Hunger and Thirst
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Hunger and thirst are desires we all feel from time to time — and that can be a good thing. I know what it's like to hunger for a slice of my grandmother's fudge pie or to thirst for a cold Diet Coke on a hot summer day. But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus wasn't talking about craving food or drink — He was metaphorically referring to a deep and lasting desire for righteousness.
Let's take a look at Matthew 5:6:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
In many ways, these words are comforting. We want to be "blessed," and we want to be "filled" — and Jesus gives us clear direction on how to get there. But practically speaking, how do we begin? What has to happen in our hearts so that we aren't simply "rule followers" and "church attenders" — while those things matter — but rather people of God who possess a lifelong, spiritual appetite for righteousness?
As simple as it sounds, I think a lot depends on what desires we allow to grow and what "appetites" we choose to feed.
REFLECT
Many years ago, my husband and I worked together in his orthodontic practice. He was — and still is — a doctor busy in the clinic, while I was at the front desk greeting families and welcoming patients. We spent our days doing life and work together, serving others as best we could. But we were young, and there was so much we didn't know.
Thankfully, we weren't alone. We had joined an existing practice, which placed us in partnership with an incredible man and mentor named Dr. Craig.
What I remember most about those early days is that my husband and I quickly noticed something remarkable about him. Dr. Craig seemed to navigate everything — business decisions, patient care, everyday interactions — with compassion and ease. He was detail-oriented and focused, yet also joyful and patient, genuine and deeply loving. It didn't take long for us to realize that if we were willing to pay attention, there was so much to be gained from our time with him.
So we leaned in. We watched him closely, hoping to learn and emulate what we saw. We'd sit around the dinner table at night and talk through our days, unpacking what each of us had observed. We just couldn't help it. When you truly admire someone, you naturally become a devoted student of their ways. You develop not an obligation, but a desire — a craving, a hunger and a thirst — to learn everything you can from them.
I think the same can be true of our spiritual lives. Just as we were eager and humble to learn from Dr. Craig, I want that same posture to define my relationship with Christ. I want to live with a genuine hunger and thirst for righteousness — for truly knowing Him. I want to stay constantly aware of His presence and remain a lifelong student of godliness, always growing more into His image.
For me, that looks like regularly asking, "Lord, will you show me Your ways?" It means declaring my dependence on Him, staying grateful for His goodness and faithfulness, remaining eager to grow, and being willing to serve — actively participating in the work of His kingdom. And it means being intentional about remembering what God has already done in my life, so that I can't imagine living apart from Him.
Jesus knew that, just like our need for food and water, our need for Him would be constant. But He also knew that if we would humbly seek Him with a willing heart, we would find the fulfillment we've been looking for. He is always there, and He is all we need to be truly satisfied. It is in encountering His love — again and again — that we are strengthened in this lifelong pursuit. This is the "appetite" worth feeding, so that we might say with the Psalmist:
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." — Psalm 42:1
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you've read:
Self-assessment: How much do you hunger and thirst for righteousness right now? What's one practical way you could further develop your appetite for the things of God and make them more central to your daily life?
In the Word: As you spend time reading Scripture this week, ask yourself: What is my posture when I come to Him? Have I paused to invite God to speak to my heart through His Word?
Hold onto the promise: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Let that be your anchor this week.
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord, thank You for the promise that as I seek You and grow in my desire to know You, I will be filled. Help me to stop searching for the things of this world and instead long for more of You. May my spiritual appetite — and the longing in my heart for You — continue to grow every single day. Amen.
Port City writer Holly Campbell wrote today’s devotional.