Hungry

Psalm 107:9 NLT For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Have you ever been hungry—really hungry? Most of us have never experienced true hunger, only a feeling of discomfort where hunger is confused with appetite. Appetite is the desire to eat appealing foods. Appetites change, are driven by perception, and are heavily influenced by circumstances and surroundings. Real hunger is irresistible, constant, and cannot be denied.

So we must ask: do I have an appetite for the things of God, or do I actually hunger after the things of God? Having an appetite for God and the things of God will never suffice. We must truly hunger, willing to cast everything else aside to be filled and satisfied by God and the things of God. From Genesis to Revelation, God expresses His desire to fulfill our deepest needs, to quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger, and to meet every longing in your heart. He only requires that we come to Him, fully surrendered, allowing Him to fill your life with His good things.

Have you ever tried to feed a toodler who wasn’t cooperative? Not asking them to feed themselves; just open their mouth and you will do the rest. Psalm 81:10 says the same when God states, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of bondage. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” God is saying if you will just open your mouth wide and if you will look to me for satisfaction, joy, fulfillment, and security, look to me for all these things, and I will satisfy you more than anything in this world. I will give you security that nothing in this world can take away from you. I will give you a joy that surpasses circumstances. And I will give you an identity that is unshakable for all of eternity. If you will just look to me, trust in me. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

King David knew God’s ability to satisfy life’s thrist and hunger when he proclaims, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). “My whole being longs for you!" David is saying, I will not survive without you! Not optional or a good choice, but life will never be complete or satisfying until your presence fills every portion of my being. David goes on to state in Psalm 62:8, “with passion I pursue and cling to you.” David knows this kind of hunger comes only when you have seen God for who he really is (Psalm 62:2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory), when you have tasted of his goodness (Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!)

Jesus came to remove every barrier for us to have this full, satisfying relationship with God the Father. To fulfill Isaiah 58:11, “Yahweh, the Lord God, will always guide you where to go and what to do. He will fill and refresh you even when you are in dry, difficult places. He will continually restore strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing.”

If you cannot describe your life as flourishing, then a check of your diet may be in order. Our hearts will long for the kind of nourishment only God can provide, struggling to navigate life’s ups and downs without it. Are you empty from trying to satisfy your soul with something other than the Lord? Come to Him with all your heart, fully surrendered, and discover the fullness He freely offers.

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Proverbs 15:14 TPT Lovers of God hunger after truth, but those without understanding feast on foolishness and don’t even realize it.

Luke 1:53 TPT Those who hunger for him will always be filled, but the smug and self-satisfied he will send away empty.

Matthew 5:6 NIV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Isaiah 55:1-3 TPT Listen! Are you thirsty for more ? Come to the refreshing waters and drink . Even if you have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes , come and buy all the wine and milk you desire— it won’t cost a thing. Why spend your hard-earned money on something that can’t nourish you or work so hard for something that can’t satisfy? So listen carefully to me and you’ll enjoy a sumptuous feast, delighting in the finest of food. Pay attention and come closer to me, and hear, that your total being may flourish. I will enter into an everlasting covenant with you, and I will show you the same faithful love that I showed David.

Psalm 145:16-19 NLT When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

Psalm 63:1 NLT O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 34:10 TPT Even the strong and the wealthy grow weak and hungry, but those who passionately pursue the Lord will never lack any good thing.

Psalm 22:26 NLT The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.

Psalm 42:1-2 TPT I long to drink of you, O God, to drink deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you! My soul thirsts, pants, and longs for the living God. I want to come and see the face of God.

1 Peter 2:2 NLT In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this milk will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life.

John 4:14 TPT but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never be thirsty again. For when you drink the water I give you, it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, flooding you with endless life!

Psalms 63:5-8 NLT You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

John 6:35 NLT Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 7:37-38 NLT Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.