Craving God: The Path to True Fulfillment

Devotional

Day 1: Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness Leads to Fulfillment

To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to crave God above all else, desiring His presence, His ways, and His will more than anything the world can offer. This deep spiritual craving shapes the direction of your life, filling you with the fullness of God—His power, peace, joy, and purpose. When you prioritize your longing for God over every other craving, you position yourself to be filled in ways that nothing else can satisfy. The secret to living full is not found in chasing after what the world offers, but in passionately pursuing God and His righteousness, trusting that He will fill every empty place in your soul. [07:40]

Matthew 5:6 (ESV)
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been chasing after something other than God to fill you? How can you intentionally shift your craving toward God today?

Day 2: The Power of God’s Presence Overrules the Pull of the Flesh

When you prioritize the presence of God in your life, you receive a power that is greater than the pull of your flesh. Just as the milk cows carrying the ark went straight toward Israel, against their natural instincts, so too can you walk in victory over your own desires when you are filled with God’s presence. The presence of God constrains, empowers, and directs you, giving you the strength to say no to temptations and yes to His will. If you find yourself unable to resist the pull of the flesh, it may be time to make God’s presence your highest priority, for it is His presence that gives you the power to overcome. [20:55]

Psalm 69:9 (ESV)
"For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can prioritize God’s presence in your daily routine this week, so that His power becomes greater than the pull of your flesh?

Day 3: Obedience to God’s Way Brings Blessing

Having the right heart is not enough if you do not follow God’s instructions; true blessing comes when your heart and your actions align in obedience to His Word. David learned that even with good intentions, doing things his own way led to consequences, but when he surrendered and did it God’s way, the blessing returned. God calls you to submit not just your desires, but your methods, to Him—trusting that His way is always best, even when it challenges your preferences or understanding. The fullness of God’s blessing is found on the path of obedience, where willingness and action walk hand in hand. [31:36]

2 Samuel 6:6-7 (ESV)
"And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God."

Reflection: Is there an area where you have been doing things your way instead of God’s way? What step of obedience can you take today to align your actions with God’s instructions?

Day 4: Spiritually Hungry People Overflow with Praise

Those who are truly hungry for God cannot help but praise Him extravagantly, giving Him worship that is not about what they want, but about who He is and what He has done. Like David, who danced and worshipped with abandon as the ark returned, spiritually hungry people express their love for God with “something extra”—not out of obligation, but out of overflowing gratitude and awe. True worship is not about impressing others or following tradition, but about humbling yourself before God, stripping away pride and self-importance, and giving Him the honor He deserves. When you realize all that God has done for you, praise becomes your natural response. [43:22]

2 Samuel 6:14-15 (ESV)
"And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn."

Reflection: What is one way you can give God “something extra” in your worship or service this week, simply to express your love and gratitude for Him?

Day 5: Prioritizing God’s House and Kingdom Above Your Own

When you are truly hungry for God, you desire to see His house and His kingdom blessed even more than your own. David, though blessed with a palace, was unsettled that the ark of God dwelled in a tent, and he longed to honor God with his best. Even when God chose someone else to build the temple, David gave generously and prepared everything for the next generation, showing that spiritual hunger is about advancing God’s purposes, not personal recognition. When you put God’s house and His kingdom first, you open your life to blessings you could never earn, and you play your part in a story much bigger than yourself. [55:15]

2 Samuel 7:1-2 (ESV)
"Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, 'See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.'"

Reflection: In what tangible way can you invest in God’s house or serve His kingdom this week, putting His priorities above your own comfort or desires?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the deep, driving force of spiritual hunger—what it means to truly crave God above all else, and how that craving shapes the entire course of our lives. We began by reflecting on the difference between cravings of the flesh and cravings of the spirit. Throughout Scripture, we see that what people crave most determines their destiny: Adam and Eve’s craving for forbidden fruit led to the fall, while Daniel and his friends’ craving for God led to promotion and favor in a foreign land. Even Jesus, in the wilderness, demonstrated that a hunger to please God must surpass every other appetite.

Personal stories and biblical examples remind us that the world is full of distractions and temptations that cater to our flesh, but only a hunger for God can truly satisfy and fill us. David’s story, especially his passion to bring the Ark—the presence of God—back to Israel, illustrates the secret to living a life that is full. David’s zeal was not for God’s promises alone, but for God’s presence. He understood that the blessings, victories, and peace he experienced were all rooted in prioritizing God’s presence above everything else.

We also explored the importance of obedience—not just having the right heart, but following God’s instructions in God’s way. David’s initial attempt to bring the Ark back failed because he did it the world’s way, not God’s. Yet, spiritually hungry people don’t let stumbles stop them; they get back up, realign with God’s will, and move forward. True spiritual hunger is marked by persistent pursuit, passionate worship, and a willingness to give God “something extra”—not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude.

David’s humility in worship, his willingness to lay aside his kingly garments and dance before the Lord, shows us that in God’s presence, all earthly status fades. We are not self-made, but God-made, and every blessing is a reason to praise Him. Finally, spiritual hunger is revealed in our priorities—when God’s house, God’s people, and God’s purposes come before our own comfort or ambition. When we live this way, God fills us beyond what we could ever imagine, redeeming even our failures and establishing a legacy that outlives us.

Key Takeaways

1. What you crave most determines the direction and outcome of your life. The cravings of the flesh and the cravings of the spirit are always at war, but only a deep hunger for God leads to true fulfillment and lasting impact. Examine your desires—are they drawing you closer to God or further away? [07:31]
2. The presence of God is not just an emotional or corporate experience; it must be a daily, personal pursuit. When you prioritize God’s presence in private, you carry it into every area of your life, transforming your home, work, and worship. Seek God for who He is, not just for what He can give. [26:56]
3. Obedience matters as much as intention. A right heart does not excuse wrong methods; God’s blessings flow when we align our actions with His instructions. Don’t let frustration or disappointment from failed attempts keep you from returning to God’s way—there is always grace to start again. [31:36]
4. Spiritually hungry people are marked by passionate, undignified worship and generosity. True worship is not about what we get, but about giving God the honor He deserves, sometimes with “something extra.” When we realize we are God-made, not self-made, gratitude and humility overflow in our praise. [43:22]
5. Prioritizing God’s house and God’s purposes above personal comfort is the pathway to living full. Spiritual hunger is revealed in what we are willing to sacrifice, how we serve, and what legacy we leave. Even when our role is not the most visible, faithfulness in our part brings generational blessing and fulfillment. [59:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:14] - Praying for Pastor Russell Johnson
[05:03] - Foundational Scriptures and Series Introduction
[07:31] - The Power of Cravings: Flesh vs. Spirit
[11:14] - Biblical Examples of Spiritual Hunger
[14:12] - The Illusion of Fulfillment in Worldly Pleasures
[16:47] - Craving God in a World of Distractions
[18:17] - The Ark, the Philistines, and the Power of God’s Presence
[20:55] - Neglecting God’s Presence: Lessons from Israel
[23:25] - David’s Zeal for God’s Presence
[26:56] - Seeking God’s Presence Over His Promises
[29:18] - Obedience: Doing God’s Work God’s Way
[33:55] - The Danger of “My Way” vs. God’s Way
[36:04] - Returning to God’s Way After Failure
[37:21] - Don’t Let the Stumble Stop You
[39:53] - Worship: Giving God Something Extra
[43:22] - Humility and Undignified Praise
[47:34] - God-Made, Not Self-Made
[50:44] - The Gift of Spiritual Exemption
[52:42] - Prioritizing God’s House and Purposes
[56:13] - Kingdom Mindedness and Generational Blessing
[59:38] - Playing Your Part in God’s Plan
[61:40] - David’s Prayer of Fullness and Gratitude
[63:22] - Closing Reflections and Call to Hunger for God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:6 (ESV) — > “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

2 Samuel 6:1-15 (ESV) — > (Read the story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, focusing on his passion for God’s presence, the initial failure, and the joyful, humble worship as the Ark enters the city.)

Psalm 69:9 (ESV) — > “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 5:6, what does Jesus promise to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness?
When David first tried to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem, what went wrong, and why? ([30:08])
According to Psalm 69:9, what is the result of having zeal for God’s house?
In the sermon, what are some examples given of people in the Bible whose cravings determined the direction of their lives? ([07:31])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus connect being “filled” or “satisfied” with spiritual hunger, rather than with physical or worldly desires? How does this challenge our normal understanding of fulfillment?
What does David’s reaction to the failed attempt to bring the Ark teach us about the importance of both intention and obedience in our relationship with God? ([31:36])
The sermon says David craved God’s presence more than God’s promises. What does it look like in real life to seek God for who He is, not just for what He can give? ([26:56])
How does David’s willingness to worship God in an “undignified” way (laying aside his kingly garments and dancing) challenge our own attitudes toward worship and humility? ([43:22])

Application Questions

The sermon says, “What you crave most determines the course of your life.” If you honestly examine your daily desires and priorities, what are you truly craving? Are there any cravings that are pulling you away from God? ([07:31])
David’s first attempt to bring the Ark failed because he did it the world’s way, not God’s way. Can you think of a time when you had the right heart but went about something in the wrong way? What did you learn from that experience? ([31:36])
The pastor shared about being surrounded by comfort and pleasure on a cruise, yet feeling empty and craving God’s purpose. Are there comforts or distractions in your life that are dulling your spiritual hunger? What is one step you can take this week to prioritize God’s presence? ([16:47])
David’s worship was passionate and “undignified,” not caring about what others thought. Is there anything holding you back from expressing your love for God more freely—in worship, prayer, or service? ([43:22])
The sermon emphasized giving God “something extra”—not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude. What is one area where you could give God something extra this week (time, resources, service, praise)? ([41:59])
David wanted God’s house to be blessed more than his own. How do your priorities reflect your hunger for God’s purposes? Is there a way you can serve or give to God’s house that you haven’t considered before? ([52:42])
The message closed with the idea that God can redeem even our failures and establish a legacy through us. Is there a past stumble or failure that you need to bring to God for redemption? How can you take a step forward in faith this week? ([59:38])

Sermon Clips

And so I ask you this morning, what are you craving? Success? Money? Power? Influence? Promotion? Popularity? Perversion? Promiscuity? Attention? Recognition? Or whatever else the world dangles before our souls in order to kill our craving for God. Our hunger for God. Because God knows that when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will live full. [00:12:50] (29 seconds) #ChooseGodOverWorld

When you are filled with the presence of God, you have the power to say no to your flesh. There are some of you that feel the pull, but the reason why you can't say no to the pull is because you haven't prioritized the presence. Because when you prioritize the presence, you have the power that is greater than the pull. Some of you need to understand when the pull comes your way, you are filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. [00:21:34] (26 seconds) #ReturnToGodsPresence

The trick to living a full life is when your actions and your heart come into alignment with one another. It's one thing not to know, but it's a whole other thing to know and still to choose to do it your way instead of God's way. Can I tell you what the anthem of your life cannot be? It cannot be, I did it my way. [00:33:23] (23 seconds) #SurrenderToGodsWay

Spiritually hungry people don't let the stumble stop them. Here come the ox. And the ox get there and they stumble. And when the ox stumbles, Uzzah reaches out, touches it, he dies. The ark goes to the home of Obed -Edom. David thinks, how can I get the ark back? How can I get the presence of God back? I tried, but it didn't work. I tried, but it produced a consequence I didn't want. I guess this isn't for me. Guess what spiritually hungry people do? They do not let the stumble stop them. Instead, they get surrendered. They get back up on their feet and they move forward in God. There is grace for your stumble. There is mercy that is new every single morning in your life. Don't stay down. Get back up and do what God has called you to do. Do not let the stumble stop you. [00:37:37] (52 seconds) #WorshipForGodAlone

Can I tell you that if you have a problem worshiping God, you're not hungry for God. You're not hungry for God because you know why? The worship ain't for you. The worship is for God. I love when people tell me, well, Pastor, Pastor, I didn't like the worship. I say, well, it wasn't for you anyway, so I'm glad you didn't like it. It was for God. We're not worshiping for what you like. We're worshiping for what God likes. And you know what God likes? God likes to hear his people worship him. [00:39:43] (28 seconds) #GiveGodExtra

See, when you are hungry for God, you understand your talent didn't put you there. Your ability didn't put you there. Your prominence didn't put you there. Your popularity didn't put you there. Who you knew didn't put you there. You're not self -made. You're God made. There's a lot of people walking around thinking that they're self -made. They don't understand that it is God who gave you the power to get your wealth, to get your position, to get your prominence. We are not self -made. We are God made. And when you realize everything you had comes from the hand of God, you can't help but give him a praise. [00:49:03] (35 seconds) #PraiseForExemption

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