Twelve years ago, we started with a question:

“Why do some people grow in the Lord and change, but others drift away?”

Recently, I heard an answer to that question:
“You have to stay hungry for the things of God”

What keeps us hungry? What does that even mean?

• Physical “hunger” can be in our heads sometimes; we’re not in “hunger” we’re simply “hungry”
  • People eat out of stress, extreme emotional need, and boredom
  • While satisfying, it comes from habit. Something else is driving that need
• Isn’t hunger for the Lord a good thing?

• Yes, but if that hunger can be quenched if something else is motivating it
• We’re “hungry” but not in “hunger”
• Our pursuit can be fair weather, temporary,
  or shut off when a more carnal motivator is appeased

If I’m motivated to seek God because He tells me I’m awesome and that’s all I ever hear, that can be taken away with one correction or lack of approval. It’s not genuine hunger. My need to be approved/appreciated/accepted is driving my hunger for God. Once that’s satisfied, so is my pursuit.

Long Term Hunger Effects (Natural)

• Reduced activity/motor skills
• Inhibited growth
• Reduced motivation to explore/learn
• Reduced interaction with others (social) esp. family

Long Term Hunger Causes

• Lack of consuming food (not necessarily access)
• Eating only one type of food group (lack of balance)

Spiritual Hunger Causes

• Receiving one type of personal ministry or focus without any challenge to change, serve, repent, demonstrate mercy/compassion/love, forgive, etc.
• Not pursuing personal prayer, study, and fellowship time

Long Term Spiritual Hunger Effects

• Reduced activity that is kingdom focused or participatory in the church
• Inhibited personal growth in the Lord
  (pursuit/followup of personal call, development, serving)
• Reduced motivation to seek His Will

How to address it?

• Look at where you spend time
  • Are you spending any and what priority does it have
  • Is it an afterthought (when all else is unavailable or when forced out of responsibility)
  • Is it something you look forward to or just a checkbox
  • Where do you spend the most time? why – what does doing that do for you?

  (these are not meant to condemn the activity, merely understand it’s influence)

• Where can you get that kind of satisfaction from the Lord?
• What would that look like?

Start SMALL

• Your stomach needs to be coaxed back into normal use after a long fast and your spirit needs yield to regular discipline — gradually and consistently

Keep it Balanced

• Read several areas (personal correction/application [where do i need to change], inspiration/affirmation/promises, knowledge)

Keep it SOCIAL

• Eating is best done with those you care about and love;
  spend time together sharing a ‘meal’ of Scripture
  • What it meant to you
  • What you saw
  • What others think about it
  • Where it could be applied practically in everyday life