Hunger

"Many Christians are not satisfied with Jesus"

- Beth Moore

How harsh is that statement? Is it true in your heart?  Is Christ enough? His death enough? His all-encompassing love enough?

.... As hard as it is for me to admit, my life and choices often reflect differently.  I go to friends, entertainment, family, busy work, food, or in the past even alcohol to soothe my pains or to "satisfy" my needs-- hunger & thirst for some kind of fulfillment.  Like our physical bodies, our soul's need food-- spiritual satisfaction.  God knew what He was doing when He created us-- He knows our desires and our needs.  That is why our physical body is so in-tune with our hearts and souls.  Why does our heart actually ache within our chest when we are in emotional pain?  In the same way being hungry and thirsty or desperate for love and satisfaction is related to our physical needs and desires.  The problem is that we often turn to things that cause us more harm and leave us more empty such as relationships, sex, alcohol,  food, money, gambling.. the list goes on...

What is your addiction?  Your drug? Is it Christ?.. the only one our can satisfy or a deadly, poisonous vice.. that will in fact kill you.

I've struggled with many of the vices above--- been tempted to turn to them to fill the void in my heart.

The Bad News: We are all born with a void-- a need for something more.  Physical, emotional and spiritual hungers.  Vices and sins will destroy us if we seek satisfaction in them. They will ruin our lives- break us- cause us pain... kill us-- eternally.

The Good News: God created that void so that we would NEED Him.  So that we could be filled with the Holy Spirit and find complete satisfaction in Him.  That void can be fully and graciously filled with love, joy, peace and satisfaction.  He is the living water and the bread of life. 

New International Version (©1984)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled"

He will full fill:

John 4 -- Jesus was human He understood physical hunger & thirst, but He knew something greater:

^"13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”"

New International Version (John 6:35)

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

"A crucial part of our liberation in Christ is allowing Him to fill the empty places in our lives."- Beth Moore

Complete satisfaction can be a reality! Are you seeking it? I am.  I am eagerly seeking such satisfaction.  To feel whole. Completely whole. 

Physical Hunger: Spiritual Hunger

Beth Moore draws many parallels with physical and spiritual hunger--- as does Christ in the Gospels.  As I said before, God designed us to be in sync- so it makes sense that the two are so related.  Christ walked in Flesh so He understood both, thus why He needed water from the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+4.

Our physical bodies need food.  If you are anything like me food or alcohol may be one of your vices.  When I am sad or hurting I have often turned to food to satisfy my pain and "full fill" me.  Also, If you are anything like me you get CRANKY, TIRED, and SELFISH when you are hungry.  If we don't eat-- we fall ill.  If we don't eat right and nourish our bodies we also become ill.  In the same way if we don't feed our souls we experience similar symptoms: " irritability, selfish ambition, anger, impure thoughts, envy, resentment, and lust." (---Beth Moore)

 Does that sound accurate? I don't know about you but my heart and behavior is majorly different for the day if I am spiritually unfed.  If I spend time in prayer and in the Word I am full and my soul is at peace-satisfied...  A healthy soul is vital for a happy life. Trust me.

God can satisfy your deepest desires of your heart and soul. 
Are being fed today? or are you HUNGRY??

It's He ALONE that can truly fulfill.  He created the hole in your heart so let Him fill it!!

My Soul Thirsts for You

Psalm 63

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips