Hungering for God: The Path to True Satisfaction

Devotional

Day 1: Hungering and Thirsting After Righteousness Brings Fulfillment

To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to deeply desire to be right with God and to live in a way that pleases Him. This longing is not a casual wish, but an intense craving that comes from the depths of the soul, and God promises that those who pursue Him in this way will be filled and truly satisfied. When you come before God with this hunger, He meets you with every good thing, filling the emptiness that nothing else in the world can satisfy. [01:05]

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 feel spiritually empty or unsatisfied? How can you intentionally seek God’s righteousness in that area today?

Day 2: Only God Can Satisfy the Deepest Longings of Our Hearts

There is a God-shaped space in every person that only He can fill; no amount of worldly pleasure, achievement, or possession can satisfy the deep hunger of the soul like the presence of God. When you come into His presence—whether in church, in prayer, or in quiet moments—He refreshes and fills you with living water, bringing a joy and satisfaction that the world cannot offer or take away. [09:32]

Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV)
"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

Reflection: When was the last time you truly felt refreshed by God’s presence? What can you do today to make space for that kind of encounter?

Day 3: The Holy Spirit Fills and Satisfies All Who Come to Jesus

Jesus promises that those who come to Him with spiritual thirst will be filled with the Holy Spirit, experiencing rivers of living water flowing from within. This is not just a one-time event, but an ongoing invitation to dive deeper into God’s Spirit, allowing Him to fill every part of your life and bring true satisfaction that overflows to others. [18:31]

John 7:37-38 (ESV)
"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."'"

Reflection: In what ways have you resisted or held back from letting the Holy Spirit fill every area of your life? What would it look like to “dive in” today?

Day 4: Pleasing God Above All Else Leads to Lasting Joy

True satisfaction comes not from pleasing ourselves or the world, but from seeking to please God in all things—even if it means letting go of things that are dear to us. When you hunger to do what is right before God and live according to His will, He fills you with joy and contentment that cannot be shaken by circumstances or loss. [24:49]

Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: Is there something you are holding onto that is keeping you from fully pleasing God? What step can you take today to surrender it to Him?

Day 5: In God’s Presence Is Fullness of Joy and Eternal Pleasure

The pleasures of this world are fleeting, but in God’s presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures that last forever. When you make it your desire to be near God and to seek Him above all else, He shows you the path of life and fills you with a joy that endures through every season and circumstance. [33:25]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek God’s presence today, even in the midst of your daily routine, so that you experience His lasting joy?

Sermon Summary

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” This promise from Jesus is not just a poetic phrase, but a living reality for those who earnestly desire God. God knows exactly what we need, and He alone can truly satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. From childhood, there can be a hunger for God that is not about religion or ritual, but about knowing the God who inspired the Word. That hunger is a gift, a spark that draws us to seek Him, to want more of His presence, and to live in a way that pleases Him.

The hunger and thirst Jesus speaks of is not physical, but spiritual—a longing that comes from the very core of our being. There is a “God spot” in every soul that only He can fill. When we pursue Him, when we desire to be right with Him and to live according to His will, He promises to fill us, to satisfy us with His presence, His joy, and His righteousness. This is not a one-time event, but a continual journey. The more we taste of God, the more we want. The older we get, the more we realize that nothing in this world compares to the joy and satisfaction found in Him.

This hunger is not passive. It is an intense, active longing—like a deer panting for streams of water, or like those early prayer meetings where men wrestled in prayer, desperate for God to move. When we come together with that kind of hunger, God meets us in powerful ways. His Spirit flows like a river, refreshing and renewing us, giving us strength to face the world and its challenges.

Everything else—possessions, pleasures, even the good things of life—pale in comparison to what God gives. When we hunger for Him, the things of this world lose their grip. Even if we lose everything, what we have in God cannot be taken away. Our hunger for God leads us to repentance, to transformation, and to a life that is truly blessed. In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. The world’s pleasures are fleeting, but God’s satisfaction is eternal. If we hunger for God, He will fill us, and we will never be disappointed.

Key Takeaways

1. True satisfaction is found only in God, not in the things of this world. There is a “God spot” in every heart that only He can fill. When we try to satisfy our hunger with anything else, we end up empty, but when we seek Him, He fills us with joy, peace, and purpose that nothing else can provide. [07:49]
2. Spiritual hunger is a gift and a choice. Even from a young age, a desire to know God can be awakened in us, but it must be nurtured and pursued. The more we respond to that hunger—by seeking God in prayer, worship, and His Word—the more He reveals Himself and satisfies our souls. [04:41]
3. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is not just about wanting to feel good; it’s about longing to be right with God and to live in a way that pleases Him. This desire leads us to repentance, to transformation, and to a life that reflects God’s character. God notices and rewards those who earnestly seek to do what is right in His sight. [23:54]
4. The presence of God is the only place of true refreshment and renewal. Like a deer longing for water, our souls are revived in His presence. When we gather with others who are hungry for God, His Spirit moves powerfully, bringing waves of joy, healing, and strength that carry us through every season. [11:17]
5. The things we give up for God are nothing compared to what we gain in Him. Even if we lose all our possessions, our relationship with God and the satisfaction He gives cannot be taken away. Our hunger for God leads us to let go of what doesn’t matter, to embrace what is eternal, and to live a life that is truly blessed and unshakable. [28:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:05] - He Knows How to Satisfy Our Lives
[04:41] - Childhood Hunger for God
[06:17] - The Blessing of Spiritual Hunger
[07:49] - The Joy of Living for God
[09:32] - The Deep Spiritual Longing
[11:17] - Rivers of Living Water
[14:14] - Intense Prayer and Spiritual Wrestling
[16:27] - The Power of the Spirit in Community
[18:31] - Diving Into God’s Presence
[20:37] - Hungering for All of God
[23:54] - Hungering for Righteousness
[26:11] - Denying the Flesh for God
[28:49] - What We Have in God Cannot Be Lost
[30:24] - Letting Go of the World’s Pleasures
[33:25] - Fullness of Joy in God’s Presence
[35:52] - The Next Generation’s Hunger
[37:08] - God’s Faithfulness and Our Satisfaction
[39:41] - Final Encouragement: Never Hunger With God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:6 — “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

- Psalm 42:1-2
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

- Psalm 16:11
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Observation Questions

According to Matthew 5:6, what does Jesus promise to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness?
In the sermon, what is meant by the “God spot” in every person’s heart? [09:32]
How does the psalmist describe his longing for God in Psalm 42:1-2, and how was this image used in the sermon? [11:17]
What does Psalm 16:11 say about the results of being in God’s presence?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says spiritual hunger is both a gift and a choice. What does it mean for hunger for God to be a gift, and how can it also be something we choose to pursue? [04:41]
Why do you think Jesus compares spiritual longing to physical hunger and thirst? What does this teach us about the intensity and importance of seeking God? [09:32]
The pastor shared that the more we taste of God, the more we want. Why do you think satisfaction in God leads to even greater desire for Him, instead of less? [06:17]
According to the sermon, how does hungering for righteousness lead to transformation and a life that pleases God? [23:54]

Application Questions

The pastor described a childhood hunger to “know the God of this book.” Can you remember a time in your life when you felt a similar longing for God? What sparked it, and how did you respond? [04:41]
The sermon says that when we try to fill our hunger with things other than God, we end up empty. Are there things in your life right now that you are using to try to satisfy your soul, but they leave you feeling empty? What would it look like to turn that hunger toward God instead? [09:32]
The pastor talked about intense, active longing for God—like a deer panting for water or people wrestling in prayer. What is one practical way you could pursue God more actively this week (for example, in prayer, worship, or reading the Bible)? [14:14]
The sermon says that when we hunger for God, the things of this world lose their grip. Is there something you feel God is asking you to let go of so you can experience more of Him? What step could you take to do that? [28:49]
The pastor shared that even if we lose everything, what we have in God cannot be taken away. How does this truth affect the way you view your possessions, achievements, or even your struggles? [28:49]
The presence of God is described as the only place of true refreshment and renewal. When was the last time you felt truly refreshed by God’s presence? What helped you experience that, and how can you seek it again? [11:17]
The sermon says our hunger for God leads us to repentance and transformation. Is there an area in your life where you sense God calling you to change or repent? How can your group support you in this journey? [31:30]

Sermon Clips

If I can have more, then I want more. When I first got in the church, somebody asked me, Gaber, what do you want? I said, I want every blessing that I can possibly get from God. I want to be blessed. Blessed. This is what God says. And this is why I say this can carry us through throughout all of our Christian walk. If I hunger and thirst, I will be filled and I will be happy. [00:07:03] (30 seconds)

There's a big hole in everybody's being that is a God spot that only God can fill. Nothing else in this world can fill. In fact, when God fills that, there's no room for anything else in the world to get into there. [00:08:57] (15 seconds)

Everybody hungers for something. And everybody that hungers for something, it oftentimes will drive them to fill their longing and satisfy their need. I'm going to say that again because this is one thing I got while I was driving down or walking down the road with the dogs. Everybody hungers for something and that hunger will drive them to fulfill their longing and satisfy their need. [00:22:40] (30 seconds)

How could anyone have a strong desire for a right standing before God without at the same time strongly wanting to do what is right? Gabriel, why did you change so much? Simply because I want to please God. It is not about pleasing this world. It is about pleasing or not and it's not even about pleasing my own flesh, my own personal love, ideas, but it is about pleasing God. [00:24:14] (41 seconds)

There's nothing in this world that can satisfy you like Jesus. You know what? If I had a choice between giving up, giving up, going to Wendy's and pleasing God, I'd give up Wendy's to please God. I'd give up those things that I, I don't want to please my flesh. I want to please him. And I know that when I seek to please him, he'll satisfy me. [00:25:33] (23 seconds)

If all of a sudden the news came up and started an interview, my wife and I, and said, it's nothing. It's just stuff. The house is burnt to the ground. All the memories and all the little trinklets and trucklets or whatever, the pictures and everything else have gone up in smoke. But it's just stuff. But what I got is my life. What I got is my walk with God and my hunger for God. And I know, and I could hear my wife, and you know what, I thought they interviewed her first and then they interviewed me and we echoed the same thing. It's just stuff. But what I got inside. Can never be taken away. Can never be burned up. The world didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away. [00:28:13] (49 seconds)

``The things that you tried to satisfy your hunger with before that left you empty, broken, and unsatisfied, you won't want anymore. It's time to turn away from the sin that's destroying us. That is, we've got to come to a place of repentance and honestly repent before God. And turn to God who loves us and cares for us. And He gave His life to redeem us and save us from what's destroying us. The world and all that it's got to offer will not satisfy you. If you hunger for God and His righteousness, He promised He'd satisfy you. [00:31:21] (40 seconds)

So your life actually reflects what you hunger for and thirst for. I want to get down I'm going to finish up right now I've got to finish up right now I'm going to finish with this line and I had a few more but if you hunger for God then what this world has to offer you will not be palatable to you. [00:39:04] (30 seconds)

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