Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – 1/9/2018

There is so much I don’t know, but I know this…when you spend time in the presence of God, you become more aware of your own sin and shortcomings.

Daily Scripture

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ~ Matthew 5:6

Study

Hunger: a strong or compelling desire or craving or need; the painful sensation or state of weakness caused by the need for food; a feeling of pain, emptiness or weakness induced by lack of food.

Thirst: a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat caused by the need of liquid; to have a strong desire; desire or need to drink; eager longing, craving, or yearning.

Righteousness: the condition of being acceptable to God as made possible by God. God’s standard is what defines true righteousness. His power is what enables it. No amount of man-made effort will result in righteousness.

We pursue righteousness when we pursue the character of Christ and desire holiness more than fleshly indulgence. We avoid the temptation to become self-righteous when we understand that true righteousness begins with humility remembering that Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Meditation

Hungering and thirsting is a powerful illustration. We hunger and thirst not only for food and water but for satisfaction in life. We search in different areas and all kinds of ways to be filled, but worldly ways always fall short. That is because our satisfaction cannot be met in the things of this world. Our satisfaction can only be met by Jesus Christ. He is the only One that can truly fill.

What are you hungering and thirsting after in your life?

Prayer

Father, I thank You today for Your Word that is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. I ask You today to give me hunger and give me thirst for You and Your righteousness. I want to be filled, Lord. Change me, from the inside out in radical ways…I pray! Help me to let go of the wounds that linger. I cast those wounds on You and I surrender the pain, Lord. Thank You for cleaning and covering my wounds with Your precious blood and thanks Jesus for Your healing. I praise and thank You. I love you, Jesus! Now, Father, I ask that You help me focus today on nothing but YOU and living this life in Christ Jesus. Help me to die again today to my own ways and my own thoughts, imaginations, ideas, and plans. If I begin to stumble bring this to my mind and my heart. Thanks for Your hunger and Your thirst that abide in me. May I yield with every breath and You be glorified through it all. I ask this in Jesus precious and holy Name! Amen!!

Quotes I came across along the way:

“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ Not only do the followers of Jesus renounce their rights, they renounce their own righteousness too. They get no praise for their achievements or sacrifices. They cannot have righteousness except by hungering and thirsting for it (this applies equally to their own righteousness and to the righteousness of God on Earth), always they look forward to the future righteousness of God, but they cannot establish it for themselves. Those who follow Jesus grow hungry and thirsty on the way.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“To be hungry is not enough; I must be really starving to know what is in His heart towards me. When the prodigal son was hungry he went to feed upon husks, but when he was starving, he turned to his father.” ~ Martin Lloyd Jones

“If this verse is to you one of the most blessed statements of the whole of Scripture, you can be quite certain you are a Christian. If it is not, then you had better examine the foundations again.” ~ Martin Lloyd Jones