THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Hunger and thirst are basic human needs.  When basic needs are not met it's difficult or impossible to give ourselves to other tasks.  For example, it's hard for children to study at school when they have had no breakfast, or for recovering addicts to focus on work when they have no safe housing to return to at night.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6 NIV)

Jesus teaches that the foundation of life is the need to know and live as God intends.  Whether we admit it or not, the guilt and shame that comes from living life out of sync with God's purposes leaves us feeling edgy and dissatisfied.  We know something is wrong but we're not precisely sure what that is.  We've told ourselves we need more money, sexual gratification, a new toy, or our drug of choice.  The hunger within us is God given, but we have been trying to feed it with the things that do not satisfy.

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. (Isaiah 55:2 NV)

The recovery journey of seeking God, getting to know His will, letting go of our character defects, building respectful and loving relationships, and coming more and more into conscious contact with Him, is the only way we will truly be filled up and satisfied.

It all sounds like a long and difficult challenge, and we wonder if we are up to the task.  Fortunately, we don’t have to wait to be satisfied until we are successful in all these areas.  Each step of the way we simply need to stay hungry and thirsty for what is right.  To be physically healthy, we need to drink several glasses of water and eat three healthy meals each day.  To be spiritually healthy, we need to be in conscious contact with God each day through prayer and meditation on His Word.  How hungry and thirsty for righteousness are we today?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I have sought after many things to satisfy my aching heart.  Please help me to seek conscious contact with You each day and to live filled up on You. Amen