If you are like most people, at some time during a day, your soul cries out and says something like, “I want some of that!” Depending on the state of our soul, the that we are hungering for can be a lot of things:
- A long walk in a park
- A certain food
- A new technology gadget
- A sexual encounter
- More money
- A position or more power at work
In reading Ecclesiastes lately, I was reminded that many of these “appetites,” if fulfilled, would leave us unsatisfied.
As I consider my relationship with God, interacting with His Word, I periodically do an assessment of my “appetites.” Does my heart have a resounding testimony like the authors of Job and this Psalm below?
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103 (NIV)
I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:12 (NIV)
While I normally find myself having a strong appetite and joy in dining on God’s Word, there are times when I don’t hunger. I wonder if that happens because I’m craving something other than God and hearing His voice. What else am I choosing, either unconsciously or consciously that lowers my desire to hear from and interact with Him?
As you consider the appetite of your soul, a couple questions:
- What are you currently hungering for?
- Bring that to God and talk with Him about it. He’s the maker and shepherd of our souls.
- Is your soul hungering for the benefits of interacting with God in His living Word (see Hebrews 4:12)? Is it something you treasure and find sweeter than honey?
Personally, I find that my appetite grows as I taste His Word and experience its benefits. If I choose to find other things to snack on, I can forget the sweet and fulfilling taste of the words of my maker.