Nurture Your Hunger for God

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? — Psalm 42:1-2 (NKJV)

You will frequently hear believers say, “I feel dry,” “I am not feeling God at all,” or “I just don’t feel like getting involved with anything that pertains to God.” They make these statements because that is exactly how they feel in the moment. Many assume that a hunger for God should just happen naturally. However, they do not realize that spiritual hunger must be deliberately nurtured.

This misconception exists because the flesh naturally resists the things of God and actively tries to prevent you from leaning toward Him. It constantly pulls you away from spiritual growth toward distractions that offer no eternal value. The Bible describes this intense inner conflict clearly:

For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do. — Galatians 5:17 (GNT)

Because the flesh opposes the Spirit, it will stop at nothing to lure you away from a spiritual lifestyle. If you want to outsmart these carnal desires and develop a deep hunger for God, you must bring your body into subjection through discipline. The most effective way to do this is by denying the flesh its cravings and intentionally doing what God requires. For example, your flesh will never want you to study the Bible or pray, but you must choose to do it anyway.

Similarly, the flesh will try to keep you from attending church because it avoids environments where you will be instructed in righteousness. However, when you override those feelings and show up anyway, you actively veto the dictates of the flesh. Consistently practicing this kind of self-denial builds a healthy, enduring appetite for God, His word, and His work. The Apostle Paul understood this profound spiritual reality.

I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest. — 1 Corinthians 9:27 (GNT)

Paul knew the flesh could become a major hindrance, so he took deliberate steps to bring it into total submission. I encourage you today to actively cultivate your hunger for God. If you wait for it to happen automatically, it never will, because the flesh remains completely opposed to it. Therefore, you must remain highly intentional.

Whenever you do not feel like engaging with God, that is the exact moment you must push yourself to study, pray, or fast. Every time your flesh presents resistance, break through it and insist on obedience. When you maintain this discipline long enough, you will bring the flesh under your control, and your hunger for God will continually increase. Hallelujah!

Today’s Rhema

If you truly want to walk with God, you must do it deliberately and intentionally!

Prayer

Father, I am grateful for reminding me of the need to deliberately nurture my relationship with You. I declare that as I do this, my appetite for Your word and passion for Your presence will grow consistently, in the name of Jesus. Amen!