HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 5:6

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

The Spiritual Appetite: What Are You Hungry For?

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” — Matthew 5:6

Have you ever been truly, desperately hungry? Not just looking for a light snack, but experiencing the kind of deep, consuming hunger and thirst that commands your entire focus?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses this raw, human physical necessity to describe the foundational requirement for all godly living. To hunger and thirst for righteousness means possessing an intense, driving desire for God and His standards. Without this spiritual appetite, we will never pursue a deeper relationship with the Father or develop the character traits Jesus calls us to walk in.

Throughout Scripture, we see this desperate craving modeled by those who walked closely with God:

Moses pleaded to know God’s ways and see His glory (Exodus 33:13; Exodus 33:18).
The Psalmist cried out, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalms 42:2).
The Apostle Paul cast aside every earthly achievement just to know Christ intimately (Philippians 3:10).

Our spiritual condition throughout our lives depends entirely on what we are hungry for. A healthy believer consistently cultivates a deep appetite for:

The Presence of God (Deuteronomy 4:29)
The Word of God (Psalms 119)
The Interaction and Friendship of Christ (Philippians 3:8-10)
The Companionship, Guidance, and Influence of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Righteousness and His Power (Matthew 5:6; Matthew 6:33)
The Return of Christ (2 Timothy 4:8)

Identifying the Hunger Killers

If this hunger is so vital, what happens to it? Just as eating junk food spoils our physical appetite, our spiritual hunger for God can be hindered—and even destroyed—by the things of this world. Jesus and the apostles warned that our desire for holy things is easily choked out by specific spiritual toxins:

The Worries of Life & Deceitfulness of Wealth: Anxiety over our circumstances and the lie that money can secure us will quickly crowd out our desire for God (Matthew 13:22).
The Desire for Temporal Things: Chasing after things that fade away leaves no room for eternal investments (Mark 4:19).
The Lust for Life’s Pleasures: Prioritizing comfort, entertainment, and self-indulgence numbs our spiritual senses (Luke 8:14).
Disconnection from the Vine: Failing to trust Christ and remain in a right relationship with Him starves our souls (John 15:4).

When we lose our hunger for God and His standards, we begin to die spiritually.

Reviving Your Appetite

If you realize today that your spiritual hunger has waned, do not despair. The solution is to become highly sensitive and responsive to the work of the Holy Spirit in your conscience. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us, keeps us away from evil, and draws us back into the loving presence of God (John 16:8-13; Romans 8:5-16).

If you feed your flesh, your flesh will rule. But if you begin to feed your spirit by turning away from distractions and opening the Word, your hunger for God will return—and Jesus promises that you will be filled.

A Closing Prayer for Spiritual Hunger

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today acknowledging that our souls were created to find their ultimate satisfaction in You alone. Forgive us for the times we have tried to fill our lives with the junk food of this world—with worldly wealth, temporary pleasures, and endless worries that choke out our love for You.

Holy Spirit, we ask that You revive our spiritual appetite today. Break the hold of temporal distractions over our hearts. Give us an intense, desperate hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. Grant us a heart like Moses, Paul, and the psalmists—a heart that cries out for Your presence, Your Word, and Your guidance.

We choose to abide in the Vine today, trusting You to protect our consciences from evil and draw us closer to Your heart. Thank You for the beautiful promise of Jesus that when we hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, we will be fully satisfied. Fill us now with Your power, Your love, and Your Spirit.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

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Margarita & Stace

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HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6

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This is one of the most important verses in the Sermon on the Mount.

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Margarita Crews

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