“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalms 34:8 NIV

How many times do you make plans with friends, family or your spouse and the big question is, “What do you want to eat?” It happens often and it’s so frustrating because no one really knows what they’re hungry for.

I recently discovered this fun tool online where you can answer certain questions and the all-knowing internet will tell you what you really want to eat. If you’ve joined us in this 21 day fasting journey, you can probably list off all kinds of things you are hungry for at this exact moment....(Meat, sugar, ice cream, anything with flavor!!!!!!) Fasting is hard because we do find ourselves feeling hungry. But the key of fasting is that we choose to focus on our spiritual hunger more than our physical hunger. We are saying that we would rather have more God than more food. And while I wholeheartedly believe in fasting, there have been times that I have fasted and focused on the wrong hunger.

Whether you have committed to fasting in this season or not, I think a very important question we must answer is: Are you really hungry for God? It’s not just about food, it’s about living a completely surrendered life. Jesus shares a parable with us in Luke. “Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’” Luke 14:16-20 NIV

An entire banquet had been prepared for these guests and they all flaked out on attending. They all had excuses why they couldn’t come and eat what was offered. They didn’t crave the food or relish in the generous invitation before them. They all wanted other things more and I think we are guilty of the same attitude.

God has this lavish provision prepared for us to drink from his cup that doesn’t run dry, to feast on the truth of his word and to grow in strength and stature from a relationship with him. He extended that invitation through his son, Jesus. Yet we decline the buffet and settle for the snacks of life. We call it being busy, but the harsh reality is, we just aren’t hungry for Him. We find our appetites suppressed with other desires rather than desiring Him. Today, I want to encourage you to examine your life and your heart. Are you truly hungry for God?

Lord, my desire is You. Seek me and know me Father. I pray that the things in my life that I find myself craving and chasing more than You would be revealed and that as they are revealed, I will surrender them all to You. I pray that my heart’s desire to know You would surpass all other things in my life. Let my hunger for You grow daily and may the fulfillment I find in You sustain me.