I’m So Hungry

We hear our kids say "I'm so hungry!" and we even say them ourselves. But, in reality, unless we have gone for days upon end without a morsel of food, we don't know the meaning of true hunger. Thank God!

Being, "hungry" took on a new meaning for me recently. I have a wonderful devotion book that comes with daily scriptures and a great, practical message to back them up. I also listen to the "Bible in One Year" scriptures from my phone app. I guess I'm an overachiever because I don't want to miss a day so that I keep my Bible-reading streak going on the app. I've also learned a wonderful way of reading the Bible called Lectio Divina (Latin for "divine reading"). Lectio Divina has four steps: read; meditate; pray; contemplate. First a passage of scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected upon. Then it's followed by prayer and contemplation on the Word of God. So many times when I read and pray this way, an aha comes. It encourages me so much that I'll note it in my Bible and my journal. It's not how many scriptures we read, but how our hunger is quenched when we really understand even just one.

This photo is the Bible my daughter gave me on Mother's Day, 1995. I know that by the inscription on this page. That was when she was still Staci (Sissy, as was called by her big brother) Michelle Wuerch. I had a moment of endearment because I hadn't noticed that page -- probably since she gave it to me back in 1995. It is a Bible that is very marked up.

I've resumed my deep dive into the Word daily. You see, I was hungering to know more, learn more, and live more by what this best-selling BOOK says. There is none other to compare with its wealth of wisdom and guidance for living an overcoming and successful life -- if we would but adhere to what it tells us. The Psalmist and Jesus said this about God's Word:

"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me… Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path… I have put my hope in Your word". ~ David, Psalm 119:97-98, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:114
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ~ Jesus, Matthew 4:4

The Bible is more than an instruction manual or a rule book. It is more than a random collection of stories, poems, and letters. It is the voice of God communicating with us. That is why the Bible is often referred to as “the Word of God.”

The bottom line? We know the sound of God’s voice in our lives when we read His Word. Need direction? Need peace? Need hope? Need joy? Need answers? Everything you and I need is found within the pages of the Word of God (the Holy Bible). It is the most definitive way we can know and hear the voice of God! I'm hungry! How about you?

Got Hunger? Get Filled!

Yesterday, I posted about the thirst for water AND God’s living water that will quench our thirst as we draw closer to Him. Today, it's hunger for natural food and the food of God’s Word and presence.

Our 13-day faith pilgrimage most certainly DIDN’T include a spiritual fast from food. We were literally filled with the finest food. We were well fed in each restaurant and hotel that we were in – as Psalm 81:16 says “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” And we were, including the honeycomb we were served while in Jerusalem (shown here).

At the Mount of Temptation (hot and dry desert), we not only saw where Jesus was tempted by the enemy and we related only somewhat to His thirst, but most certainly not his hunger because we had been fed so well. We heard Jesus' response to the enemy: "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Matt 4:4

Indeed, “Man shall not live by bread alone because our Father has prepared a banquet for us -- a feast of His presence, but we won’t have the appetite for it if we’re satisfied with something or someone else. The desire Jesus was referring to is for Him, and it's not reserved for only a few over-the-top passionate believers, but for all of us.

Psalm 107:9 tells us that God "satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things", but there’s a requirement before satisfaction comes -- we must be thirsty and hungry.

When we are spiritually hungry, we naturally desire the richness of spending time with God -- praying, attending Bible and prayer meetings, listening to teaching tapes, reading books on spiritual topics, attending conferences and retreats because days are filled with pursuing God and feeding on Him.

Don’t we wish it stayed that way? But life happens. Marriage, careers and children happen. Distractions happen. Lots of distractions like anxiety, fear, discontentment, and over-commitment keep us from that sweet intimacy that we may only find in hungering for God.

Jesus always has a table set before us of His presence, yet because we’ve been snacking on lots of other things, we aren’t hungry for Him. We try to satisfy ourselves, instead of having an insatiable hunger that can only be satisfied by fellowship with our Lord.

Matthew 34:8 says “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Honestly, "tasting" has become the motivating force in my life. I long to know Him more, and the more I crave Him like I did for certain foods when I was expecting my babies, the more I receive assurances from heaven that remind me I am feasting on Him.

While on the Mount of the Beatitudes, we heard Christ’s words from Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:for they shall be filled.” Lord, please make us as hungry and thirsty for You and Your presence, as we are for the best meal and drink at a 5-star restaurant! Only you can satisfy the hunger and thirst that satisfies our souls!