lot of time in my car right now, driving my kids around different places or, you know, dealing with different family things. And so I would say think about where you are spending a lot of your time and how you can connect with God during that time. So even in my car, I utilize a lot of listening tools while I'm driving around. And I get to benefit from that. And my kids in the car, even if they have their headphones in or, you know, an earplugged or whatever, like I know they can still hear some of that and that they're getting fed with some of that too. So even something as simple as I think about how influential music is in our lives, and it runs in our minds often, the lyrics to songs and we memorize it. And so when I play worship music, even in my car, instead of having random radio songs on, that that can instantly set a tone for my day and help me get aligned in thinking more about God and talking to him and communicating with him and worshiping him. And if one of those songs happens to get stuck in my head, then great. And then there's also podcasts like this that are spiritually sound podcasts or books that you can listen to. Um, and and then, you know, sometimes if if I'm listening and something pops into my mind from what I was listening to that I can't really process and address in the moment, I even just make a quick note in my phone of, you know, what I was thinking about or what came about in that time so that in a less busy time, I can go back and readdress that and dig into that a little bit deeper and pray about it. And the Bible app is another great resource that I utilize often because they have a lot of reading plans on there. So wherever you are, you can find a plan that really speaks to your situation and you can find a, you know, a Bible reading plan that fits and meets you in that place. And that's also a really easy one that you can listen to, you know, you can read it along with it, or there's an audible option. So while you're doing your daily walk or cooking dinner or whatever you're doing, you can listen to your Bible study for the day. So I have found that to be a really helpful tool too. And on that, you can invite other people onto the plans that you're doing. So each day you're doing reading, reading whenever it fits into your day. And your friend can also do the same. And you can make comments about what you thought about the reading or what God spoke to you and that. And so that's also a way of engaging community, but in your own in your own time, you know, that you can still connect with someone else and process with someone else, but you don't have to be there doing it at the same time. And I've loved that too.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

Which app do you use personally? For reading.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

I use it for yeah, for reading the Bible. It's just called the Holy Bible. It's the Bible, it's one of the Bible apps. And uh yeah, it's just called the Holy Bible.

SPEAKER_01 9:46

Yes, uh I would like to highlight the core message here, and then I'll ask you to give us your final message to our listeners and viewers. You've mentioned that when our faith is dormant, then our obedience is actually fading and we are not responding to the Great Commission, which implies that we're not bearing fruit, which I found was really a strong message. What would you say to individuals today who don't care about bringing more people to Christ?

SPEAKER_00 10:19

Uh if that's where you are right now, like that's a great thing to recognize and pray about. And I would just say focus on your relationship with God. Like seek him, seek him. Yeah. And that that can be your focus, and that's okay. And I believe that God will continue to grow and develop that, and that you will grow to have a burdened heart for other people to come to know him.

SPEAKER_01 10:49

Thank you very much. And what would be your final message for as we grow?

SPEAKER_00 10:54

I mean, I guess for especially those, you know, who feel like they're in this time of dormant faith or just who feel distant from God. I just want them to hear clearly that their feelings are not the measure of God's presence. So Romans 8 reminds us that nothing, not life, not death, not failure, not doubt, not seasons of numbness, nothing can separate us from the love of God found in Christ. And so nothing includes whatever season you're in right now, that he is not pacing in heaven, he's not disappointed, but he's near and he delights in you, he rejoices over you, and his love is not thinned because your passion has. So, with that, like sometimes distance isn't about God moving away, but it's about us losing our focus and a loud world that's easy to do. So, a lot Hebrews also tells us to run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus. And I love that imagery because endurance doesn't come from striving harder, it comes from where we look. So, again, just reminding you that if you feel far from him, don't start doing more, just start with turning your gaze back towards him. That can be the simple, easiest start. Just start looking back towards him. And even a whisper of Lord, I'm here is enough to begin again. So stay anchored, don't give up, and remember that the God who saved you is the God who sustains you and he hasn't let go.com at this point.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Where people can people find it?

SPEAKER_00 12:48

So you can go to Amazon. It's on Amazon. Just even if you search Dormant Faith by Carrie Honeycutt, it's there. I also have a website, and there is uh I talk about if lots of different content on the website with faith, fitness, and travel, but there's also a link to the book on my website. Either way, whether you go directly to Amazon or the link on my website, you can find it.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

Would you like to tell us your website? Some people are listening right now on audio.

SPEAKER_00 13:19

Yes. It's devotedexplorer.com.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Carrie is an author. She has written a very interesting book, Domain Faith. Would you like to tell us about this book and why you chose that title?

SPEAKER_00 13:32

That's such a great question and such a way good way to start off. First of all, Emmanuel, I want to thank you for having me. And I love that I am in the US and you're in Uganda and that we can have this conversation. Um and I'm excited that you have created this space to focus on helping listeners restore a thriving relationship with God. And that is truly in line with my book, Dormant Faith. So when I use the phrase dormant faith and came up with that for the title of the book, I am describing a faith that still exists, but maybe isn't fully engaged. So it's not someone who has rejected God. It's someone who still believes, but maybe the relationship has grown quiet or routine or comfortable. So we might know the truth, but we're no longer actively seeking intimacy with him or expecting him to move. And so in the book, we talk a lot about when that engagement fades, obedience often fades with it. And I also talked about a survey that I sent out to Christians in my circle about the Great Commission, because it's the final commandment that Jesus made to his disciples before ascending into heaven. And in this command, he told them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey his commands. And this is how his good news spreads and how people come to know him. And I believe that as people actively living out our faith today, we still desire to obey the Great Commission too. And in my survey, almost everyone knew the Great Commission and agreed that it was a command from God, but nearly half of them did not feel effective or obedient in living it out in today's world. And so that really struck me. And when we got deeper into it, many people said that they struggle with fear. So whether that was fear of rejection or fear of saying the wrong things, others said their faith has just become private, like that it that's just what they believe and it's a private matter, and that's okay. Some felt unprepared or just inconvenienced in their busy everyday lives or ashamed. And so, you know, what I kind of came down to was that the issue issue wasn't necessarily knowledge, but it was hesitation of some sort. So that gap between belief and action for whatever reason is often where our dormant faith can live. But with that, I often say, you know, and in my book I say, but it's that dormancy is not death. So the goal of this book is not to pressure people into doing more for God. It's to help them re-engage deeply with him. Because when we're truly connected to the spirit, our obedience becomes an overflow from that, not an obligation. And I think for me, that's been one of my ongoing lessons, that God doesn't need our performance. He just wants our presence. And so dormant faith kind of walks through all of that in a pretty deep way. You can take it as deep or as lightly as you want, but there's a lot of content there that's really just drawing you closer to your relationship with God. And it um leaves questions and prayers and worship songs at the end of each chapter to really soak in God and soak in his word.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure hosting you on this podcast. You're always welcome.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

Thank you. It's been great to talk with you and meet you as well.com.