DAY 11: LORD, HELP ME TO HUNGER FOR YOUR WORD – PASTOR HEIDEN RATNER
PASTOR HEIDEN RATNER
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SCRIPTURE
“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4 ESV
DEVOTION
My wife, Neena, recently had an intense craving for movie theatre popcorn. And not just the kind you buy at the store that says, “Just like the movies!” Instead, the actual popcorn you can only get at the theatre. Fast forward, and I am in line at the movies buying popcorn. When I got home with the goods, she was excited and grateful that she could now fulfill her popcorn craving.
The truth is that we tend to get the things we crave the most. What would your life look like if you strongly craved God and His Word? I believe this could lead to the breakthrough you need. As the author of Hebrews writes, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17 ESV) The more we read, the more we believe! This is my prayer for you – that you wouldn’t just read the Bible for information but for transformation!
In our primary passage today, we find Jesus rebuking Satan, declaring: “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4b ESV) Did you catch it? Jesus indicates in this passage that we not only read the Word, but we live off the Word. This “living and active” (Heb. 4:12) book is peace for our souls, fuel to our walk, conviction when we sin, and guidance for our everyday decision-making. Paul brings even more clarity to this thought in his letter to his disciple Timothy, writing: 16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
“Get in the Word until the Word gets in you.” – Robbie Galaty
PRAYER
Father, I pray You would help me grow in my hunger! That I wouldn’t just hunger for the bread of this world. Rather, I would cultivate a deeper hunger for You and Your Word! As I open Your book, please give me fresh insights and interpretations. Help me to understand Your Word. Help me to memorize Your Word. Help me to find Jesus in every story and bring Him glory in that.
Lord, I ask that from the Old Testament to the New Testament, You reveal Yourself clearly through Your Word. And that we would fall deeper in love with the reading of Your Word. In Jesus name, Amen!
