“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)
Hunger is one of those topics that is addressed over and over again in scripture. We all know about physical hunger - our stomachs remind us all the time. But spiritual hunger is different - we don’t always recognize the signs.
Spiritual Hunger:
In scripture we see people that were hungry and desperate to connect with Jesus. They spent time with Him, listened to his teachings, and shared his ministry. And it is still true today. God places a spiritual hunger in our soul, and the closer we draw to Him, the strong our hunger becomes. We acquire a desire to please Him, to know Him in a deeper way, to feel His presence, to serve Him.
The Bible tells us, “Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be filled” (Luke 6:21).
I can always tell when I am spiritually hungry. I can’t seem to find any peace. I lose my joy. I become tired and weary. I am spiritually starving ... and it is usually a result of my self-imposed busy-ness, or an attempt to control things myself rather than follow God’s will for my life. Most likely I have skipped a few spiritual meals such as prayer, quiet time, and reading my Bible.
Without a conscious effort to feed our spiritual hunger, we may begin to feed our souls with anything the world offers us. And as we become spiritually weak, we become susceptible to all sorts of attacks from the enemy.
Who can give us living water that satisfies our soul? In John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
So, how is your spiritual hunger today? Are you thirsty?
Today I am asking God to give me a spiritual appetite that stirs up the passion and desire - that I might want more of Him! Won’t you join me in this prayer?
Physical Hunger:
As we mature in our faith and feed our spiritual hunger, another dimension is added to our hunger. Not only do we want more of Him, but we also desire to share God’s love and compassion with others. We begin to look for ways to feed the hungry (spiritually and physically), rather than just wanting to receive spiritual food for ourselves. God shows us the importance of ministering to the poor and needy in both the Old and New Testaments. One such story can be found in Matthew 14.
The scene: a lonely wilderness place by the Sea of Galilee, a hungry crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children
The outcome: an entire crowd eats, with 12 basketfuls remaining
We continue to live in a world full of hungry people. And just like Jesus commanded them to be fed in biblical times, He asks us to feed them today.
Impossible?
Not with God’s bountiful grace!
It’s Friday, Let’s “Sparkle” ... action required ... I once read a quote that said, Peace begins when the hungry are fed (author unknown). For a Christian, ministering to the poor and needy becomes a part of our lifestyle. In these harsh economic times, the number of families and individuals seeking assistance has risen dramatically. This Thanksgiving, consider how you will reach out to meet the needs of the “physically and spiritually hungry” in your community.
When people are hungry, there is no such thing as “too many volunteers.” Contact your local food pantry, soup kitchen, or community meal delivery program.
Here are a few other suggestions:
• Invite someone to join you at your table for Thanksgiving dinner
• Personally deliver a meal to a needy family
• Don’t forget about a lonely neighbor, or a widow/widower
“Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:8-9 NLT).
May you feast on the goodness of God today and everyday!
God’s Peace, Donna Weaver
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