What did you eat? Are you hungry?

What did you eat April 15, 2005? ... this was a question that Tim raised during a Bible Study on Sunday.  Do you know?  Do you even know what you ate last week?  I don't remember what I ate that day, not even sure about last week ... Why is this important?  Well, the analogy that Tim gave was that although we don't remember what we ate, the likelihood of it all is that we ate and it gave us strength even if we don't remember what it was.  It is so with Spiritual food ... reading our Bible, praying, spending time with Jesus.  There is no condemnation if we don't remember what we read months ago, it did it's job in us by strengthening us and the Lord will remind us again if it is relevant for this moment.

As I thought about this, the analogy has kept growing in my mind.  When I haven't eaten and I need nutrients, I feel some symptoms ... I may feel weak, light-headed, I may get a sugar-low, I may even get grouchy ...
When I don't eat Spiritually, I also have symptoms, except we often don't identify them as "Spiritual Hunger", but rather we embrace them as part of our character, as reality ... I feel fear, doubt, self reliance, "faith-low" ... and yes "grouchy" seems to fit in both categories ... these should be symptoms that trigger in our mind the realization that we are hungry or thirsty ... Spiritually hungry and thirsty for God!!!

If I haven't spent time in the Word and prayer, I start feeling fear with all that is going on, I doubt that I am doing the right thing ... is this crazy or what?  ... but the moment I "eat" and "drink" and that Spiritual food enters my heart, my spirit, the joy inexplicable returns, the peace that passes understanding!  His calling is renewed in my heart and the fear is gone, His love enters in.

As the worship song ... We are Hungry, we are thirsty, for more of You ...

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
-Psalm 42:1-2

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
-Psalm 63:1

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
-Rev. 22:17