4 Reasons to Crave the Word of God

Do you crave the word of God? Crave means to feel a strong powerful desire for something. It’s in this craving, that you find yourself pursuing after it until you obtain it. A young mom will understand this. Her sweet baby will fuss and cry until he or she gets the milk they crave. You may try to pacify them with something else but in protest, their heads turn away, their cries grow louder… Why? Because they simply want the milk they long for. They want the one thing they know will satisfy the ache in their belly.

And this is a picture of how the believer’s relationship with the word should be. “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,” (1 Peter 2:2 NLT)

Our souls were designed to crave the words of the only One who satisfies. His truth provides the perfect nourishment for the believer to grow up into maturity. It teaches, instructs and guides our day to day living while setting our feet on the path of becoming more and more like Jesus.

Here are four additional reasons why we should crave His word each day,

God’s word encourages us

Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

There are no super Christians. We all fall susceptible to moments of doubt and discouragement. There may be hard seasons when the finances are tight, an unexpected health challenge occurs, a child is prodigal, or your marriage is just hanging on by a thread. God’s word is where we find encouragement and comfort for our tired and weary souls. Scripture allows you and I to move our eyes from the fleeting and temporary to the lasting, eternal hope we have in Jesus.

God’s word counsels us

Psalm 119:24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

No spouse, friend or godly mentor can match the perfect and wise counsel we receive from God and His written word. In the darkest of circumstances, God’s word brings light, clarity and guidance on what to do. Rather than first running to a friend when the unexpected happens, let us train our hearts to crave and seek first the Lord and His word. He is the perfect Counselor available 24 hours, at a moment’s need.

God’s word cleanses us

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

When we look into the mirror of God’s word each day, we see ourselves accurately in light of God, His nature and His commands. I cannot tell you how many times during my own personal quiet time when the Lord has revealed sin in my life that needed confessing and repenting: a negative attitude, selfish desire or sinful behavior. It’s in those moments that we can be grateful for God’s kindness to lead us back onto safe and secure “paths of righteousness.” His word is indeed a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

God’s word restores us

Psalm 119:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; 

Unconfessed and unrepented sin separates us from intimacy with God. Spiritually, it dulls our hearing and makes us blind. So when God’s word leads us to confession and repentance, it also restores us to a close, intimate, thriving relationship with God our Father. His word allows us to experience an ongoing joy and an ever-increasing peace in our walk.

So if you are finding yourself in a season of fussing and crying out for something more, may calling to mind some of the sweet blessings of His word stir up a greater craving for the Lord’s word in your life. It’s here where our crying souls are calmed and fully satisfied.