I'm Hungry!

-
We all get hungry. But, what for? And, can you control what you're hungry for?

Hungry for donuts?
Hungry for coffee and chocolate?
Hungry for salads?
Hungry for time to scroll instagram?
Hungry for time in God's word?
Hungry for "alone" time?
Hungry for experiences?
Hungry for "more" of something?

First, hunger isn't inherently bad. In fact, it is an amazing indicator of what your body needs or desires.

We all get hungry... and these appetites of ours tell us a lot about how we're doing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our goal should be to hunger for the things of God... but, what do we do when we're not hungry for those things? How do we fight unruly appetites?

_________________

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
~ Matthew 5:6
_________________

While the world says that "cravings happen," and to "treat yourself" when your appetite goes wild, I'm here to tell you that the Biblical response isn't always so cliché. Is it okay to give in to your cravings, to indulge yourself, and to say that you "deserve" to have what you want? Well... not always.

Here are a few simple steps to fighting an unruly appetite. Train yourself to hunger for the things of God!

1. Recognize what you're hungry for. Is it a healthy hunger? Or an unruly hunger?
2. If you're hungry for something "good" and "healthy," praise God for that hunger! If you're hungry for something "bad," think about why. Have you been "feeding" that hunger in the past? Are you letting that hunger grow?

To an extent, you are responsible for "training" your appetite. If you feed your hunger, you'll keep wanting that "thing." You'll hope for satisfaction, fullness, and pleasure in that "thing." What hunger are you feeding?

3. Fuel yourself in a Biblical way. Try reading a bible verse when you eat a snack. Every time. Let scripture be part of your "diet." Soon, you'll realize that you DESIRE or HUNGER for God's word more and more! This is a simple way to "train" your appetite.
4. If there are things or foods that are make you always want more of them (aka they don't satisfy you for long), cut them out of your diet/life.
5. Ask God to satisfy your appetite. 

Next time you get hungry, remember that Jesus is the one who will satisfy you forever. You need nothing else, even when the world tells you you're lacking. There's a lot more to be said on this topic, but for today, that's all. 



Popular posts from this blog

an ode to dirty diapers

-
Image
Never has a task felt so repetitive and so mundane.  Nonetheless, never has a task felt so needed and so incredibly purposeful: Changing. Yet. Another. Dirty. Diaper.  From soiled to clean, once again.  And it would be silly to become frustrated with the task when these youngsters we care for are so little that they're simply unable to control these natural bodily functions. It isn't a perfect analogy, but bear with me. Or if we're talking about the baby on your lap, maybe it would be better suited to say "bear down" with me as they fill their pants again! Ok, that's probably taking my inner labor/delivery nurse bodily-function-language-filter (or lack thereof) too far. You'll have to bear down with me, too. Oops. Too far, again? Well, there goes the hope for a smooth delivery of this topic! Ha! Are you laughing with (or at) me yet? Ok, but for real: I can't help but think: Is this perhaps how God views the cleansing of our sin? Repetitive. Purposeful....
Read more

the ultimate birth story

-
Image
The Bible is laden with birth stories. Eve's. Sarah's. Rebecca's. Rachel's. Elizabeth's. Hannah's. Mary's. And so many others. But laden throughout all scripture is the undercurrent of a greater birth story in the lives of you and me: the story of us being born into the family of God.  We hear of increased pain in childbearing (Eve). Giving birth as an elderly woman (Elizabeth, giving birth to John the Baptist). Barrenness (Rebecca, for 20 years!), twin birth (also Rebecca, giving birth to Jacob and Esau), post-menopausal birth (Sarah), dying in childbirth (Rachel, when she had Benjamin), and even giving birth as a virgin (Mary, giving birth to Jesus). It is no wonder we hear about birth so much in the Scripture; it is is a significant event. It's incredibly hard, but it's also something we can be proud of, because the end result is, or is supposed to be, beautiful new life. But unfortunately, birth is broken. It doesn't always end in new life, a...
Read more

the faith of infancy

-
Image
As I sit here gazing at our sweet baby's face, it's as if I've never seen or understood a baby's helpless state before; I find myself having a "lightbulb" moment, where Matthew 18:3 hits me in a brand new way. Our precious son, completely reliant on us as his caretakers: the two people God chose, enabled and entrusted to give life to this little one. Whoa, dude. That's a big responsibility. And yet, my heart rejoices as Mary's did in Luke chapter 1, "magnifying" the Lord, because no, I could not have done anything this beautiful apart from the Lord, the Creator. I rejoice in Zion's life. He's such a blessing to GET to take care of!! The Lord has indeed done beautiful things for us, and HOLY is his name! And then, to think that God willingly gave up his firstborn - his one and only Son for us. It seems unfair. Probably because it is. Yet, Jesus went willingly into the humble, helpless human form as he became a baby. But, that's a w...
Read more