Holy Hunger

In Isaiah 55, God invites all who are thirsty to come and drink from the living water that satisfies. His invitation is for everyone. He doesn’t just call those who have their acts together, those who aren’t as needy, or those who have money. In fact, God explicitly calls “everyone who is thirsty” to come and drink of this water. The call to come is a call to show up just as you are before the table of God with your empty cup. And, get this, the living water has no fee. God doesn’t charge us anything!

He takes our empty cups and fills them up with His grace upon grace (John 1:16). He fills our empty cups with hope that penetrates to the depths of our souls. He pours truths into our empty cups that no lie can crush (John 8:32). He satisfies our empty cups with peace that no storm can swallow (Philippians 4:6-7). And He makes our empty cups overflow with joy that no thief can steal (John 10:10). The filling is His doing…all He calls us to do is to “come.”

The truth is, in order for us to live the full, abundant life that Jesus promises in John 10:10, we have to daily come to Him, bringing our cup of nothing to receive everything we need for this life in Christ (1 Peter 1:3). Nothing in this world will fill our empty cups. They were meant to be filled by Jesus and Jesus alone. When we come into God’s presence, bringing our empty cups before Him, He faithfully fills us up so we overflow onto the world around us. He satisfies our thirsty souls with what is good and lasting (Psalm 107:9).

Isaiah 55 goes even further than simply calling us to come. In verses 2-3 we are told, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live…”

When we come, we must bring with us a listening and attentive ear, as well as a moldable heart. We are filled so we can, in turn, “feed” others. But first we must be well-fed with the Bread of Life, Jesus (John 6:35). In order to be well-fed, we must sit down, pick up our forks, and dine with our Savior at the table of God.

When we do this, God gives us holy hunger for Himself. And, oh, my sweet friend, our Savior satisfies this hunger!

You will never leave hungry after spending time in Scripture with Jesus. You will never be disappointed by His Word. That is a guarantee. A quiet time is more than an Instagram opportunity; it is a holy moment of communing with God. 

Spend time with the Lord in the secret each day (Matthew 6:6). He is worthy of the first, worthy of the last, and worthy of every moment in between. Instead of giving Him the leftovers, give Him the best moments of your day.

Come. Bring your nothing and let Him fill your empty cup with everything you need for this life.

Hungering after Jesus,

Gretchen