A Prayer to Hunger for the Lord
By Emily Rose Massey
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6, ESV).
Recently, national news and social media have covered the “revivals” breaking out on college campuses around the United States. Although some are hesitant to officially put that label on what has been going on, countless young people and thousands of other Christians traveled far and wide to these campuses. They have been seeking the Lord and lifting high His Holy name in worship and prayer in one voice non-stop for days on end. Many have experienced the manifested presence of God, which has been described as indescribable peace and joy. One student’s testimony, shared on social media, read: “This isn’t hype. This is ordinary people crying out who are hungry for a move of God!”
It’s important to remember, the fruit of a move of God isn’t always about experiences with tangible peace or joy in a worship service, or the number of people gathered. Being hungry for God goes beyond attending revival meetings. Ultimately, true evidence of hunger in a Christian’s life can be seen when a believer has an insatiable appetite for seeking Christ and His righteousness. In the sermon on the Mount, Christ tells us:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6, ESV).
Truly, there is much excitement centered around large gatherings in the name of Jesus Christ, catching the attention of the world. But I think it is important to realize that one does not have to travel miles and miles to a specific event or conference, nor gather with thousands of other believers, to experience this kind of hunger for the Lord. God can revive your heart to pursue Him and His ways wherever you are in the world. All you must do is ask Him to stir your heart for that hunger and thirst. The more you begin to say no to the world and your flesh and yes to Christ and His righteous ways, the more the Holy Spirit will draw you into a life of devotion to the Lord. Most often, God begins to do His work in our hearts and lives when we keep our minds fixed on His Word. His Word renews our minds and transforms our lives to reflect His ways above our own. We cannot stir up a hunger in our own strength, we need God’s help. We must petition God and ask Him to strengthen our desires for living more Christlike. He promises to bless us and satisfy us.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
I long for my life to reflect You so others see how excellent and perfect Your ways are compared to the ways of this world that are fallen, corrupt, and void of Your perfect love and truth. I often fail and give into fleshly temptation, and I thank You that I have been justified and made righteous in Your sight because of Your Son, Christ Jesus! Despite my shortcomings, you still desire for me to mature and grow in my walk. You are a God who transforms and purifies, so I ask You to help me renew my mind with Your Word so I can know Your good, acceptable, and perfect will and see my life conformed to the image of Your Son. I am asking You to give me a hunger and a thirst for righteous living. I know I cannot conjure this up in my heart; I need Your help. I know I do not need to be surrounded by thousands of people or have a tangible encounter in Your presence to be stirred to seek You more. You meet me wherever I am. You are faithful to do this work of sanctification in my life, so thank You for strengthening me in my spiritual disciplines. May I have a testimony of a great transformation to give You all the glory! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AntonioGuillem
Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a stay-at-home momma while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written Word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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