Hungering and Thirsting For God

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"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1) 

What are you thirsty for? Do you thirst for more of Jesus and His Word? If you do not, would you like to change that? Our desire for more of God and His Word comes from feeding on His Word daily and spending time with Him in prayer and meditation on His truths. When your thirst for God grows you must run to the only source capable of quenching your spiritual thirst, and that is Jesus Christ. He alone is the living water, as He explained to the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn. 4:5-42). 

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must look to our Savior expectantly and earnestly; growing in our knowledge of Him through the intake of Scripture (2 Pt. 3:18). We can never exhaust His Word. All of Scripture points to our sinful condition and our need for a Redeemer (Ps. 19:13-14). Studying God’s Word causes us to grow in our knowledge of Him, understanding what He desires of us, and longing to grow closer to our Redeemer as we discover more of Him throughout Scripture (Jn. 5:39). 

For our growth to continue we must consistently draw from our Lord what nourishes our soul. As His creation, God has designed us to acquire genuine fulfillment only through Him. We were created to glorify God. It begins with our spiritual rebirth at the moment of salvation and culminates into praising Him for all eternity in glory. In this process of growing spiritually, we continually desire the nourishment that feeds our soul and produces spiritual fruit, just as sustenance is necessary in our physical development and survival. As the apostle Paul admonished young Timothy: “If thou put brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained” (I Tim. 4:6)

This side of heaven we’ll never cease to grow if we feed on the spiritual food God provides. We are nourished through His Word (Eph. 6:14), prayer (Eph. 6:18), and regular fellowship and study with His people (Heb. 10:23-25). We continue to thirst after truth and draw from the spiritual Source that both restores and builds up, producing eternal fruit. As we are filled to overflowing, we are to become a conduit of encouragement and draw others to our Savior through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is how we are to continue honoring our Lord and glorifying the Father in heaven. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).

"So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh… And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.  And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life…” (I Sam. 1:9-11).

Hannah is a godly example of a mother’s heart. Though her heart was heavily burdened with the desire to have a child; she did not lose hope. The Lord continues to call us unto Himself for all that weighs us down. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). She petitions the throne of God and counts her prayer as answered after Eli, the priest, told her God had granted her request. When she gave birth to her first-born Samuel, she did not forget her vow and lent him unto the Lord for His will and His service. 

Taking our desires and concerns to the Lord as Believers in Jesus Christ, should be primary in our life and an example for our children to follow. This devotion to prayer and honoring God’s desire for our children is a Biblical principle that should be on every mother’s heart. Hannah approached Jehovah God in humility and genuine expectancy. The term “handmaid” (v.11) is an expression of this humility and deference to the sufficiency of holy God. 

As a mother, we must always remember that children are lent to us for a season in this life. All that God blesses us with should be devoted to His care with the understanding that His plans are primary to ours, no matter how honorable they may be. Mothers honor the Lord through devotion to His will, and this devotion and love is to be expressed to the children He grants us, whether by birth or other means. “That the trial of your faith being much being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Pt. 1:7). In all that is said and done, praise to the Lord should be on our lips. This is the heart attitude children need to see modeled.  As women of God, there may be precious opportunities to become spiritual mothers to younger ladies or girls. This is a wonderful way to honor our Savior and glorify our heavenly Father.

"And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God" (I Sam. 2:1-2).

For more information or additional resources please contact us today! ministry@hisplanandpurpose.com 

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10).

What a glorious promise!  Because of the resurrection power displayed in Jesus Christ, by God the Father, we have this blessed assurance…that we may know HIM. All who place their faith in Christ for salvation will be raised to life eternal. Nothing can steal our joy when we remain focused on this truth! “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power” (I Cor. 6:14). 

God has provided all that we need to become part of His eternal family. Through the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood and convicting power of His Holy Spirit, we can have our sins forgiven and be made acceptable in the presence of the Father. We are no longer bound by our sin and flesh. Through His resurrection power we can live to please our Heavenly Father. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Cor. 6:11). By faith, even if it is the size of a mustard seed, when it is placed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin we are sanctified (our eternal position) and progressively sanctified (by the Holy Spirit through repentance and spiritual growth in Christ).

God has promised that this same power is available to His children to help in our daily walk with Christ  Jesus. “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be Thou my helper” (Ps. 30:10) Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are strengthened to overcome temptations  and grow as we learn from trials we experience. We are built up so that we may be of comfort and encouragement to others. (Jn. 14:16-18; 16:13-15; 2 Cor. 1:3-5)

God has prepared a place for us in heaven, and nothing can remove us from our position in Christ once we have been washed in His blood and clothed with His righteousness. (Jn. 14:1-3) Reassuring our hearts of these truths will keep us from being troubled in our heart and anxious in our spirit, because we have an eternal hope that cannot be shaken. As Believers, our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ and the same power that raised Him to life. 

If something in this life has dampened your spirit and caused you to lose hope, realign your spiritual eyes on the one who holds you close…Jesus CHRIST! His power has not diminished, and the Father’s promises still stand. We would love to pray with you and be a blessing in any way that we can. Please contact us today. ministry@hisplanandpurpose.com    

“For Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in Thy truth…I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honour dwelleth.” (Ps. 26:3-8)

Who truly loves being in God’s presence? How is it that we can have a genuine sense of His presence and experience it in such a way that we are encouraged and emboldened in our walk with the Lord? His Holy Spirit draws, convicts, indwells, instructs and empowers any sinner who come to the heavenly Father by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Once we become a follower of Jesus Christ, there should be a desire to fellowship with His people and be in His house (place of worship) because honoring Him is priority. This results in rejoicing, praising our Savior and proclaiming His wondrous works to all who will listen. This will happen only when there is a heart for:

Hearing truth. If there is no desire to walk in truth, most likely you will not want to hear truth. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (Jn. 17:17)

Fellowshipping with those who also love His word and live out His principles. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:..” (Heb. 10:25)

Believers who will humbly admit their weaknesses and pray faithfully for others. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (Jas. 5:16) 

Believers who confess their sins to the Lord Jesus regularly and honor Him with their words. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I Jn. 1:9)