Are you Hungry for it?

Life is hard. We struggle many times with navigating the ups and downs of it all. It’s easy to get stuck. When that happens, it’s easy for us to settle for where we are and stay there. But that is not the life Jesus came to give you. Somewhere deep in all of us is a longing for more - more life, more joy, more peace. What does that kind of life look like? How do you find it? Where do you begin? And what can you do about all the stuff that gets in the way? Fortunately for us, Jesus came to help us answer these very questions and so many more. He came to show us that when life hurts, He heals.

Matthew 5:6 CSB

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

How do I apply this verse in my life?

- Identify when something isn’t right

That voice inside your head that makes you uncomfortable when something that isn’t good is happening around us. For those of us that are Christians, it is the Holy Spirit nudging us to flee from that sin!

That feeling is called conviction.

For us as Christians, conviction is the product of a relationship that you have with God. It is the fruit of the relationship! It is a good thing!

So why do we feel convicted? Because in our daily relationship with God, as we grow closer to Him, things begin to break our heart for what breaks his.

Gossip, disobeying our parents or guardians, acting one way here at church and another when you are at school.

James 4:17 “So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.”

Example of little kid not know that it isn’t ok to bite. Baylor and biting. He had to be taught that it was wrong. He gets that teaching because he is in a relationship with us as his parents.

Us as Christians get that teaching (Knowing right from wrong) from being in a relationship with God!

He helps us to identify when something isn’t right!

-Have the desire to see what is right overcome what is wrong.

That desire only comes from being in God’s word and having a true relationship with Him.

When we are in God’s word, He reveals himself, His purposes, and His ways!

Matthew 26:41 “Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

We have to stop coming to church to be spoon-fed the gospel once or twice a week.

We have to read God’s word for ourselves!

If you are having a difficult time finding more joy, more peace, more life, that I am talking about; Are you even looking for it?

If you are looking for it, are you looking for it in all the wrong places? Validation on social media, identity and who you even are?

All the answers to your questions are in God’s word.

And on your personal pursuit to see what is right overcome what is wrong (wrong thoughts, wrong actions) you serve as a positive influence to those around you as you are on your journey to be better! People will notice something different about you!

That is not an opportunity to boast about ourselves, it is an opportunity to tell others what God is doing in your life. Remember last weeks sermon, be Humble!

-When you have that hunger to see what is right overcome what is wrong, you will find that fullness of joy.

Psalm 16:11 “You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant (more than enough) joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.”

What is joy? “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” - Rick Warren

Who here if we are all being honest would like more joy in their life?

In order to have this joy that I am speaking of and if you want to live the blessed life, it first comes from having a relationship with Jesus.

Take Away: Jesus is the only one that can fill you with that “fullness of Joy”!