I'm Hungry

This past Sunday, I brought my youngest to the nursery. He doesn't like to be away from me and cried the whole time. Half way through the service I had to go get him because he was just sitting at the door crying, non-stop. Poor guy. Thankfully our church has a cry room set up at the back of the sanctuary so we can see and hear the service without disturbing the other patrons. Unfortunately that means I missed a little chunk of the sermon. It was a good one too. That evening we watched Courageous. We have movie night once a month with concessions that support missions.

The topic was "I'm hungry"

There are times when I get so into a project that the rest of life and the world seem to disappear. Hours later, when I run out of steam or finish, I realize, "Where did the time go!" Then I realize, "Man, I'm hungry!" We do the same thing spiritually. We get busy with our jobs, appointments, activities, chores, etc... Even though we had planned on doing a devotional this morning we just got caught up in something else. I know this happens to me when my kids wake up before or with me. At the end of the day when it is bed time I still don't always get to that devotion because I'm so worn out and as soon as I get the kids all into bed I crash too. I know others can relate. God gets put on the back burner. We intend to devote time and attention to him, but life happens. The world is moving busily.

 We need to stop and take a moment to ask ourselves "What am I hungry for?" Our hunger leads us. If we're hungry for Italian food we're not going to eat at a Mexican restaurant. If we want ice cream we're not going to eat pop corn. What are we hungry for? Are we hungry for money, for possessions, for friends, for power, or for God?

When we allow ourselves to get full of everything but God, we leave no room for Him. Just like a person who has eaten their fill at a meal refuses dessert, because they have no room for it.

When we ask what we're hungry for and the answer is not God, then we need to begin to cultivate a hunger for him. God tells us to hunger and thirst after righteousness. God is righteousness.

Psalm 107:8-9

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
   and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
⁹ for he satisfies the thirsty
   and fills the hungry with good things. 

Proverbs 27:7

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁷ One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
   but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Matthew 5:6

New International Version (NIV)

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

James 1:21

New International Version (NIV)

²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 

1 Corinthians 14

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

1 Corinthians 12:7-10

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^[b]