"Mom, I'm Starving!"

Blessed are they which do hunger

and thirst after righteousness,

for they shall be filled

Matthew 5:6

I guess every mom in the world has heard those three title words at one time or another. Our responses to those rapidly growing children might have been of any variety depending on the mood of the moment. You and I knew that our children were not starving. Most had just had a meal a couple of hours prior to the plea. Sometimes right after coming in from school, a snack might be in order, but STARVING?....I don't think so.

Hunger is a funny thing. We don't have to be hungry to hunger. I can smell fresh popcorn and my mind can quickly decide for me that I'm hungry enough to have some even though I may have had lunch just an hour prior to smelling the popcorn. I can be sitting with nothing to do and convince myself that a snack is in order. I can even pass by my refrigerator at times and sense a hunger pang. With steady habits of yielding to these yearnings, obesity can get a quick foothold in anyone's life.

Hunger can be the body's signal that it's running short of fuel. If that signal isn't heeded when genuine hunger sets in, there can be a feeling of discomfort or even weakness caused by a lack of food. When hunger is ignored, although uncomfortable, over a long period of time, malnutrition can then set in. When one is malnourished, it doesn't mean there isn't food available. One can have a refrigerator full of food but still be malnourished if the appropriate foods aren't eaten.

Malnourishment can lead to starvation and some serious eating disorders. Starvation is an extreme form of malnutrition. It is in this area the the body really begins to break down in many areas that can affect one's immune system, brain functioning, heart and skeletal structure and functioning.

Much of this, I realize you already know, but how much of these terms can be applied to our spiritual system, such as:

Hunger:

Hunger isn't just a physical function, but hunger is a feeling that should be prevalent in Christians...my hunger for God and those hunger pangs for His Word and time spent with Him. If this hunger isn't heeded, it can lead to some very serious spiritual problems. The problem here isn't a lack of available nourishment. I have my Bible, my spiritual bread. I am filled with God's spirit with His living presence filling me to the fullest if that's what I desire. I attend a great church where I am blessed with the preaching and teaching of God's Word as well as having fellowship with some of the greatest of God's people. If I choose to ignore all of this spiritual nourishment, it's no one's fault but my own.

Malnutrition:

This term doesn't mean that there isn't food available. You and I must guard our hearts spiritually speaking because there are those who pervert the things of God that can make us sick in more ways than one. We must take in truth as God's Word teaches it and feed on it on a regular basis. Spiritual malnutrition can set in when we aren't feeding on the true things of God. Just as we can get food poisoning from spoiled food, there are those “out there” who have spoiled and perverted the things of God. They don't preach, teach or write truth and must be avoided or we too can become spiritually sick from it all. There are speakers and preachers on television you and I should avoid. They can sound and convincing and in weak moments we can be sucked in to false doctrine.

Starvation:

Spiritually speaking, this is when we've gone beyond intake or poor nutrition problems. This is where one can just give up on everything. There are those at the point of starvation where physical food is concerned that they can get to the point of rejecting food because their systems have completely broken down and they are at a “failure to thrive” point in life. When we reach this point, we can lose all interest in the things of God. Our Bibles may lay untouched, prayer can be a thing of the past, and church attendance can be less and less. Being backslidden can be a very sorry state for a Christian and very difficult to pull out of. God's power, however, is greater that we can imagine or think. He is able to feed, strengthen and replenish us. The secret though is for us to never allow ourselves to get in this sorry state.

One of the most important things we can do is to maintain a daily spiritual routine. Just as there are meals we would never think of missing, we should feed on God's Word daily.

Jesus is the living water and we should drink from him as well so that we don't become spiritually dehydrated. We need regular times of feasting on the things of God with others who love the Lord and with whom we can be encouraged and strengthened.

As summer months approach, may we keep ourselves spiritually strong and healthy in every way. We live in some difficult times and there may people around us who need folks to lean on and learn from.

Dear Father, Thank You for caring about who I am physically but I know that my spiritual condition is even more important to You. Help me to stay strong in You, even when I don't sense myself weakening in any way. I need Your constant strengthening. I love you...in Jesus' precious name. Amen