As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. Psalm 42:1
Stimulate your spiritual appetite by serving
How do you work up a good appetite? By exercising. Go for a brisk walk and you will heighten your hunger. The same is true when it comes to nourishing your soul. Extend yourself in serving others, especially people in need, and your hunger for righteousness will increase.
How did Christ practice this beatitude? He left the comforts of heaven and came into our world where righteousness had been lost. He humbled Himself and became a servant. Likewise, if you make yourself vulnerable to the needs of others, your hunger for righteousness will increase.
Use your blessings and troubles to stimulate your spiritual appetite
Thomas Watson says that there are two things that stimulate our spiritual appetite—exercise and sauce. God increases our hunger and thirst for righteousness by the sweet sauce of our blessings, by the sharp sauce of our troubles, and by the hot sauce of our persecutions.
When blessing comes, learn to say, “How kind God has been to me, I want to know more of Him.” And when trouble, difficulty, or persecution comes learn to say, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psa. 73:26).
Trust Christ especially for your sanctification
Some Christians feel they can trust Christ to forgive their sins, but when it comes to overcoming bad habits, they feel completely hopeless. As long as you believe change is beyond you, you won’t attempt it, because you believe it will end in failure. Without hope, change never happens.
Which of these do you think could be most useful to you?
