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.