I’m hungry. Or rather I feel the gnawing of my hungry soul. As shocking as it was, escaping the truth of the statement was not an option. My starving soul longed for refreshment, yet I continued to feed on the things which left it hungry.
Our souls long for acceptance, unconditional love, and true belonging. But where do we pursue these things?
Often, we read the next “Christian” self-help book or take to social media for the opinions of others. Despite our well-meaning efforts, we end up fostering self-reliance which only ignites anxiety.
Too often even in my physical hunger, I reach for something in the moment which satisfies, but in the end leaves me hungry still. Though I love God’s word, read, and study it daily, I fail to truly ingest it; my hungry soul testifying to that truth.
In some macabre way it remains only in my head —knowledge without nourishing my soul.
There is no magic formula or express way to feed on God’s word. But there is a difference between reading a recipe, preparing a meal and actually sitting down to eat it. In this age of fast food and instant gratification, it becomes tempting to turn our bible reading time into a curbside delivery.
Apps offering a quick little comment on a verse of the day, snippet of scripture and a superficial pre-written prayer have us in and out of God’s word in record time, propelling us into the day ill-fed and under nourished.
Yet, no elaborate quiet time ritual will suffice a hungry soul either. Coming to the table every day for a quick survey of what God places before me can never nourish me.
Why?
What if reading God’s word is not enough? Like coming to a beautifully arrayed table laden with exquisite food is not enough to sate your hunger unless you fully partake of it.
Wrestling with these questions, I became frustrated. Despite never missing a single day of reading God’s word and reading through the entire bible every year without fail for many years now, my soul was not satisfied.
My soul continued longing for the fullness of God’s word. Meeting God again in Isaiah 55:1-2 captured the essence of my longing.
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”
God’s invitation to come and eat was not about the satisfying of physical hunger. He speaks of letting our souls delight in “fatness” or abundance. He invites our souls to listen diligently to Him; to eat all which is good.
He speaks this divine invitation to a rebellious people who sought the satisfaction of their souls in idol worship and selfish pursuits. How often have I sought soul satisfaction in all the wrong places?
I think of all the times I first called a friend for comfort and advice in the midst of a trial, turned to the top Christian authors or speakers, relied on my own ability to push through, or grabbed a superficial reading of God’s word looking for what I wanted, but failing to see what God was in fact saying.
In the same way we fail to nourish our bodies when we choose inappropriate food, we cannot nourish our souls without properly ingesting God’s word.
But we cannot have God’s word without God.
What was missing for me was not God’s word, but God.
It is possible to read God’s word without fully digesting it, avoiding diligent listening to God’s voice. Without diligent listening, we have no discernment regarding God’s express word for us and our souls remain hungry.
The promise or invitation in Isaiah 55 is more than a simple satiation, God invites us to true goodness, delight and abundance, above and beyond filling a basic need.
Even more, Jeremiah tells us when we find God’s word and “eat it”, it becomes the joy and rejoicing of our hearts.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”
When we diligently seek God before His word, He feeds us His word through the riches of His goodness, so our souls become filled to overflowing with acceptance, unconditional love and belonging; every good and perfect thing our souls need to thrive.
If your soul is hungry today, come to the table, eat, and find Joy and abundance in God again.
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This is just what I needed to hear today Donna. What a valuable message.
Visiting today from Joanne’s
Praise God Paula, you found encouragement and blessing here today!
This is beautiful, Donna, reminding all of us to seek God through His Word. To let Him be the sole focus as we take in His Word. It’s funny you mention apps offering a word a day as I cannot even read Scripture on my laptop. In order for me to truly take in Scripture, I have to sit with my own Bible in my hands. Then it becomes His Word personal to me. I still can’t figure out why this is for me. “When we diligently seek God before His word, He feeds us His word through the riches of His goodness.” Amen!
Joanne, I had to laugh, I find the only way I enjoy and engage in my quiet time with God is to have my real bible in my hands too! While I use a kindle for other books, I cannot feel connected to God through an electronic means. It’s just something personal to hold the word in my hands!
This is beautiful, Donna. He alone can satisfy the deepest hunger of our spirit and soul. He wants us to be hungry and thirsty so that He can then fulfill our deepest desires. He calls us to return to our first love and turn away from other lovers. He initiates, and we respond to His love.
Lisa, it is so true only God can satisfy our truest longings, yet we wander in our weakness. I am so glad He pursues us and draws us back to Him!