3 MORE keys to stirring up hunger for the Lord

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6

One thing I know about hungry people - they always find a way to eat. Their hunger drives them to seek and satisfy their longing. God is stirring a fresh hunger in His people again. That’s why you’re reading this blog! You’ve got hunger and want more of God. If the early bird gets the worm, then the hungry people always get more of God.

I was invited to lead worship at an afterglow service not too long ago. The service is designed for those who just want more of God after the “regular” services are over. People started flooding in and time came to start. We were in for a wild ride!

Those people were hungry! Have you ever tried to take a dog for a walk, but he’s so rowdy, it’s like the dog is taking you for a walk? That’s what it was like leading worship for them! We worshiped God with all of our hearts, prophesied, people got healed and overall God moved in a mighty way. One of the keys to breakthrough that night was the hunger.

Here’s 3 more keys to stirring up hunger for the Lord:

1. Fasting

Oh yeah! Let’s start out right there!

Jesus basically said “when you fast” not “if you fast.” (Matt. 6:16-18)

Fasting is part of the normal Christian life.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 says that if the ax is dull then it takes more strength to work. Fasting is a sure way to sharpen your spiritual senses and become more aware of God.

I’ve found that if I’ve been feeling dull or apathetic in my relationship with God, a day or two of fasting and prayer cuts it right off and I come alive again.

Sometimes the enemy tries to “clog up our well” with all kinds of trash - lies of fear, doubt, unrighteous anger, guilt, shame, you name it...He did it to Abraham and Isaac, but Isaac re-dug the well and got to the life source within it (Gen. 26:18).

Whether you’re feeling like a dull ax or a clogged well, fasting will sharpen and clear you up, resurface your hunger for the Lord, and launch you into closeness with God.

(side note: fasting in scripture always has to do with abstaining from food to seek God. I know some people substitute fasting food by fasting social media, movies, etc. That’s ok, but if you haven’t fasted by abstaining from food...you gotta try it out. The results are way too good to pass up. Also...take it easy when you’re first starting.)

2. Get around hungry people

Anyone coming to that worship night I talked about earlier couldn’t deny the hunger that was in the room! If you weren’t hungry, you rubbed shoulders with those who were...and that’s the kind of stuff that’s contagious.

When I was a youth pastor, our kids worshipped on their knees and faces pretty consistently. It was always humorous when they invited a new kid to church and they experienced our worship culture. When our kids would go low, the new kid would look around and feel awkward being the only one left standing, so he would go ahead and bow with them. Lol.

I love how the peer pressure was to go all out in worship to God!

The culture was set. If you wanted more of God, you just followed suit. It was a launching point for the kids to go deeper with the Lord...even if you didn’t know you wanted it...haha.

I purposely try to get around people who are further than me in Christ so that I can go higher. And if I can’t be in person, I’ll read books, listen to podcasts, watch YouTube or check out their social media/websites.

I want what they’re carrying to rub off on me.

After all, that’s what the word anointing means: to rub off.

Get around hungry people and let them rub off on you!

3. Worship

I run the risk of sounding like a broken record, but you’ve got to taste and see that the Lord is good! Once you’ve been in His Presence, nothing else compares.

Worship is one of the best ways to access God’s manifest Presence.

I get it...the smart people will say “worship is a lifestyle...it’s not singing…”

That’s fine. I agree.

Singing worship feeds into lifestyle worship, and vice versa.

What’s the point? Consistently worshipping the Lord puts you in a position to taste and see that the Lord is good. When you taste and see...well...you just can’t get enough.

(side note #2: If you haven’t spent money on worship music, I encourage you to do so. Jesus said where your treasure is, your heart is. You want your heart fully connected to God? Put your money where your mouth is.)

BONUS KEY:
Make hunger a core value.

Choose hunger.

Reality is, there’s going to be times when you don’t “feel it.” Please don’t wait to “feel it” in order to seek God. Just choose Him anyway.

One of the most amazing things God gave us in the Holy Spirit was a fruit called “self control.” (Gal. 5:23). This means that you’ve been put back in charge of your life again! You don’t have to live as a victim to life’s circumstances anymore!

That also means that you can take initiative.
You can stir yourself up.
You can decide what you want.

Praise God you have the grace to choose Him! To enter into the desire pre-built in your new creation nature.

Declare this out loud:
I am hungry for God!

Lord, I pray that You stir up a fresh hunger! Release encounters, revelation, dreams, visions, miracles and deeper understanding of who You are. We seek You in Your word, in prayer & fasting and worship. We know that if we seek...we will find. So we seek You, Lord...amen.

Question:
How have you seen hunger for God bring encounter? Testify below in the comments!