How to Increase Your Hunger for God’s Word | Longing – A Hunger For God’s Word

When my husband and I were first dating, we talked on the phone for hours. Never running out of things to say or questions to ask, we desperately sought to learn about each other. With a deep hunger to know more about him, I sought to learn his history, more about his family, his desires, and his thoughts on the future. Not a day went by that we did not talk.

Eighteen years later, we now finish each other’s sentences, know what the other is thinking, pressure points of frustration, and can read facial expressions with a simple glance. But that level of knowing each other didn’t occur overnight, nor did it happen without studying the other person. It was cultivated, planted, tended to, fertilized, and harvested throughout the years.

So what about you? Do you have that “dating” phase hunger to know more about God? Do you study who He is or what He desires? Did you know that He longs to know you? Personally? Intimately? Daily?

There is, perhaps, no greater chapter in the Bible that displays this longing for His sweet word than Psalm 119. This unknown Psalmist eloquently portrays his hunger for God’s word as an all-consuming, steadfast appetite for more and more and more of God.

How do I create a desire for reading the Bible and studying God’s word?

I’m so glad you asked! Every day this week, we are going to write down a statement to help us cultivate, plant, tend, fertilize, and harvest our study of God’s word, ending each day with reciting the verses out loud. There is a powerful connection in writing, professing, and hearing it spoken.

Key Verse: Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it, you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2

• Monday – Cultivate. A longing for God begins with a stirring of commitment. Write out a statement pledging to allow God’s tilling hand in your heart. Give Him authority to dig up any selfish gain or plow down any worthless things holding you back.
  • Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things. Psalm 119:36-37

• Tuesday – Plant. Growth begins with planting a seed. Write out a request asking God to plant a seed of desire for reading His story, opening your eyes to the beauty of Him found only in His word.
  • Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18

• Wednesday – Tend. Nothing halts the growth of desire quicker than the weed of unwillingness. Because God’s word is alive and active, and because it divides between truth and lie, there will be times of reshaping, releasing, and redirecting. Create a declaration affirming your readiness to turn your steps to His statutes.
  • I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statues. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Psalm 119:59-60

• Thursday – Fertilize. When understanding begins to blossom, we have a natural desire to feed it, water it, and watch it grow. But there is also an increase of opposition and distraction on this precious time with God. Declare, in writing, your promise to continually nurture not neglect His word. 
  • I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:15-16

• Friday – Harvest. When you fall in love with God’s word – and you absolutely will – you can’t help but to rejoice and long for more. Today, write a statement of gratitude thanking God for His life-changing word and His desire to make Himself known to you. 
  • How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

Whether we realize it or not, our souls thirst and hunger for more of God. In our present-day of distractions, it’s simply easier to find a temporary fix from mediocre avenues. Grab your free printable, and let’s increase our hunger for God’s word!

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