Day 8 - The blessing of hunger. (Matthew 5:6)

One of the greatest and yet most challenging experiences we have been gifted with, is the gift of hunger. The bible says in Matthew 5: 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

At this stage of the fast, the emptiness you may feel because of hunger may cause you to experience an internal pain or pang that will intensify your desire for food. You may be experiencing a sense of lack and insufficiency that may cause you to contemplate whether you can finish this fast. When this happens, I want you to refocus your mind back unto the reason why you are doing this fast. Your pursuit in this fast should be to be like Jesus. Jesus sought the will of God, so that God will be glorified. In his own words, Jesus said, I (Jesus) and My Father are one. John 10:30. In this fast your desire should be to be like Jesus the righteousness of God ( 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Believers who hunger and thirst for righteousness pursue God, in alignment with Matthew 6:33. They seek the Lord first and his righteousness and in return the Lord blesses them with his goodness and satisfies the inner part of their being.

For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Psalm 107:9

Sometimes it is easy to overlook the point that our personal need for holiness and spiritual satisfaction can only be met, when we acknowledge our weaknesses and sins. Sin separates us from the presence of God and veils our eyes from seeing and desiring him. Isaiah 59:2 seconds this thought by saying: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. We must repent of our sins. Our sins and human frailties, in light of the Lord’s sovereign faithfulness and holiness, awakens an experience within us that produces godly sorrow unto repentance. It is in repentance we turn back to God, focusing our eyes on him, whilst rediscovering our appetite for his sovereign reign in our hearts.

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV

Psalm 105:40 says “They asked, and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.” When a believer asks for bread, their bread is not like that which was given to the children of Israel in the wilderness, our bread according to the book of John is Jesus. John 6:22-59 says that Jesus is the bread of heaven; who satisfies our deepest needs and longings. He is the bread of life and the Saviour of our soul , who anchors us in hope as he is established as Lord in our lives (Psalms 119:81).

For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 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 6:33-35 ESV / 4

Jesus died for our sins so that we could have life, an abundant life that knows no lack ( John 10:10). Today I urge you to seek Jesus In Spirit and (his word of) truth. Seek him not because you are in physical pain or suffering, seek him because you desire him to establish his Lordship in your life. Seek his face and decide to obey his commands. For the whole duty of man is to Fear God, and keep his commandments ( Ecclesiastes 12:13, Matthew 4:4).

Scriptures to meditate upon

Proverbs 16:26

A worker’s appetite works for him,

For his hunger urges him on.

Proverbs 10:3

The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger,

But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

Let us pray:

Lord, all I desire is you. In this fast I hunger for your presence and I desire to see your face. Today I remind you of your word in Proverbs 10:3, where you said that you will not allow the righteous to hunger. Therefore, I repent of any known or unknown sin that I may have committed and I yield myself under your blood which cleanses me from all unrighteousness. As I submit myself unto you, Lord reign in the inner parts of my life and fill me until I want no more. Amen.

For further studies in this fast read: Matthew 22-24