January 16th, 2024
I’m starving: dying because of not having enough food, very hungry.
Maybe this isn’t the best tag line for day two of a fast. Or, maybe it is. We are praying for you as you press through the physical challenges of this week, and as your body and mind begin to align with your spirit. By now, you may be experiencing some hunger pangs.
Hunger is vital for living. In fact, when you are no longer able to feel hungry, it’s actually a warning you are not well. Being hungry is a sign of health. So it is in our relationship with Jesus.
The truth is, on our own, in this earthly body, we are dying. It’s our human condition. Even the finest, most organic and healthiest food won’t sustain us forever. The only way we can satisfy true hunger is to eat the Bread of Life— that which never fades away and is eternal.
What would life be like if we came into God’s presence so hungry that we felt starving for more of Him? Maybe that’s what we desire, but the hunger pangs just aren’t there. It’s too easy to live just “getting by”, making it through life, not at a rock bottom place where we’re desperate for Him to move... Sure, we struggle sometimes, but we’re “okay”. Have we forgotten what it means to be truly hungry for Jesus? How, even as Christians, do we end up here?
“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night.” -John Piper
Oh friends, apathy and complacency are the greatest roadblocks to true hunger for Jesus. And they’re the sneakiest traps because the world is full of invitations to believe that the here and now is what is real and important. Have you had the thoughts of: “If I have this _________, I’ll be satisfied”? We need to have a new vision for eternity, so that our hunger for the eternal will overtake us. It’s a hunger only He can fulfill! Nothing else will do.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
Have you ever met a picky eater? Someone who only had a few things they like to eat and wasn’t too willing to try new things? We don’t want that to be a picture of who we are in the spirit. What if God wants you to try something new? Something you’ve never had or experienced before? Are you too familiar with what you’re used to—or what you prefer? Will you allow Him to lead you into new things? It’s difficult to develop a taste for things we’ve never tried before. And even in the spirit, we have to re-train our palate to desire the things of the Lord. How do we do this? We read His word, even when we don’t feel like it. We spend more time in prayer each day, even when we’re busy and we don’t know what to say. We ask Him to show us opportunities to offer His hope by placing us in situations where we can pray for someone or speak the Word into their life. The more you fill yourself with God’s presence, the more you will crave it! It’s truly incredible! If you’re wanting to be more hungry for Him, you must begin by reaching for that daily bread before anything else. We can’t settle for the world’s attempt to feed our soul. We will never be satisfied.
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’.” John 6:35
Lord, we pray as we set aside other things, our hunger for you will greatly increase. Open our eyes to see your wonder and glory and set our hearts to deeply crave your presence. We want more of you. We want to experience the new things you’re doing and set our hearts toward eternity. Let us only be satisfied in you, and you alone.
Will you read Psalm 63 with us?
This morning, this is our prayer: More of You (click to listen). Also, here is a playlist of worship songs we have created for this week: Spotify playlist
Due to the weather, the church will now be open Wednesday—Friday from 7am-7pm. If you’d like to come pray, worship, put your requests on the cross, or just be in God’s presence, please do. We’ll keep the heat on to warm you up!
Let’s leave the past, begin anew, and see God move!
Pastors Josh + Tori
Maybe this isn’t the best tag line for day two of a fast. Or, maybe it is. We are praying for you as you press through the physical challenges of this week, and as your body and mind begin to align with your spirit. By now, you may be experiencing some hunger pangs.
Hunger is vital for living. In fact, when you are no longer able to feel hungry, it’s actually a warning you are not well. Being hungry is a sign of health. So it is in our relationship with Jesus.
The truth is, on our own, in this earthly body, we are dying. It’s our human condition. Even the finest, most organic and healthiest food won’t sustain us forever. The only way we can satisfy true hunger is to eat the Bread of Life— that which never fades away and is eternal.
What would life be like if we came into God’s presence so hungry that we felt starving for more of Him? Maybe that’s what we desire, but the hunger pangs just aren’t there. It’s too easy to live just “getting by”, making it through life, not at a rock bottom place where we’re desperate for Him to move... Sure, we struggle sometimes, but we’re “okay”. Have we forgotten what it means to be truly hungry for Jesus? How, even as Christians, do we end up here?
“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night.” -John Piper
Oh friends, apathy and complacency are the greatest roadblocks to true hunger for Jesus. And they’re the sneakiest traps because the world is full of invitations to believe that the here and now is what is real and important. Have you had the thoughts of: “If I have this _________, I’ll be satisfied”? We need to have a new vision for eternity, so that our hunger for the eternal will overtake us. It’s a hunger only He can fulfill! Nothing else will do.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
Have you ever met a picky eater? Someone who only had a few things they like to eat and wasn’t too willing to try new things? We don’t want that to be a picture of who we are in the spirit. What if God wants you to try something new? Something you’ve never had or experienced before? Are you too familiar with what you’re used to—or what you prefer? Will you allow Him to lead you into new things? It’s difficult to develop a taste for things we’ve never tried before. And even in the spirit, we have to re-train our palate to desire the things of the Lord. How do we do this? We read His word, even when we don’t feel like it. We spend more time in prayer each day, even when we’re busy and we don’t know what to say. We ask Him to show us opportunities to offer His hope by placing us in situations where we can pray for someone or speak the Word into their life. The more you fill yourself with God’s presence, the more you will crave it! It’s truly incredible! If you’re wanting to be more hungry for Him, you must begin by reaching for that daily bread before anything else. We can’t settle for the world’s attempt to feed our soul. We will never be satisfied.
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’.” John 6:35
Lord, we pray as we set aside other things, our hunger for you will greatly increase. Open our eyes to see your wonder and glory and set our hearts to deeply crave your presence. We want more of you. We want to experience the new things you’re doing and set our hearts toward eternity. Let us only be satisfied in you, and you alone.
Will you read Psalm 63 with us?
This morning, this is our prayer: More of You (click to listen). Also, here is a playlist of worship songs we have created for this week: Spotify playlist
Due to the weather, the church will now be open Wednesday—Friday from 7am-7pm. If you’d like to come pray, worship, put your requests on the cross, or just be in God’s presence, please do. We’ll keep the heat on to warm you up!
Let’s leave the past, begin anew, and see God move!
Pastors Josh + Tori
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