Matthew 5:6 NASB

“ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

As Jesus sat and taught the crowds, he extended an invitation to come and experience the satisfaction that can only be found through a heart made right with God.

Here Jesus is speaking of so much more than a mere compliance with rules, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is beckoning the crowds to passionately desire the evidence of God’s will and His ways in their lives.

This invitation of the Lord remains as valid today as it was that glorious day on the mount, “Come to Me with hunger, come to Me with thirst and be met by the abundant grace of God, allow Me to satisfy your every appetite, engage with righteousness and grow in the  experience of God’s transformative power at work in and through you !!!

My prayer is that our lives would be increasingly characterised by an insatiable yearning for God’s righteousness, drawing those around us to the wellspring of grace and the satisfaction found in knowing Christ alone. The hungry, thirsty soul satisfied through the blessed pursuit of righteousness !!!

1 Peter 2:2 NLT

”Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.”

As you embark on this fasting journey, don't merely focus on your actions. Yes, you are commendably withholding from something this week—well done. However, redirect your attention towards deepening your need and desire for spiritual nourishment.

Fasting is not just about abstaining; it's about cultivating a profound hunger for intimacy with Jesus.

In this scripture passage, Peter encourages the reader to crave pure spiritual milk—a call to pursue the greater thing. It's about saying no to one thing to say yes to something more important: craving more of God.

When you crave a food, it's usually a response to something you genuinely like. Peter invites us to crave like a newborn craves their mother's milk. Remember those nights when your newborn cried incessantly for more? Babies crave their mothers because they are hungry, knowing that once fed, they will be satisfied.

There is a powerful desire in craving.

Reflect on your walk with Jesus—do you similarly crave more?

A healthy craving results in a full experience of salvation. Not a partial touch or a taste, but the complete immersion in salvation. Imagine the impact on your life as you crave, hunger, and desire the things of God more—a full experience of salvation available to everyone who pursues it.

Pray with me: "Father, I want to pursue a greater experience of salvation. Today, I choose to pursue You. I choose to greatly desire what is on Your heart. Lord, build in me an insatiable hunger that will never burn out."

Matthew 4:4 NIV

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, ventured into the wilderness for 40 days and nights, where

He fasted and prayed. Intriguingly, as this period concluded, when physical weakness may have set in, the enemy, the tempter, sought to undermine the grace cultivated during this fasting season. The enemy's tactics remain unchanged.

Be aware that the enemy aims to hijack your fasting week, attempting to derail you and undermine your confidence and courage to press in for more. Resist him, following the example of Jesus. Counter his efforts using the word of God to render his temptations powerless.

Jesus proclaimed that the sustenance he valued above a crusty, hot, freshly baked loaf of bread (as we may also be dreaming of food) was to live and hunger for every word that comes from the mouth of God.

The Greek word for "Word" is rhema, often translated as the spoken, revealed word of God. During this fasting week, when food cravings arise, seek a rhema from the Lord. It could be a word about an unfulfilled desire in your heart, a struggling family member, a financial situation requiring wisdom, or a hunger to discern what is on the heart of the Lord this day. Regardless, wait and listen.

Choosing to live with a pursuit of His rhema is a commendable decision. It propels your life toward deeper encounters with God. Cultivating a listening ear to hear from the Lord daily enriches life, and great fruit will grow in and through you as you apply His rhema.

Yes, the hunger pangs are real, and the absence of a chosen aspect of life may be felt. However, when you press in to hear His rhema, the Word of God will come alive, His small, quiet whisper will draw near, or He may speak through another. Lean in and understand that true life will manifest through you. His rhema brings true life, fulfilling your soul like nothing else and satisfying you beyond your favourite food, every time.

John 7:37 NIV

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”

Within each of us lies a yearning, a profound thirst that extends beyond mere physical cravings.

This longing cannot be satisfied by the offerings of this world, no matter how diverse or alluring they may be. In fact, many embark on a quest, seeking fulfillment in various forms.

Consider this: The One who comprehends the depths of the human heart made a remarkable proclamation following the grand celebration in John 7.

Amidst abundance in food and drink, this was no ordinary revelry. Jesus, aware that the splendour of the feast had been savoured, stood and proclaimed a need surpassing the physical satisfaction experienced on that day.

He declared, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink."

Surprising, isn't it? Were they not content after partaking in such a lavish feast? Jesus discerned a need beyond the physical; an invitation extended to all who would receive and believe. It originated from the One who understands us like no other.

As we embark on this week of prayer and fasting, let us position ourselves to approach the fount of life. While temporarily relinquishing some physical necessities, may our focus shift to our souls. May we earnestly seek the Lord, drink deeply, and be filled to the point of overflowing.

Join me in prayer:

“Thank You Jesus that You know me, You love me,

and Your desire is for me to flourish.

Jesus I come to You, receiving the invitation, and pray may rivers of Living water

flow up, in and through me today touching everyone around me.  ”