“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6, TLV

Testing Our Hungers.     What do we hunger and thirst for? Each of us probably has different priorities. And these “cravings” can change from day to day. Even from minute to minute.

Testing our Hungers

Know how I test my priorities? When I wake up — or rather before I am fully awake — what is the first thought I have? Most mornings that first craving is for more sleep. But there’s a purity in learning what my priorities are when I am not fully awake.

Over the years, I have trained myself to choose to hunger and thirst for connections with my Heavenly Father. For the past few years, I’ve begun with a personalized version of the LORD’S Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). From there I pray for specific needs.

An example of my personalized version of the LORD’s Prayer:

My Heavenly Abba, glory to Your Name, Sanctified is Your Name, for You are Holy.

Your will be done on earth—in my life—as it is in heaven. I pray for Your will in all decisions and as I pray for others.

Thank You for Your provisions that are more than enough. Please, help me to be a good steward of these blessings.

Please forgive me for my sins as I forgive those who have sinned against me, my family, my loved ones. This includes those offenses I struggle to let go of.

Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the physical, emotional, and spiritual evil around me. I place the spiritual armor on me that You have provided.

For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever! In Yeshua’s Name.

Then I check my YouVersion app on my phone for the verse of the day. Once I’m fully awake—which includes my coffee—that passage or verse is the basis of these daily devotions.

All before I turned on the lights and my brain. I hear Him better when I am not focused on what I want or need for the day. From there, I am better equipped for my day, relationships, and responsibilities.

Think More About It

How do you test your cravings — your first morning priorities?

Until tomorrow, may our hunger be for Him.

Praying for Israel

A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, You are my God,
earnestly I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You.
My flesh longs for You
in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
So, I looked for You in the Sanctuary,
to see Your power and Your glory. Psalm 63:1-3, TLV

Did you know you can pray prayers on behalf of others? Many prophets did it, like Daniel (Daniel 9). We do it to stand in the gap until they are able to stand by themselves. Today, we stand in the gap that Israel will earnestly seek, thirst, and long for God. Amen? God bless you!