Made to Crave: Chapter 1/ Day 1 Devotional
We are Made to Crave
So, in Psalm 84:1-2 we read :
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints,for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
God designed us in a way that we are capable of craving, so that we can have an unquenchable desire to seek him, and only him.
The Dictionary defines “ craving” as:
Something you long for, want greatly, desire eagerly and beg for.
We were made to “ long for, want greatly, desire eagerly and beg for---God.
In I John 2:15-16 we read:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world.
This passage details 3 ways that Satan tries to lure us away from loving God.
1. The cravings of sinful man ( Cravings: Trying to get physical desires met outside of the will of God.
2. The lust of his eyes ( Trying to get our material desires met outside of the will of God.
3. The boasting of what he has or does. ( Trying to get our need for significance met outside of the will of God.
With these 3 “ lures” in mind let's think about Eve for a moment. One of the first interactions in the Bible was between a woman and food. We cannot ignore the fact that the serpent used food as as a tool in his process of deception. The very downfall of humanity was caused when Eve surrendered to temptation to eat something she was not supposed to.
God created us with the ability to crave ( Him), however Satan will use anything he can to try to bring us down. So, he capitalized on our ability to crave when he tempted, then deceived Eve, in the Garden of Eden. In fact, Satan, used all 3 of the lures in doing so.
In Genesis 3:6 we read:
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food ( 1. cravings of the sinful man), and that it was a delight to the eyes ( The lust of eyes), and that the tree was desirable to make one wise( Boasting of what she has or does/wanted God- like wisdom), she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Let's take a look at when Satan tempted Jesus, in the desert, after he had been fasting and praying for 40 days. The first thing he tempted Jesus with was “ If you are the Son of God tell these stones to become bread” ( cravings of the sinful man). Next Satan enticed Jesus to throw himself off of the mountain and prove his significance by forcing God to command his angels to save him. Thirdly he appealed to Christs humanity and materialistic desires, by promising Jesus entire kingdoms if He would bow down to the god of materialism.
Eve caved to the temptation, whereas Jesus did not. Eve was in a perfect world and not even hungry when she was faced with her first temptation of food/ craving. Jesus had not eaten in 40 days yet was able to withstand the temptations. The significant difference between Eve and Jesus is Eve was saturated in the object of her desire and Jesus was saturated in God's truth. In fact, it was “ Truth” ( another name for the Bible or scripture) that Jesus used against Satan. Each temptation Christ faced was rebutted with “ Truth”. When Satan said he should turn the stones to bread Jesus said, “ Man shall not live by bread alone”. When Satan told him to cast himself down Jesus answered with another scripture, “ Do not tempt the Lord your God”. Lastly, when the devil offered Jesus many kingdoms if he would bow down to Satan the reply was, “ Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him”. Christ then commanded Satan to flee. He did. Satan cannot stand against the Word of God.
It is a scientific fact that we crave what we eat. If you eat chips often, you will want more chips. If you eat healthy whole foods, fruits and veggies, that is what you will crave. So, if you feast upon Gods word, you will crave more of that as well. Satan understands this and works to keep us distracted, by placing temptation in our path. Oft times, that first temptation is food. This is demonstrated both in his temptation of Eve and Jesus. These examples demonstrate the power that food ( physical desires- food, sex, drugs, etc.) can hold over us as well as how Satan uses them as a tool against us.
When we are faced with temptation to eat foods that are not good for us, we need to acknowledge and understand that we are facing the Great Deceiver. We can use scripture to withstand him and he must flee ( Resist the Devil and he must flee). This is not just a war of the flesh, but one that can be fought in the spiritual realm. We are made to crave God. Truth is powerful. The more saturated we are in the Truth the more successful we will be in resisting temptation.
In Matthew chapter 19 we read a story of a rich man who approached Jesus and said “ All of these rules I have kept. What do I still lack?” He was basically asking “ How do I really get close to God”. Jesus told him to go sell his possessions, give to the poor, then come and follow Him. The rich man was not willing to give up the one thing that consumed him.
We consume what we think about and if we are not careful what we think about can consume us.
What Christ really told this man was “ Give up the one thing that you crave more than you do me, then come and follow me.” This makes me ask myself; What do I crave more than I crave God. It is a piercing and scary thought. However, in all honesty, I have to answer …
Carbs, sugar....food.
In Mark 8:34 we read:
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Deny myself what? What cross?
I think we have to deny ourselves anything that we desire more than God. In my life, the only thing that honestly fits into that category is food, unhealthy food. Food is my biggest enemy ( right after myself) (not including Satan). Food has destroyed my body, inside and out ( Physical desires) It has torn down my self- image, and self-respect, destroying my ego ( Need for significance), altering my very perception of self. Seeing foods that I crave is so difficult for me ( Lust of the eyes), and that is one of the tools that Satan uses to defeat me. This is my cross!
Before today I never realized that my battle with weight and eating healthy was a spiritual battle. I guess the best way to defeat someone in a battle is to never let them know they are even in a fight. I feel hopeful though because in Ephesians 6: 10- 17 we are given our Battle plans:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with preparation of the Gospel of Peace, and in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I have always known that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. How could I have not realized this before? I know it now though, so look out devil.
Personal Reflections
1. If I had to personify my cravings I would think of my cravings like quicksand. It looks innocent enough, but as soon as I touch it they begin swallowing me...sinking sinking into despair. If I could ask my cravings any one question it would be “ How do I keep inviting you into my life?” I think Mr. Craving would reply by pointing out how I think it is safe to dip in just one little toe...and that opens the door for me to sink in and fall. It is always easier to take the next step, then the next. Everyone knows that the first step is usually the hardest.
2. Realizing that God designed me to be able to crave, for the purpose of craving Him is kind of mind blowing. Taking on the understanding that Satan has used that beautiful ability against me makes me angry, yet mindful of so many things. Now that I know, I can begin to fight back. I think there are some things that we can crave that are not God specifically and they can still be beneficial for us. One example for me are the Martial Arts. I think the difference is that they fulfill Spiritual, Physical, and Mental needs in me. This balance, and the goals of Martial Arts bring me closer to God, rather than farther away. Food, destroys me and my body ( the temple), whereas Martial arts restores and maintains it, while encouraging me to be closer to God.
3. I do not believe there are any benefits to listening to my cravings. I am an all or nothing kind of girl. I think this is why once I slip, dip the toe, it is all downhill for me. See #1.
4. Over the last 24 hours I can identify some of the “ lures” Satan has used to tempt me. Cravings & Lust of the eyes: When we went to Sams they had all of these sampling stations. None of them bothered me at all. I did not even think twice, until the last one. It was buffalo chicken. Mmmm I love Buffalo chicken. I was tempted. One the way to Springfield, Pam just had to stop at McDonalds....The smell...and then she ordered a burger. Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite food is probably a big ole honkin' McDonalds burger. I was tempted. On the way home, Pam had to stop at Sonic. Sonic sweet tea is a weakness. I was tempted. However, I resisted each of these. I was able to resist because I was encouraged by the tremendous amount of success I have had this week on my new eating plan. However, I do understand that this crazy success is not lasting, thus that strength is fleeting. Gods strength is not.
5. I am excited about the concept of using “ Truth” to defeat Satan and temptations with unhealthy foods. I have viewed many things in my life with Spiritual eyes, and always feel like I see more clearly. However, I have never had clarity where my diet has been concerned. It is as if the scales have been lifted, and suddenly I can see clearly again.
Devotional Idea for the Day
I have spent my entire life trying to feel “ Settled in” and content with my life. That search for contentment has left me complacent in so many things. I have a need to be unsettled.
Dear Lord,
Please unsettle me; shake me up inside. I ask for you to reach into the deepest parts of me; make me hunger and thirst for you and you alone. Give me the strength to resist temptation and shield me in your Truth. Give me courage to pray this prayer each day; again and again. Unsettle me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
So, in Psalm 84:1-2 we read :
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints,for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
God designed us in a way that we are capable of craving, so that we can have an unquenchable desire to seek him, and only him.
The Dictionary defines “ craving” as:
Something you long for, want greatly, desire eagerly and beg for.
We were made to “ long for, want greatly, desire eagerly and beg for---God.
In I John 2:15-16 we read:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world.
This passage details 3 ways that Satan tries to lure us away from loving God.
1. The cravings of sinful man ( Cravings: Trying to get physical desires met outside of the will of God.
2. The lust of his eyes ( Trying to get our material desires met outside of the will of God.
3. The boasting of what he has or does. ( Trying to get our need for significance met outside of the will of God.
With these 3 “ lures” in mind let's think about Eve for a moment. One of the first interactions in the Bible was between a woman and food. We cannot ignore the fact that the serpent used food as as a tool in his process of deception. The very downfall of humanity was caused when Eve surrendered to temptation to eat something she was not supposed to.
God created us with the ability to crave ( Him), however Satan will use anything he can to try to bring us down. So, he capitalized on our ability to crave when he tempted, then deceived Eve, in the Garden of Eden. In fact, Satan, used all 3 of the lures in doing so.
In Genesis 3:6 we read:
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food ( 1. cravings of the sinful man), and that it was a delight to the eyes ( The lust of eyes), and that the tree was desirable to make one wise( Boasting of what she has or does/wanted God- like wisdom), she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Let's take a look at when Satan tempted Jesus, in the desert, after he had been fasting and praying for 40 days. The first thing he tempted Jesus with was “ If you are the Son of God tell these stones to become bread” ( cravings of the sinful man). Next Satan enticed Jesus to throw himself off of the mountain and prove his significance by forcing God to command his angels to save him. Thirdly he appealed to Christs humanity and materialistic desires, by promising Jesus entire kingdoms if He would bow down to the god of materialism.
Eve caved to the temptation, whereas Jesus did not. Eve was in a perfect world and not even hungry when she was faced with her first temptation of food/ craving. Jesus had not eaten in 40 days yet was able to withstand the temptations. The significant difference between Eve and Jesus is Eve was saturated in the object of her desire and Jesus was saturated in God's truth. In fact, it was “ Truth” ( another name for the Bible or scripture) that Jesus used against Satan. Each temptation Christ faced was rebutted with “ Truth”. When Satan said he should turn the stones to bread Jesus said, “ Man shall not live by bread alone”. When Satan told him to cast himself down Jesus answered with another scripture, “ Do not tempt the Lord your God”. Lastly, when the devil offered Jesus many kingdoms if he would bow down to Satan the reply was, “ Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him”. Christ then commanded Satan to flee. He did. Satan cannot stand against the Word of God.
It is a scientific fact that we crave what we eat. If you eat chips often, you will want more chips. If you eat healthy whole foods, fruits and veggies, that is what you will crave. So, if you feast upon Gods word, you will crave more of that as well. Satan understands this and works to keep us distracted, by placing temptation in our path. Oft times, that first temptation is food. This is demonstrated both in his temptation of Eve and Jesus. These examples demonstrate the power that food ( physical desires- food, sex, drugs, etc.) can hold over us as well as how Satan uses them as a tool against us.
When we are faced with temptation to eat foods that are not good for us, we need to acknowledge and understand that we are facing the Great Deceiver. We can use scripture to withstand him and he must flee ( Resist the Devil and he must flee). This is not just a war of the flesh, but one that can be fought in the spiritual realm. We are made to crave God. Truth is powerful. The more saturated we are in the Truth the more successful we will be in resisting temptation.
In Matthew chapter 19 we read a story of a rich man who approached Jesus and said “ All of these rules I have kept. What do I still lack?” He was basically asking “ How do I really get close to God”. Jesus told him to go sell his possessions, give to the poor, then come and follow Him. The rich man was not willing to give up the one thing that consumed him.
We consume what we think about and if we are not careful what we think about can consume us.
What Christ really told this man was “ Give up the one thing that you crave more than you do me, then come and follow me.” This makes me ask myself; What do I crave more than I crave God. It is a piercing and scary thought. However, in all honesty, I have to answer …
Carbs, sugar....food.
In Mark 8:34 we read:
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Deny myself what? What cross?
I think we have to deny ourselves anything that we desire more than God. In my life, the only thing that honestly fits into that category is food, unhealthy food. Food is my biggest enemy ( right after myself) (not including Satan). Food has destroyed my body, inside and out ( Physical desires) It has torn down my self- image, and self-respect, destroying my ego ( Need for significance), altering my very perception of self. Seeing foods that I crave is so difficult for me ( Lust of the eyes), and that is one of the tools that Satan uses to defeat me. This is my cross!
Before today I never realized that my battle with weight and eating healthy was a spiritual battle. I guess the best way to defeat someone in a battle is to never let them know they are even in a fight. I feel hopeful though because in Ephesians 6: 10- 17 we are given our Battle plans:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with preparation of the Gospel of Peace, and in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I have always known that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. How could I have not realized this before? I know it now though, so look out devil.
Personal Reflections
1. If I had to personify my cravings I would think of my cravings like quicksand. It looks innocent enough, but as soon as I touch it they begin swallowing me...sinking sinking into despair. If I could ask my cravings any one question it would be “ How do I keep inviting you into my life?” I think Mr. Craving would reply by pointing out how I think it is safe to dip in just one little toe...and that opens the door for me to sink in and fall. It is always easier to take the next step, then the next. Everyone knows that the first step is usually the hardest.
2. Realizing that God designed me to be able to crave, for the purpose of craving Him is kind of mind blowing. Taking on the understanding that Satan has used that beautiful ability against me makes me angry, yet mindful of so many things. Now that I know, I can begin to fight back. I think there are some things that we can crave that are not God specifically and they can still be beneficial for us. One example for me are the Martial Arts. I think the difference is that they fulfill Spiritual, Physical, and Mental needs in me. This balance, and the goals of Martial Arts bring me closer to God, rather than farther away. Food, destroys me and my body ( the temple), whereas Martial arts restores and maintains it, while encouraging me to be closer to God.
3. I do not believe there are any benefits to listening to my cravings. I am an all or nothing kind of girl. I think this is why once I slip, dip the toe, it is all downhill for me. See #1.
4. Over the last 24 hours I can identify some of the “ lures” Satan has used to tempt me. Cravings & Lust of the eyes: When we went to Sams they had all of these sampling stations. None of them bothered me at all. I did not even think twice, until the last one. It was buffalo chicken. Mmmm I love Buffalo chicken. I was tempted. One the way to Springfield, Pam just had to stop at McDonalds....The smell...and then she ordered a burger. Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite food is probably a big ole honkin' McDonalds burger. I was tempted. On the way home, Pam had to stop at Sonic. Sonic sweet tea is a weakness. I was tempted. However, I resisted each of these. I was able to resist because I was encouraged by the tremendous amount of success I have had this week on my new eating plan. However, I do understand that this crazy success is not lasting, thus that strength is fleeting. Gods strength is not.
5. I am excited about the concept of using “ Truth” to defeat Satan and temptations with unhealthy foods. I have viewed many things in my life with Spiritual eyes, and always feel like I see more clearly. However, I have never had clarity where my diet has been concerned. It is as if the scales have been lifted, and suddenly I can see clearly again.
Devotional Idea for the Day
I have spent my entire life trying to feel “ Settled in” and content with my life. That search for contentment has left me complacent in so many things. I have a need to be unsettled.
Dear Lord,
Please unsettle me; shake me up inside. I ask for you to reach into the deepest parts of me; make me hunger and thirst for you and you alone. Give me the strength to resist temptation and shield me in your Truth. Give me courage to pray this prayer each day; again and again. Unsettle me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen