A Hunger and Thirst for God

[rockswillcryout]

Our physical bodies need things to survive - the air we breath, to food we eat, the water we drink. Without these things, our bodies deteriorate.

And what does our soul need to survive? Some say fellowship with other people, some say love. The soul can deteriorate like the body, but may take longer or may not be evident to the outside world as much. The God-shaped hole we are born is why our soul deteriorates - when it

[Guest Rootabagga]

Good questions. Had to really think about it. At first I was going to say the typical read His word, pray, go to church...... but that didn't seem right. If it was that simple then why would people have such a hard time following Him? I believe that the Lord places in everyone of His children a calling (hunger) and it is up to the individual to answer (urge) after that call. If you look at the basic words of hunger and thirst, they are both words that pertain to everyone, a natural bodily function. The only thing is it is up to us to act on it, it is not an automatic thing. You hunger, you eat. You thirst, you drink. Same thing with the calling and urges that God places within you. You feel/know that you are called to do something, you have to choose to act on that calling. If you do not act on the feeling then it will get stronger for a time, and then will disappear. Look at a anorexic person. When they first stop eating the stomach growls and hurts telling the body it needs food. After 5-10 days that pain is no longer noticable. The body is getting used to not getting food so it feeds on other parts of the body. Like wise with the spiritual side of things. You ignor His calling and His urging and a time will come that you no longer "hear/feel" it and then things go downhill and you may not even notice it. Think about it. How long have you ignored His calling? Do you even know what He has called you to? Has it been that long??

[ServingHim]

Our physical bodies need things to survive - the air we breath, to food we eat, the water we drink. Without these things, our bodies deteriorate.

And what does our soul need to survive? Some say fellowship with other people, some say love. The soul can deteriorate like the body, but may take longer or may not be evident to the outside world as much. The God-shaped hole we are born is why our soul deteriorates - when it

[Orr v'emet]

I don't know if I can really tell you in words what it means to truly hunger and thirst for God. I always have a desire to know more of Him and want to be in the word, in fellowship with others etc. There have been many times in my life however when I hungered and thirsted (are those real words?) for God so much that it hurt. Not only did it hurt emotionally but physically as well. It's really hard to describe. It's just an intense desire to want to hear a word from God or learn all there is to know about Him or seek to really do His will. It's an intense desire to praise Him and call out to Him that brings about so many emotions. We may have it all by the worlds standards but you are right, there is that hole that only God can fill. For me, the desire is always there but there are times when I hunger and thirst for God more strongly than other times.

[ServingHim]

Kristen, that was beautiful...

[rockswillcryout]

Look at a anorexic person. When they first stop eating the stomach growls and hurts telling the body it needs food. After 5-10 days that pain is no longer noticable. The body is getting used to not getting food so it feeds on other parts of the body.

I hadn't thought of it that way, but that's a very excellent observation. When we ignore the hunger and thirst for God, we feed on other things to get nourishment. For some, it's the "Martha-syndrom" where we do, do and do, and don't spend time at the foot of Jesus taking him in. For some, it can be the service they do for their church, whether it's giving money or organizing a bake sale, or sitting on a missions committee. That can fool us into thinking that's it's enough... that we don't need to intimacy, a daily time with him if we are out serving him. The two must go hand in hand.

Think about it. How long have you ignored His calling? Do you even know what He has called you to? Has it been that long??

Those are very good questions. If our hunger and thirst have gone unnourished for so long, how can we know what calls from him we have missed?

(KMB said:)

Not only did it hurt emotionally but physically as well. It's really hard to describe. It's just an intense desire to want to hear a word from God or learn all there is to know about Him or seek to really do His will.

I have times like that, too! Where my heart is actually aching, I feel such an intense pain in my chest and all I can do to ease the ache is to cry out to God and let his peace take me over.

Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, (I might be considering the lack of responses on this topic) but it's a prevelant issue in my life.I have few times "up on the mountain" and while they are so good, I still have to go down into the valley and use what God taught my in the "mountain" time. There is such a big part of me that wants that mountain time to be all the time - because it's easier. A time when you are so immersed in God that the whole world around you disappears.

[Guest Called]

Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, (I might be considering the lack of responses on this topic) but it's a prevelant issue in my life.I have few times "up on the mountain" and while they are so good, I still have to go down into the valley and use what God taught my in the "mountain" time. There is such a big part of me that wants that mountain time to be all the time - because it's easier. A time when you are so immersed in God that the whole world around you disappears.

Your not the only one who feels that way. I would have responded before, but I wasn't quite sure what to put. I agree with what you said and what Kris said, however I do want to add one more thing. If we really hunger and thirst after God, than we will be completely obedient. We will put His will above our own, we will spread the Gospel instead of putting it off and we will spend our lives immersed in prayer. Hungering and thirsting are more than a feeling, but obedience.

I have times like that, too! Where my heart is actually aching, I feel such an intense pain in my chest and all I can do to ease the ache is to cry out to God and let his peace take me over.

[BobTriez]

A hunger and a thirst for God is an important part of our walk with God. We do not seek sustenance ( food, water ) when we are full, correct ? We seek it when we are in need. The very fact that we have a hunger for God is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit drawing us closer to Him.

As the Psalmist said -

Psalm 42:1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

It's the very nature of a regenerated heart that we not only desire Him, but we pant for Him....as a deer does for water - it's a need, just so, our hearts need to be drawn closer to Him.

Jesus said -

John 7:38

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me. And let him drink, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Jesus tied this image together very well I think. HE is what our souls long for....Living Water. A regenerated heart in Him simply can not survive without it's daily intake of Living Water - Jesus. We would wither up and start to die with out it....just as the deer needs physical water to live.

Go drink a big gulp folks! His water never ends...He is the source of life...the Living Water.

John 14:4

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Wow! What a promise! Will NEVER thirst....

Awesome topic

Now I'm thirsty, so I'm gonna go drink from His Well of Living Water....God bless....

Serving Him,

Bob

[Guest Called]

Psalm 42:1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

I absolutely love that verse! I think I will add it to my signature!

I added it! That is awesome!

[rockswillcryout]

A hunger and a thirst for God is an important part of our walk with God. We do not seek sustenance ( food, water ) when we are full, correct ? We seek it when we are in need.

I hadn't thought of it that way... but that makes perfect sense!

As James says: "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."