A previous co-worker of mine used to use the word “hangry” a lot. If someone said, “I am hungry”, she would discuss being “hangry”. Without food, she said that she had less patience and was sometimes angry. “Hangry”, as she described it, was a special level of hunger and anger… “hangry”. Lol. It’s a shame that we don’t get that special level of hunger for God and His Word. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6.
My husband and I have been led to try and eat in a more healthy manner lately. It has been very difficult. Unfortunately, we have approximately 55 years of poor diet and eating habits. And, this is a result of both eating poorly and eating based on urges rather than health or God’s will. We are constantly saying, “I’m hungry”, even when we know we are not.
The enemy (satan) seeks to steal, kill and destroy (“10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10). And, He is a deceiver. “And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”” Genesis 3:13. Hunger and food are tactics that he uses to lure us into gluttony, which is a sin.
We hunger for things that are unhealthy (especially unhealthy foods). And, when we do, we shorten our life span and the number of days that God can use us here on earth. We hunger for more and more and are gluttonous (wasting the resources that God has given us). Food and other distractions of the enemy become a means by which we comfort, entertain, and occupy ourselves. These distractions will even become our companion during loneliness. And we replace God in our lives with this insatiable hunger for food, lust, success, money, etc..
Food will nourish us for a moment. Things like money, success, lusts of the flesh, will satisfy for a moment. But God and His Word will nourish and satisfy for eternity. How much better off would we be if we had an insatiable hunger for God and His Word? “But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4.
It would be so much better for us if we would hunger after God or His Word when we think, “I am hungry” for companionship. Because He will never leave us. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8.
And we would be so much better off if we hungered after God or His Word when we were in need of peace. Because He is the only source of true peace. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.
We would be in a much better place if we hungered after God and His Word when we are lazy and/or bored. Because He has a purpose and a plan for us. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
Hungering after God and His Word will spiritually prepare us for the sin we encounter. When we don’t, we leave ourselves open to the weapons of the enemy. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:15.
We hunger for things other than food. We are absolute gluttons for entertainment, lust, status, advancement, notoriety, money, and a myriad of other things. But those will never satisfy. Those are addictions. We will only hunger for more and more and more. The enemy uses these things as distractions.
God can satisfy our every need. Note that I didn’t say our every want or desire. This is because He wants what is best for us; things that will have an eternal impact for Him and us. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11. But to obtain those, we have to get hungry. We have to say, “I am Hungry for God and His Word.”
Father God, we praise You that You desire a relationship with us. We praise You that You made a way for that to happen. Father, we praise You for the way that Your presence and Your Word sustain us. Lord, forgive us for our lack of hunger. Forgive us for not seeking You and Your face, moment by moment. Thank You for being our everything! Holy Spirit, please create in us an insatiable hunger for Your presence and for the Word of God. And, because of all that has been done for us, by God, help us to continually say, “I am hungry for God and His Word.”
If you find yourself with an insatiable hunger for the things, desires, lusts, and successes of this world, Jesus is the answer. And, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God desires a relationship with you; a Father and child, loving relationship. But, it requires some repentance and a degree of hunger for God. It simply requires you to pray the prayer on our Life Preserver page. Then hopefully, you too will say, “I am Hungry for God and His Word.”
When you pray that prayer (or if you have questions or prayer requests) please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to help you in any way I can, to learn to hunger after God.
Luv Ya!
