Last night Matt and I went to some friends of ours home and ate a fabulous meal and I ate a lot of it. There was a spread of delicious roast, mashed potato's, corn, spinach salad,cabbage,cornbread and brownies for dessert. I'm not gonna lie I went back for seconds and then humm..thirds...yes a third helping that I most likely didn't need but it was delicious so I just couldn't resist. I was one stuffed girl by the end of the night and had I not been wearing sweat pants I probably wouldn't have been able to move without busting a seam. So this morning I wake up at 5:30AM because my stomach is growling and I am STARVING....yes I am so hungry that I can't seem to wish it away, I close my eyes desperately trying to go back to sleep but my stomach and the hunger I am feeling wont allow it. I lay in my warm bed actually frustrated at being hungry because I don't want to get up and eat anything, this typically is not a problem I encounter.
So I lay in bed and begin to think about this situation and how it relates to our hunger and thirst for the Lord and his word. How often do I spend time with him that is so deep so rich and intimate that I am filled up and busting at the seams of fulfillment in my father only to wake up starving for more, so hungry that I can't go back to sleep because I need him. I can honestly say I have not experienced that and I so desire to. I desire to be filled with the word and time with him to give me strength and nourishment much like I depend on food to provide these same things for my body to function. If we don't eat and take care of our body we are weak and we do not function properly. Same with our time in the word and in prayer. Many of us are so weak spiritually that we do not function as Christ lovers and followers, we don't know the scriptures because we are not in his word. His word is to be our strength. When his words are ours then we are in truth. When praying scripture you not only find yourself in intimate communication with God but your mind is retrained and renewed “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2) to think HIS thoughts about your situation rather than our own. My thoughts are dangerous and more often then not they are not TRUTH. The enemy's chief target is the mind because the most effective way to influence behavior is to influence thinking. When we allow our minds to be transformed through scripture and truth that is when we are able to do his will. How can we truly live out his will when we are not in unison with him? If we are not filled with the word then what are we filled with? I feel so weak on a daily basis just barely getting by spiritually and that breaks my heart. I find time to fill my life with many meaningless things only to feel empty at the end of the day but when I am drawing near to him the day is different I am satisfied. When I am found in the word, in truth and in prayer I am found in him and when I am found in him I am strong. I have strength and energy to face the day, good or bad I am able.

A study that I am in brought me to Ephesians 6:13-18 “Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then , with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” The study goes onto explain that Paul listed the whole armor of God noting that only one piece of the armor is actually a weapon. The figurative belt, shield, breastplate, shoes, and helmet are all defensive pieces of armor intended to keep us from harm. The sword of the Spirit, clearly identified as the WORD of God is the only offensive weapon listed on the whole armor of God.
All that to say our weapon--our STRENGTH is the word of God and in the spirit PRAYER. I can't say this to myself enough...to be strong and healthy spiritually I shall find myself hungering after the Lord and filling up in his Spirit.