Are You Hungry?

It was quiet.  Almost too quiet.  I was working in my office while McKenna and Andros were visiting from Florida.  While McKenna was in the living room, I’d seen Andros walk into the kitchen.  He’d been holding a couple of toys and I could hear him playing, pushing the stool around the room.  And then….silence.  When I decided to peek my head around the corner, I couldn’t help but giggle and grab my phone for a quick picture.

Andros had moved the stool over to the counter and with great stealth, had managed to step up to grab his contraband!  He had in his little arms the large tub of toddler drink mix and an empty bottle.  He was taking it to his mother in a desperate attempt to get a little extra treat!  He was thirsty and hungry, but more importantly, he simply wanted it.  He loved the taste as it was a sweet indulgence and couldn’t wait to get some more.

We should be that way with the Word of God.   The book of Jeremiah is the story of the prophet who told of Jerusalem’s impending destruction because of the lack of repentance to God.  In it are not only the words that Jeremiah prophesied but also the prayers he spoke to his Heavenly Father.

Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. –Jeremiah 15:16

Several times in the bible God, scripture, and the growth through study are identified as Living Water, milk, and solid food.  In Isaiah 58:11, he speaks of the Lord as a spring of water that does not fail.  In John 6, Jesus talks about being the Bread of Life.  In Hebrews 5:12-14, the author describes spiritual development as starting out on the milk but needing to move on to solid food in order to mature in your walk with God.

Jeremiah was crying out to God that He was devouring every word God was speaking to Him, letting them become the delight of his heart.  He was allowing God’s conversations to penetrate his soul.  It wasn’t just lip service.  He took what God was saying and used it as fuel to ignite the joy that God gave him while preparing for a heavy responsibility of prophesying to a nation that didn’t want to listen.

What a great example of a man who trusted that God would not only provide him the joy he needed during his life but also the sustenance needed to deal with a difficult season of life.  I pray that we can always look to the scriptures, God’s words, as a way to fill our hunger!

~Erin