What it Means to Hunger for God’s Word

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Baby growth spurts are serious business! The latest one hit the Muñoz household this week. My 3 month old daughter Amariah has been eating nearly non-stop for the past 3 days.

Every minute she emits what we call her distinctive “I want milk!” piggy snort, and it’s been a reminder of the innocent intensity of hunger.

Hunger is a natural part of existence. Babies aren’t exceptions to this – one could say they are the extreme. The dependency and urgency of infant hunger is real. Could the same be said of our faith? 

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3

Since I’ve become a nursing mom this passage in 1 Peter 2 has come to life, especially during growth spurts like this.

Am I craving God’s Word like a newborn? I may not be able to read the Bible every hour—the pace at which Amariah feeds—but are verses frequently on my mind?

Scripture’s Precious Vitamins

According to Peter it is mandatory that we long for Scripture, for like milk provides the essential nutrients for a baby to develop, God’s Word is filled with the spiritual vitamins for someone to grow like Christ:

• His commandments protect us, allow us to honor Him, and enable us to live in harmony with others.
• His testimonies remind us of His infinite power, from the parting of the Red Sea to the healing miracles of our Savior.
• His judgments showcase His perfect holiness and the need for us to recognize and turn from sin.
• His promises instill hope and thankfulness despite the rollercoaster of our circumstances.
• His encouragements and exhortations guard us from false accusations of the enemy.
• His people display how we can walk by faith and not by sight, and that our failures are redeemable.

These blessings of Scripture are invaluable, and must be digested often to do their work upon our hearts. They empower us by the Holy Spirit to ward off sin, such as envy and slander. And even more, these blessings taste good.

Amariah can’t talk, but I see no signs of complaint about her milk, her ravenous behavior indicates the opposite.

As women who know about the redeeming love of Jesus – how He cleansed us from all that marred us, and welcomed us as sisters into the Heavenly Kingdom in amazing grace – we cannot neglect the delicious feast of His Word!

We have tasted that the Lord is good, and opening the Bible allows us to taste Him again and again!

Improving Your Appetite

Maybe you struggle with getting daily time in the Bible (I know I’ve been there!). Maybe the genealogies and prophecies of the Old Testament appear too intimidating, or the reading plans you’ve tried seem too burdensome or legalistic. Don’t give up!

God is honored by your perseverance and there are many resources out there to help you explore His dynamic Scriptures.

Some suggestions:

1. Obtain a study Bible! I recommend one by John MacArthur or by the English Standard Version (ESV). Although I don’t like to rely on commentaries for my devotional time, they can be very helpful when navigating the poetic and historical writings.

Also see my 5 tips for studying the Old Testament on your own.

2. Try this FREE doable reading plan. So far it’s the only Bible-In-A-Year plan I’ve completed, and it’s because it only assigns passages and chapters 5 days a week rather than 7.

This makes it more manageable when you have to skip a day or don’t finish, because you can catch up on the two free days. And if you do all 5, those 2 free days you can read a book you’re currently not on.

Added plus, this plan organizes the OT and NT Bible readings in their chronological order, which helps to see how different sections of Scripture are connected.

3. Journal your biblical insights and prayers. Recording God’s messages and revelations daily is an honorable spiritual discipline and very motivating. The Be Still Journal from Daily Grace Co. has an solid question layout to start practicing this with.

Simply write down what the Holy Spirit is convicting you in, or get creative and decorate pages with impactful verses! Are you crafty? The Illustrated Faith Journaling Collection has beautiful devotional kits to help motivate you to explore God’s Word in a creative, hands on way.

4. Download ministry apps and podcasts for your time on the go! Even when I can’t sit down and journal, I enjoy reading or listening to the Word digitally in other random moments—like when I’m washing dishes, nursing the baby at 3am or waiting for a doctor’s appointment.

In addition to the ESV or YouVersion Bible and Dwell Bible apps, I highly recommend Reformation Network, Grace to You, Ask Pastor John, IF: Gathering, One Passion (Steven Lawson), and Albert Mohler. The Voice of the Martyrs app is also good for helping you to pray for the church around the world. Revive Our Hearts, Risen Motherhood, and JourneyWomen are also sound and uplifting podcasts geared toward women.

–

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3