Hunger Satisfied by the Heart
Reading a menu cannot satisfy hunger, but savoring a meal illustrates how knowing Jesus personally fills the heart.
Devotional Credit: Abide Above by Miles Stanford
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Miles Stanford invites us to consider the true center of our spiritual life, not in doctrines or blessings themselves, but in our affection for Jesus. The Scripture calls us to seek the things above where Jesus sits at the right hand of God. Our hunger for Him is fulfilled in Him, and as we taste His goodness, our desire for Him grows even more. This satisfaction overwhelms every lesser longing and brings peace where fleshly desires can never find rest. It reminds us that knowledge about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him personally.
Stanford warns that even our doctrinal blessings, as wonderful as they are, can lose their luster if they remain merely truths in our minds. The head may be filled with theology without stirring one spark of love for the Lord. He writes that many diligent students of the Bible can become ordinary believers who make little progress in grace because their hearts are not being captivated by Jesus Himself. Spiritual growth happens when we take Him by faith into our affections, allowing Him to occupy an ever-enlarging place in our hearts.
This devotional challenges us to see that all blessings of this grace-filled era are wrapped up in a Person, not concepts. By means of the Word, we grow as our hearts learn to find everything in Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. The goal is not to accumulate knowledge or experiences, but to let Jesus Himself become our life and joy. When our hearts are satisfied in Him, praise naturally flows, and thankfulness becomes the atmosphere of our lives.
A.B. Simpson expressed similar thoughts in his writings, and Miles Stanford echoes them here. We are encouraged to cultivate a spirit of cheerfulness and gratitude, which lifts our focus to the brightness of God's character. A thankful heart finds reasons to rejoice even in simple things, while a gloomy one finds reasons to complain even in blessings. Let us honor the Lord by rejoicing in the Person in whom all our blessings are found. We thank Miles Stanford for pointing us back to Jesus and encouraging us to let Him fill our hearts with His presence and love.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My beloved, your spiritual hunger is not a deficiency but a gift that draws you to Me. I have placed eternity in your heart, and only Jesus can satisfy it. When you fix your mind on things above where He is seated, you discover that every blessing is found in Him. Let your affection be set on Him. As you do, your heart will overflow with gratitude and the lesser longings will fade away.
Do not let your love grow cold as knowledge increases. Knowledge without love produces emptiness, but love rooted in Jesus produces life. Let Me enlarge your heart to hold more of Him. I will fill you with His fullness, and in that fullness you will find peace. As you abide in Him, you will bear fruit, for apart from Him you can do nothing. Yet in Him you have everything.
Beloved, all that your heart longs for is wrapped up in Jesus. Take His person into your heart by faith. Meditate on His love, His sacrifice, and His resurrection. Let these truths stir your affections. When you feel distant, recall that you are one with Him. You have been raised together with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places. This is not just doctrine; it is your living reality. Trust that He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Scripture References: Colossians 3:1-3; Psalm 107:9; John 6:35; John 15:4-5; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-11; Ephesians 2:4-6; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 3:17-19; Psalm 37:4; Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1-2.
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine sitting at a restaurant with a beautifully printed menu. The descriptions of each dish make your mouth water. You can memorize the ingredients, describe the flavors, and talk about the chef’s expertise, but your hunger will not be satisfied until you taste the food itself. Reading the menu informs your mind, but savoring the meal satisfies your heart. In the same way, studying about Jesus fills your mind, but intimacy with Him fills your heart.
If you find yourself merely reading about spiritual truths without joy, pause and ask, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me and satisfy my heart with Your presence.” Then, like tasting the meal, let His Spirit draw you into communion with Him. Whether you are doing chores, driving, or sitting quietly, open your heart to Him. Allow His love to fill you in the moment, and you will experience the true feast of His life.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that all spiritual blessings are found in Jesus. You have raised me with Him and seated me with Him in heavenly places. I rejoice that You fill the hungry soul with goodness and satisfy every longing. I rest in Your fullness and let my heart be occupied by Jesus, knowing that in Him I have more than enough.