Needs…

January is a month of fresh starts, evaluations, resolutions, and new plans.  No matter how often we may say, or even sincerely think, that we are not going to get caught up in the new leaf hype, most of us do it anyway.

Maybe you started a new exercise routine, journaling, prayer discipline, or a diet.  In the church world, January is a month that is popular for fasting.  Many churches and other Christian groups promote this first month of the year as an opportunity to get back on track and to put God first for the year ahead.  Fasting is a great way to do this.

Perhaps you are on a fast this month or maybe, like Garden Sanctuary, this week is a special one.  If that is the case, you have no doubt discovered that there are things you thought you needed that are actually not so necessary.  Whether you are fasting food, or a particular food group, or social media, or anything else, you are discovering that much of what we call necessity is really just junk that fills our life.

Yet why if these things aren’t necessary, why are we so Hungry for them?  Why do we desire them so much?  I will quote from one of my previous articles…

“We all have things for which we hunger.  Today, it might be potato chips or that favorite show, but you hunger for more than food.  Some hunger for acceptance, some for approval.  Some hunger for love, some hunger for success.  It is hunger that drives us, hunger that motivates, and often hunger that leads astray.

Just as it is possible to satisfy your physical hunger with foods that are not healthy- and often the are not filling either- it is also possible to attempt to satisfy your spiritual and emotional hunger with things that are not healthy for your soul.

For some, a desire to be loved will lead them to accept an abusive relationship.  For others, a need to appear successful will lead to being buried in debt.  For others, a need for security will lead them to never trust.  For still more, a need for peace will lead to substance abuse, both legal and illegal.  Again and again we make the mistake of seeking the wrong things to satisfy our hunger.

Here’s the thing, nothing will satisfy you without Jesus.  Maybe you do not realize it, but all that hunger can be satisfied in Him.  WHAT YOU ARE REALLY NEEDING IS JESUS!

So today, my advice for your hunger is to direct your desires toward God, and watch how full you will become.”

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.