The Bread That Satisfies

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:32-35 NLT)

For years, I lived in a state of hunger for substance and searched the world for satisfaction. There were fleeting moments where my hunger was sated for a moment but never truly satisfied. I didn’t know how hungry my soul was until I met Jesus. As I read His Word, I started to feel a new strength grow, a strength I had never known. My soul was being fed, and the “nutritional” benefits permeated each area of my life. But then the everyday grind of life returned, the fresh fire of choosing Jesus became less bright, and I fell into the motions. I would sit down in the morning to read my Bible, but it was a checklist of what I should do instead of a posture of desire to be in His presence and Word. I was sated with day-old bread, sometimes week-old bread, instead of choosing Him daily for a fresh, new satisfying taste of whatever He wanted to serve me.

In this season of motions, God began to surround me with people who loved the Word and frequently shared their revelations with me. I would hear wisdom, understanding, and clarity in their words, and I longed for the same. (Don’t you love God’s heart and purpose for community?) I could feel my heart shifting from complacency to hunger. I didn’t want to just read the Bible, but I wanted the Bible to read me and become my only source of true satisfaction. So, I started praying that I would not be satisfied with day-old bread, but I would crave His daily bread, and I would have a hunger to know Him more today than I did yesterday.

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11: 9-10)

Each day my hunger grew, and I began to understand what it meant to hunger for the Lord! Each day I expect my Heavenly Father to bring new wisdom, understanding, revelation, and satisfaction when I meet with Him. It is no longer a place for checklists but a table where I meet Him and am fed.

Do you feel hungry for the Word? Or are you going through the motions? Create your own prayer today, asking God for what you need and telling Him where you feel empty, weak, or complacent.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.