What am I hungry for?
What I continue to feed my body, my body will hunger for. For example, I have an extremely terrible sweet tooth. And when I say terrible I mean, I couldn't go a day without some type of dessert or sweet. I ate a whole tub of icing once (righttt, issues!!). Anyways, I was feeding that sweet tooth every time I gave in to that craving. Giving into that craving never really sufficed, it just quieted it for a minute and came back stronger again. Did the problem feel bad? No. My problem was something that was pleasurable to me, it brought me comfort. Frustrated? Get a sweet. Happy? Get a sweet. Bored? Get a sweet... I could see the affect of the amount of sugar on my body in my energy and skin. Now sweets aren't evil or bad but I had to have a "coming to my senses" moment (Luke 15:17), I had a problem. The question I had to ask myself did I want to keep dealing with the consequences of eating an excessive amount of sweets or did I want to have a change of appetite?
Now you may say, easy, change of appetite. But when the thing you crave feels good, brings good feelings and a place of comfort it's hard to let go. I tried to do sweets in moderation and I could last for maybe a week but it never was a permanent answer, I would find myself right back to where I was. Finally, I brought it to the Lord. I couldn't change my appetite on my own, God had to help me because it had such a hold on my life. And thank you Lord, He is faithful even in the small things like sweet addictions (because honestly that is what is was). It wasn't easy at first, I promise I would be walking in the grocery store feeling like the candy aisle was calling my name, and then those darn side candies while checking out! But what had changed then from previous? I wanted a breakthrough, I didn't want to be held captive by this craving. Slowly but surely my craving for the processed sweets dwindled. My appetite began to change, I felt more energy, my skin became more clear. I wasn't now just trying to refrain from eating sweets/desserts with my own will, it was with the strength of God that helped me through. And he is so good not to leave me hungry for those things, he sufficed my desire through the pure substances, fruits, jellies ect.
This concept of ,what you put in you will get out, doesn't only pertain to the physical but spiritual. When you become a Christian Gods Spirit, the Holy Spirit, comes to live with in you and He does life with you (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit is your Advocate and will lead you (John 14: 16-17), He is a revealer of God's truths (1 Corinthians 2: 10).
So I was am reading A Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. And I got to a part that that didn't sit well with me and it wasn't my spirit it was my flesh. I found myself thinking "well that isn't for everybody..maybe I can find and see if the Bible says to not do that exactly, if it does then okay but if it doesn't....". Then I felt the Holy Spirit remind me that the issue isn't what was being said, it was my appetite. OUCH! You see just like my sweets example, I struggled with giving it up because I didn't want to stop. The same will be for spiritual things. God isn't going to force an appetite change, I have to want it, and he is faithful and gracious to do the work when we surrender. And oh how good it is at the end of that surrender. The world says " you will be lacking if you surrender..." but God says " trust me, surrender to my will for your life and you will will be filled". John 10:10 reminds us that the devils goal is to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus' purpose is to give a rich and satisfying life. God wants us to have an abundant life, and he gives us guidelines and boundaries not to keep good things away but for us to experience the true fullness of his goodness and love!
So I pose these questions to you and myself. What does my spiritual appetite or lack there of tell me where I am deficient in my body? Where may I need an appetite change? The answers to these questions are individualistic, they aren't a one size fits all. It takes an honest assessment of where you stand in your relationship with God and then a honest conversation with the living God. God won't leave you empty handed when you let go.
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Thank you Lord for loving me and chasing after me! You chose to love me knowing my downfalls, knowing my rebellion and disobedience. My sin didn't stop you from chasing after me! Thank you Lord for never giving up on me! You are Holy and True! Thank you Jesus for dying for all of my sins so that I can be called a child of God. Thank you Holy Spirit for being my guide, keep me close at your feet Lord. You promise I will find you if I seek you! Lord help me to surrender more, change my appetite to align with your will and promises!
AMEN
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