Text: John 7:37-39
Memory text:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NKJV

Even though God has called every believer to the higher ground, some are just content with where they are in their spiritual journey and are not ready to press further to experience a new move of the Spirit. They have become complacent. They suffer from destination disease and have arrival mentality. They glory in their past achievements and have no desire for growth.
Did you notice the condition required to experience the move of the Spirit in our text? It is ‘thirst’.
Hunger and thirst are indicators of good health in the natural life. That is why a baby begins to cry for food as soon as he or she is delivered. A newborn who doesn’t cry after some time becomes a concern. This is also applicable to the spiritual life. To hunger and thirst for God is at the very root of our being. Lack of appetite for the things of the Spirit is a quick indicator of the spiritual health and a problem in the spiritual walk of a person.
Just as our bodies crave sustenance from natural things, our spirits yearn for righteousness ‭‭(Matt‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬). This is a desire to do things that conform to God’s ideals and to be pleasing to Him. In Psalm 42:1-2, David compares his thirst for God with that of the deer for the water brook (Psa 42:1-2). The deer will run for several kilometers to the river, just to quench its thirst. This is a passionate longing for God, a fervent desire to know God and a deep longing to be close to Him.
I once read how Socrates responded when one of his followers asked him the best way to acquire knowledge. He led him to a river and plunging him beneath the surface. The man struggled to free himself, but Socrates kept his head submerged. Finally, after much effort, the man was able to break loose and emerge from the water. Socrates then asked, “When you thought you were drowning, what one thing did you want most of all?” Still gasping for breath, the man exclaimed, “I wanted air!” The philosopher wisely commented, “When you want knowledge as much as you wanted air, then you will get it!” The same is true with our desire for God and His righteousness. Even though we have been made righteous, we need to grow daily in His grace and knowledge, to press for perfection and to aspire to be like Christ every day.
Friends, do you still have appetite for the things of God or how can you measure your spiritual appetite now?

Prayer points
1. Father, please, renew and restore the hunger and thirst for You and for righteousness in me, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, give me an appetite for You that will drive me to a passionate and relentless pursuit of You, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I am conscious of destination disease and arrival mentality in my spiritual life and I won’t tolerate them.
2. Hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness are indicators of my healthy spiritual life and their lack indicate a spiritual problem.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng