A Deep Hunger for God

Written by Pastor Leo T Mukumba

Theme Scripture: Psalm 63:1-2 (KJV):“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” (Psalm 63:1-2, KJV)

Introduction

It is a privilege to see visions, to dream dreams, to prophesy, to speak in tongues, to pray for the sick and see them healed, to perform signs and wonders in the name of Jesus, and to witness miracles. These are glorious manifestations of the Spirit. Yet, above all of these, there is a greater blessing, a deep hunger for God Himself.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:6:“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

The real blessing is not just to experience God’s gifts, but to hunger and thirst for God Himself. David wrote this psalm when he was in the wilderness of Judah, fleeing either from Saul or later from his own son Absalom. He was physically in a dry land, but his deeper cry was for the spiritual dryness he felt being away from the sanctuary of God’s presence. There are 3 key words in this scripture, that is:

• The word “seek”; in Hebrew (shachar) means to rise early, to diligently pursue, to search with urgency.

• The word “thirst”; in Hebrew (tsama) speaks of a desperate longing that cannot be ignored.

• The word “longs”; (kamah) means to faint with desire or to crave deeply.

David was not just casually interested in God. His very soul and body yearned for Him like a thirsty man dying in a desert without water.

Main Points

1. Hunger for God Is the Mark of the Blessed (Matthew 5:6)

Jesus did not say “blessed are the full,” but “blessed are the hungry.” The Greek word for hunger here is peinaō—to crave or urgently long for sustenance. Just as physical hunger drives us to eat, spiritual hunger drives us into God’s presence. A hungry baby cries until it is fed. Likewise, a soul hungry for God refuses to be silent until it encounters Him.

• Psalm 42:1-2 — “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.”

• Isaiah 55:1 — “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.

2. Hunger for God Is Greater Than Hunger for Miracles

Miracles, tongues, and prophecy are wonderful privileges, but they are signs that point to God. The blessing is in seeking the One behind the miracles. Jesus rebuked those who followed Him for bread (John 6:26-27). Instead, He invited them to eat the Bread of Life—Himself. Martha busied herself with serving, but Mary chose to sit at His feet. Jesus declared: “Mary has chosen the good part” (Luke 10:42). Many believers chase gifts but forget the Giver. True hunger pursues the King Himself.

3. Hunger for God Produces Intimacy and Revelation

Those who hunger for God receive deeper visions and revelations of Him. Moses cried, “Show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18). His hunger opened the door to see God’s goodness and glory. Paul, despite his great ministry success, still cried: “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). The Greek word for “know,” ginōskō, means to know by experience. Hunger leads us beyond head knowledge into living encounters with God.

4. Hunger for God Transforms the Soul

A hungry soul becomes a surrendered soul. A hungry soul becomes surrendered, humble, and dependent on God. Hunger is the soil of transformation. David was a king, yet he confessed his desperate thirst. What he possessed could not satisfy his spirit. Psalm 34:8 declares: “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Once you taste Him, desire for Him grows into continual pursuit.

5. Hunger for God Is Satisfied Only in God Himself

Nothing in this world can satisfy the spiritual longing of the human soul. Wealth, pleasure, and fame only leave emptiness behind. Jesus said in John 7:37: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” The Samaritan woman sought fulfillment in relationships, but in Christ she found living water that quenched her thirst forever (John 4:13–14). If you are lost in a desert and see a mirage of water it does not satisfy you, but only true water saves. Worldly substitutes are mirages in the desert which promise fulfillment but only the living water of God satisfies the hungry soul.

Self-Examination Questions

1. Am I more excited about God’s gifts than God Himself?

2. What am I thirsting for most in life right now?

3. How can I practically cultivate deeper hunger for God this week?

Practical Ways to Cultivate Hunger for God

a.      Feed on God’s Word Daily

• Matthew 4:4 — “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

• Just as eating physical food daily sustains hunger and health, spiritual hunger grows as you feed on the Word.

• The more you eat certain foods, the more your appetite develops for them. Likewise, regular time in Scripture awakens a craving for more of God.

b.      Spend Time in Prayer and Worship

• Psalm 27:4 — David longed to dwell in God’s presence all his days.

• Hunger is stirred when we encounter His presence through prayer, adoration, and worship.

• Being near a bakery makes you crave bread because of the aroma. Being near God in prayer stirs the appetite of your soul.

c.      Practice Fasting and Spiritual Discipline

• Matthew 6:16-18 — Jesus taught fasting as a normal practice.

• Fasting silences the flesh so the spirit can crave God more deeply.

• Fasting is like turning down the volume of the world so you can hear God’s voice clearly.

d.      Eliminate Spiritual Junk Food

• 1 John 2:15-16 warns against loving the world and its desires.

• Entertainment, sin, and distractions can dull your appetite for God.

• If a child fills up on candy, they lose their appetite for a healthy meal. In the same way, filling our lives with worldly substitutes lessens hunger for God.

e.      Surround Yourself with the Hungry

• Proverbs 27:17 — “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

• Fellowship with those who hunger after God fuels your own hunger.

• The disciples caught Jesus’ hunger for prayer, so they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1).

f.      Remember and Testify of God’s Goodness

• Psalm 103:2 — “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

• Reflecting on past encounters with God keeps your desire alive and makes you long for more. Recalling past encounters makes you long for more.

• Tasting a sweet fruit once makes you desire it again. Remembering God’s goodness awakens hunger for more of Him.

g.      Stay Desperate and Humble

• James 4:8 — “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”

• Recognize your need for Him daily. Hunger grows when you realize nothing else can satisfy. Hunger grows when you daily recognize your utter need for Him.

• A thirsty traveler in a desert doesn’t casually want water; he desperately seeks it. When we approach God with that same desperation, hunger deepens.

In summary Cultivating hunger for God requires feeding on his word, prayer & worship, fasting & spiritual disciplines, eliminating worldly distractions, fellowship with the hungry, remembering his goodness and living in humility and desperation for him

Prioritize God daily, Like David, seek Him “early” before everything else. Create space for God. Hunger grows when distractions are removed (fasting, prayer, solitude). Value the Giver above the gifts. Rejoice in miracles but hunger for His presence more. Stay desperate! Spiritual maturity is not about reaching fullness, but continually hungering for more of Him.

The greatest blessing is not to prophesy, speak in tongues, heal the sick, or perform miracles. The greatest blessing is to hunger for God Himself. David longed in the wilderness. Moses begged to see His glory. Paul pressed on to know Him more. Even Jesus, the Son of God, often withdrew to pray, showing us that true satisfaction is in fellowship with the Father (Mark 1:35).

May we echo David’s cry: “My soul thirsteth for Thee; my flesh longeth for Thee.” For to hunger for God is to be filled with God; and nothing else can satisfy.