Drawing NearSample

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

One reason someone may stop drawing near to the Lord is the fact that they no longer have the hunger to do so. In other words, the strong desire to pray and seek God has either subsided or altogether been quenched.

There are two types of hunger. One is to be hungry because I need to eat. The other is to be hungry because I want to eat. Both are necessary and good.

The fact is that there is no life, no abundance, no blessing apart from knowing Jesus. You and I desperately need to be connected to the source of life to flourish in this life. You and I need His wisdom, His guidance, His encouragement, His strength, His correction, His healing, His peace! Prayer is the key to connecting with God and in return receiving from Him to live. I need spiritual food because it sustains me and keeps me healthy!

The fact is that the more you “taste and see that the Lord is good,” you will desire to seek Him more. You and I learn that not only is Jesus necessary for life, but we also experience His goodness as we draw near to Him! We will not only realize that we desperately need Him for life, but we desire to know Him and receive from Him! I want spiritual food because I not only know about Jesus, but I know Him and experience His presence. I know He is good!

This is the miracle of knowing Jesus and drawing near to Him. Jesus is the only one who will truly fulfill you, make you complete, and satisfy you. Since He alone satisfies you, you begin to hunger for more of Him. Jesus is the only One who can both satisfy you and cause you to hunger to know and experience Him at the same time.

On the contrary, the devil tempts you with what the world can offer that will only satisfy you momentarily but will cause you to come back to try to fulfill yourself again. The problem is, you come away more empty and often in more of a mess in your life. So you hunger and thirst for something that tries to be a substitute for knowing Jesus more closely. This has the potential to continue all of your life and often becomes an addiction that ultimately traps you and keeps you bound.

The good news is that no matter where you are today, whether you hunger for God or not, you are invited by Jesus to drop what you are doing and come draw near to Him. He will replace the false fulfillment and you will continually be hungry for Him who alone satisfies. Be hungry to draw near to Him today and be fulfilled in His presence!

PRAYER

“Jesus, forgive me for the times that I look to someone or something else to try to fulfill me when all I need is you. Thank you for promising me true satisfaction in life and being the cure for my emptiness.

Help make me hungry for you more! I realize that I need you, but I want to know you more too! Fill me with such a hunger and thirst to draw near to you.

Thank you that you promise life, abundance, and great blessing through knowing you and receiving all that you desire to give to me daily.

I love you today because you first loved me. I hunger and thirst to know you like never before as I continually draw near to you!

In Jesus’ name. Amen.”