Years ago, I went to dinner with a friend at a well-known steakhouse restaurant in town. Walking into the restaurant, the host greeted us and then treated us like royalty. No time was wasted in seating us at a table by the window as our server gave us his full attention. As we ordered our meal, I looked forward to the melt in your mouth steak and potato. My appetite grew and my five senses were fully engaged as I anticipated what was to come.
To say it was the best meal I had ever tasted would be an understatement. The steak melted in my mouth and the salad contained just the right amount of everything. I indulged in a glass of wine that paired perfectly with the food. I walked out feeling satisfied. My appetite was satiated.
I do not regularly eat steak, but found such satisfaction in this meal. It left me wanting more. There are times that we desire more because even though we feel satisfied in the moment, we somehow think we need more. Jesus tells us that our appetite will always find fulfillment in Him. Today we look at the fourth beatitude and discover the best food and drink is always found in Him.
You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. Matthew 5:6 MSG
This beatitude has special meaning for me. Over and over, I seek that amazing meal, or perfect outfit or positive story on social media to create fullness and satisfaction. I look past what is right in front of me as a child of God and go searching elsewhere to satisfy my appetite.
This past winter, as part of a book launch team, I read the book Full: Food, Jesus and the Battle for Satisfaction by Asheritah Ciuciu. The message of the book teaches us to seek a healthier relationship by creating a stronger relationship with Christ. We are never completely content until we find fulfillment in the One who can truly satisfy. This book convicted me that if fulfillment is what I am searching for, then I am going about it the wrong way. I asked myself the questions below. My answers left me desiring more than simple pleasures that satisfy temporarily. Instead, I began looking for more of God and less of me.
What does satisfaction look like to you? Where do you find contentment?
This past weekend, I referred to contentment as we explored the third beatitude. Click here to catch up. I shared that contentment brings us peace. It aligns who we are with where we have come. When we know without a doubt that contentment takes us beyond worldly goods to remembering we are everything in Christ, fulfillment follows.
[Tweet “We find fulfillment when we move beyond worldly goods to knowing we are everything in Christ.”]
The fourth beatitude convicts me that I need to work harder to seek God first. This one will continue to be a big challenge for me as I strive for God in everything knowing only He will satisfy my appetite.
Lord,
May we seek you first knowing our hope and satisfaction lie in you. Teach us to rely on your understanding and truth as we seek fulfillment. Show us the path to you and guide us on the road away from worldly satisfaction to contentment in being your child.
We love you and thank you for your many blessings! Amen.
Seeking God everyday,
Click here to catch up on the Beatitude series.
Click below to get your own copy of Full: Food, Jesus and the Battle for Satisfaction. This book has truly made a difference in my own life.
*Affiliate link included.
You may find me hanging out at these lovely places today.
I find the more I’m in His word the more of Him I crave. I look at that as a good thing, though. I never want to feel as if I’ve had enough of God! The craving is not discontentment, He brings contentment, as you say, it’s more of a gentle yearning to be closer, ever closer, to the One we love. Blessings on your weekend, my friend!
I love hearing again how important God’s word is to you, but it also reminds me of where I should be spending my time too. I want to feel closer to God and know that it needs to be intentional on my part but He also leans in often and we need to just grab on and lean into Him. I yearn to be near and feel His presence daily. Love and hugs to you!
Ok, first of all, I know I’ve said this, but I’ll say it again. Love your new site. 🙂 So this is kooky, last night before I went to bed I had Ashitera’s book pop into my head after seeing it pop up in my newsfeed the other day. I was like, I need to check that out. I was too tired. Thought about it again this am and then got busy doing blog stuff and now here I am and YOU are writing about it. haha this cracks me up. I guess I should def make sure to look into it. 🙂 I love that you are challenging yourself with Beachbody and healthy eating and really filling yourself up with things that are good for your body and your soul!
Thank you Nicki! I love my new site too. It’s a sign Nicki! You should definitely check out Asheritah’s book. You will love it.
As for Beachbody-I love how you cheer me on. I have had some back issues so I have had to step back. I sure could use your prayers as I heal and try to move forward again. Thanks for being here.
Hi Mary! How Jesus wants us to come to him and be filled! How blessed are we when we realize that he is the one true food for us.
Of course, I do fall sometimes and think something else will fill me, but I hope never for long.
Your dinner with your friend does sound wonderful though. A perfect compliment to celebrating your love for each other…sharing a meal is sharing in the spirit of communion. God blessed you that night too.
God’s blessings always,
Ceil
Sharing a meal with a friend is a time of communion and a beautiful way to celebrate how God made us to love one another. Thank you for reminding me of this. I pray we always find our true food in Jesus. He will always satisfy and fill us to the full with Him. Blessings!
What a great reflection Mary. And so true. We can’t find contentment with life unless we first find contentment with God. He is the only one who can fill us up and keep us full.
Praying you find your contentment in the God who loves nothing more than to fill us with everything we need. May you find His fullness and know it is enough. Blessings!
I so resonate with your words here, Mary! It is only in tasting and seeing that the Lord is good that our hunger in life can be satisfied. So true! Thanks for sharing about all that you’re learning and challenging us to draw our sustenance from God and His word.
I am thankful to have you along for this journey through the Beatitudes. God never fails to teach me and now I need to not only learn but accept that He is all I need. It seems easy enough doesn’t it? May we find our everything in God who is our everything.
This are such good thoughts! And I love the Message translation here: to work up an appetite for more of God, is what I long for. Sometimes I feel my hunger and thirst for Him must mean that I am not approaching Him in the right way, or surely I would not be so thirsty? But the truth is the appetite itself is what God is forming in us! Thank you so much for these beautiful words today! –Blessings to you!
I love the Message translation too. I know how I love a good meal so when I read this beatitude I could connect with it immediately. If it is easy to work up a good appetite for food then it should be easier to work up an appetite for God. I know that this is not always the truth for me. God willingly shows and teaches us that He is all we need but we must be open to hearing and learning the lesson. So glad you were here today Bettie! Blessings!
Oh that steak! Looks delicious. I am guilty of eating way too much, especially during stressful times. I label myself as an emotional eater, and sometimes, food is just so comforting. I have yet to read the book, but it’s on my list!
You and me both Barbie! Stress is not my friend and eating is one of the things I go to. I hope you have the chance to read Asheritah’s book. I know you will learn so much. Thank you for joining in the conversation.
Contentment has been on my mind a lot lately as I find myself striving to get all my tasks completed, and feel like I am only touching the surface of the things I am doing, instead of going deeper into what I’m reading, or studying, or discussing. I’m battling time, in other words. Which I know isn’t what God wants. Yes Mary, this beatitude challenging for me too! To seek God first is also to release my own plans and agenda to Him…Thanks for your words on this beatitude. Truly ministered to me at this day’s beginning.
Hi Lynn! I find myself looking for more to fill my time instead of just letting God choose my agenda for me. I also find that I am scratching the surface somedays instead of going deeper. It can get so complicated can’t it? I pray you find the challenge of this beatitude to be one that you and God overcome together. Blessings friend!
Thanks for sharing Asheritah’s book with us, Mary. I’m intrigued by its message. So important to remember that only in God can we find true contentment and fullness. It’s so easy to run after other things. (And what a treat that meal must have been!)
The steak dinner left such an impression on me that I still remember it to this day. If you have the chance to read Asheritah’s book, I know you would enjoy it. May we all seek God first and know in our hearts that God is the One who always satisfies. Blessings!
I’ve been reflecting on those questions too after reading Full. Great post friend!
I would love to hear your reflections some time. Thank you friend for being here.
I loved the book :). In fact, it inspired me to choose the word ‘hungry’ as my word of the year in 2017!
I love how you were inspired to choose the word “hungry” after reading Asheritah’s book. The book really taught me how our true satisfaction is only found in Jesus.
Mary, such wise words here. I’ve been guilty of seeking satisfaction in a sugary treat, or the sweet words of approval. I don’t always seek satisfaction in God and all that He offers. It’s only when I seek satisfaction for my spirit, my soul, my being in God and Him alone that I am truly satisfied. Thanks for that reminder!
Thank you for being here Jeanne! May God continue to show you His deep love so you always know satisfaction lies on Him. You are a treasured member of this community Jeanne. Thank you for sharing your insight.
“I look past what is right in front of me as a child of God and go searching elsewhere to satisfy my appetite.” I so relate to this. It is easy to drift into seeking our worth and satisfaction in other places when the only place we can truly find it is in God. Great reflections here, and I love how The Message puts Matthew 5:6.
I hate to say I’m glad I’m not the only one, but it is nice to know that I am not alone in this struggle. It is easy to seek our worth in things that are temporary. I am learning how satisfying it is to seek God in all things.
I am glad you like the Message version. It has been such a great learning experience for me. Blessings!
Whenever I read and ponder that particular beatitude, I find myself thinking of the psalms — words from Psalm 63 about my soul being satisfied “as with the richest of food” and it just serves to reinforce what you read in Ashiterah’s book about food and our relationship with God. No treat will ever live up to what it promises before we take that first delicious bite, but satisfaction in Christ is never a disappointment.
Thanks, Mary, for this wisdom that is coming to me at a very, very good time.
If you haven’t read Asheritah’s book it is one you should put on your list. The book encourages and points to God throughout.
Psalm 63 is a good example to help illustrate this beatitude. I seek other satisfaction at times and always come up short. Together let’s work toward remembering our true satisfaction is always in God. Praying for you as you seek God and his wisdom.
Love the food analogy you captured me with this and led me right to God’s arms! In this world we are never satisfied without Christ, I watch myself meander away, into worldly ways, only left craving..of course we hunger for righteousness! So good to visit again Mary to receive fullness in your words! Blessings!
What a treat to have you here today Kathy! I’ve missed you.
God always has his arms open for each of us. He draws us in and gently embraces us with a love that is always enough. May God continue to bless you as you hunger for him.
This is so good, Mary. It reminds me of my weakness for people approval. But it is never enough. God is teaching me more and more that only in Him is fulfillment. This also reminds me of Psalm 42:1. I often picture a deer panting after being pursued by a hunter, getting dehydrated and needing water so badly. And I think that’s how I should always be, panting for God, because I grow so weak without Him. We so need His living water, don’t we? Thank you for this series. 🙂 Love and hugs to you!
You are right. It is never enough. Thank you for sharing Psalm 42. It is the perfect comparison for seeking God first because He will satisfy. The deer does pant knowing that God is the water that will truly satisfy.
You’re welcome for this series. It is teaching me so much. Love and hugs to you too.
You have made me hungry for a real good steak now, Mary. 🙂 I don’t eat it very often either, but when I do, I want it to be satisfying. I know I seek satisfaction through food and other ways too only to realize that it never lasts; we always get hungry again. Only God satisfies forever.
That steak truly was the best I have ever tasted. I too often go for the quick satisfaction because I want what I want when I want it. But it is fleeting and instead I need to put my trust in what will last-God. Thank you for being on this road with me.
Yes, yes, more of Him, that is what I need is more of Him… less of this world, things of this world, but more of Him! Appreciate this message today!
Thank you for joining in today. May we all seek more of Christ and less of ourselves. Blessings on your week.
Oh I needed that prayer this morning, a blessing!
God is so good to provide what you need. I pray you have a blessed week.
Great post, Mary…though as someone who finds eating very difficult, I had to blip through some of this!
Where do I find contentment? It’s around me now, the serene snores of rescued dogs, slumbering in security. I sleep on an ottoman in the kennel, and it’s better than any feather bed, because of this lullaby.
I understand and am honored you stopped by. Thank you for sharing where you find contentment. You are blessed to recognize this in your own life.