Lisa Notes: What if you’re still hungry?

What if you’re still hungry?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6

Frankly, there are days when I don’t feel full. I don’t feel quenched.
I still hunger. I still thirst.

I watch the men and women walk through the food line at the Manna House, some with children in tow.

I wonder who is really hungry...

...who hasn’t had steak in months (years?)
...who goes to bed (if they have one) only dreaming of awakening to sizzling bacon for breakfast
...who can’t comprehend three meals plus two snacks...every single day

We offer them choices. I'm working the dessert line, appropriately enough. They can have any two desserts—leftover cakes and pastries donated by local bakeries and stores. Beautifully decorated. Sugary-sweet.

Some want more than two. Who am I to say no? If not eaten immediately, they pile the food in their Walmart bags for later.

But some just say, “No thanks.” This isn’t what they’re looking for.

What am I looking for?
What will satisfy my hunger?
Is it only the delicacies of life, the sweet things that make me feel happy? The easy days, the trouble-free friendships, the sunny seasons?

I know Jesus is filling. So why don’t I feel full all the time?

I think it’s my appetite.

It’s still not fully trained, not fully disciplined to understand what fully satisfies, what fully nourishes.
Like those in the dessert line, I gaze at my options.

Am I choosing wisely?
Am I training my palate to appreciate healthy foods?
Am I consistently thanking God for sweet blessings he provides as dessert?

Am I hungering and thirsting for...righteousness (Matt. 6:33)?

We leave the Manna House.

I wash my hands at Five Guys and Fries. I look at the faces in line to order. Nobody here seems starving. Nobody in this line looks like anybody in the other line I just left.

I eat my hot hamburger fixed just the way I like it, with as many French fries on the side as I want. My stomach is full.

Is my soul?

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and
whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35

Lord,
Fill me with more of you when I’m still hungry.
Only you can satisfy; only you are enough.
Help me come to you more; help me believe in you more.
I want to not hunger; I want to never thirst.

* * *

How do you fill up on Jesus when you’re hungry?

Comments (25)

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aseedinspired 29p · 704 weeks ago

I think its the zombie apocolypse in the church nowadays.. everyone walking about .... needing more... but too removed to grasp their hunger.
You don't sound void at all.... we need more like you who hunger and thirst.
More of the willing!
T
My recent post A Spool of Hope.

1 reply · active 704 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

A zombie apocolypse—vivid imagery. ;-)

You’re right that we’re often so removed from our real hunger that we don’t even recognize when our stomachs growl. We fill up on junk food of self-centered pleasures, leaving little room for the nourishing Truths.

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Jennifer Dougan · 704 weeks ago

Good thoughts, Lisa. Thank you. I liked the reminder question: Am I hungering and thirsting for righteousness? There is a cool play on words on that in Isaiah that grabbed my attention a few weeks ago, where God was looking for righteousness in his people... Powerful!

Thanks.
Jennifer Dougan www.jenniferdougan.com
My recent post Bike Dates, Dark Moonlit Nights, and Doxology

1 reply · active 704 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

Jennifer,
I love how the blend of Old and New Testament scriptures confirm that God is one and the same, then and now. His message is always consistent: He wants us to seek Him.

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suzy · 704 weeks ago

Sometimes I still feel hungry.
Maybe that is the bread itself at times.
I don't know :)
(popping by from imperfect prose :)

1 reply · active 704 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

Suzy,
Hmm…interesting insight. I’ll think about that!

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brian · 704 weeks ago

are you training your palette...that metaphor and question was enough for me today...we all are but what with....
My recent post Up on the billboard

1 reply · active 704 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

Unfortunately I’ve trained my physical palette with sweets…although it doesn’t really take much “training” to arrive there. ;-)

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floyd · 704 weeks ago

These soul searching questions are difficult. So many of us are blessed by the hand of God and like small children, our appetite wants more... We unwrap the gift and throw it over our shoulder in search of the next one.

The weakness of our flesh is exhausting isn't it? I appreciate the perspective of your heart and not being satisfied with your weaknesses, it inspires others to stand up to theirs... Thanks, great post.

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

Floyd,
Haven’t we all seen kids do just that—open one gift and immediately start looking for the next? I’m in an on-line study on the fruit of the Spirit, and this week we’re studying Rom 7:15-24, about how we do what we don’t want to do, and don’t do what we know to do. Yep, that describes me…

Thanks for your encouragement.

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Dianna · 704 weeks ago

I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes, Lisa. The two lines...your words, "I know Jesus is filling. So why don’t I feel full all the time?

I think it’s my appetite.

It’s still not fully trained, not fully disciplined to understand what fully satisfies, what fully nourishes. "

The Holy Spirit is at work here in this heart.

Love you.

1 reply · active 704 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

Dianna,
The Holy Spirit is at work in my heart too. Sometimes our own words convict us the most.
Love you too!

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Messy Marriage · 704 weeks ago

This was so thought-provoking for me! I don't regularly deal with truly "hungry people" so that part was convicting, but also your personal reflections cut me to the core. I don't hunger for God as much as I should. Very insightful! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my blog with encouraging words too!

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

The closest I usually get to “hungry people” is my 16-yr-old daughter telling me she’s STARVING mid-afternoon and asking when’s supper? So I think it does me good to be around those who have genuine physical needs; I get so out of touch with that. I need the reminders to take it to a spiritual level where I definitely CAN relate.

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Old Ollie · 704 weeks ago

Yes, I like this angle. It is a new concept or focus for me to mull over. Thanks for your kind words.

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

It’s only fair then. :-) You always give me new angles to think about too. Thanks for stopping by.

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Barbara H. 65p · 704 weeks ago

Too true that our appetites are trained for the wrong thing. Thanks for these convicting thoughts.
My recent post Every day is a gift

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Lisa notes 103p · 704 weeks ago

You’ve reminded me of this scripture, Barbara:

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:8

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Nancy · 704 weeks ago

I've been so encouraged lately, thinking about Jesus as living bread, food that satisfies. The imagery has fed me more than almost anything else has lately. Thanks for adding to my thinking here.

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tinuviel · 704 weeks ago

"I know Jesus is filling. So why don’t I feel full all the time?

I think it’s my appetite."

Me, too!! This is actually right on target with some of my thoughts lately on physical and spiritual cravings. The trick for me is recognizing that it's Jesus I'm hungry for and not layer cake or pizza or a new dress or a change of scenery. Then, having recognized it, will I stay in the emptiness and call to Him? The hunger is uncomfortable, and sometimes He leaves me in it for a bit. Worship music helps, reading His Word does too, but sometimes I just call and wait and obey in whatever duty lies nearest until He satisfies the hunger in His timing.

Amen to your prayer.
My recent post Autumn Hope

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Jen · 704 weeks ago

I was thinking about this today -- what I used to fill my soul with -- food, shopping, intimate relationships, status. And now, none of those things satisfy because I've tasted Him. I don't always feel full because of the choices I make, but I know...

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Monica Sharman · 704 weeks ago

Sometimes, yeah, I hunger for the wrong things. In those times, God is so good and faithful to turn me back to Him.
Other times, even though I'm satisfied, I just keep hungering for more of the good stuff! I think of this hymn: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/t/jthoujoy.htm
...which contains these lyrics:
"We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still;
We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead,
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill."
My recent post The Open Garage Door on Naffa Avenue

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bluecottonmemory 55p · 704 weeks ago

Your post made me think of 2 things. One is can we ever be truly full because can we ever truly know the depths of our emptiness. We can only be a full as our knowledge/relationship with God. The more we grow, the more we are filled.

Then I thought of self-discipline. That sometimes I am not full the way I should be because of my lack of self-discipline - kind of like eating a bunch of candy or cake that if not eaten in moderation can kill (think diabetes).

Your post made me think hard about being self-disciplined in greater measure today - and to be weary of thinking I am full when I am not even where God created me to be!

Perfect post to read with my tea as I start my day! Thanks Lisa!

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imperfect prose · 704 weeks ago

funny, how some of us try to fill ourselves by eating, and some, by not eating. i can't wait till heaven when we'll all be fed. love to you.

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Misty · 704 weeks ago

Such a wonderful post and reminder. I pray that I always hunger and thirst for the Lord and that only He may fill me up! Thank you for your post and your beautiful words.
My recent post I Weep