Hunger and Thirst

"Blessed are they which do huger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

"And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty pryaer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens" (Enos 1:4).

The Recovery Book asks, "In these two scriptures, we learn that our souls can hunger. Do you ever feel empty inside, even when you are not physically hungry? What causes that emptiness?"

I guess I do. Definitely when I am bored. When I am waiting for Rich. When I am worrying about Rich. When I am afraid. When I am not acting on a goal or activity or direction that I want or know I should be doing. When I am worrying about me. When I haven't been praying or reading my scriptures.

The Recovery Book asks, "How can your hunger for things of the Spirit help you be more honest?"

I love the idea of thirsting and hungering for the Spirit. At the present time I am taking a medication to help me in my weight loss journey and to help with the edema I have been suffering with. This medication has a side effect of a dry mouth - in essence I am thirsty. I drink and drink and drink to satisfy this thirst. And, experts say that by the time you are thirsty your body is already dehydrated. You are behind the power curve as your body wouldn't have gotten so thirsty if you had been hydrating all along. On the other hand - I have loved diet Dr. Pepper for a very long time - and drank copious amounts a day - 300 oz a day even - but there were times I still wanted water.

When I am not searching the scriptures and saying my prayers my soul is beginning to dehydrate. A long drought can lead to serious, life threatening problems. And, ironically, by the time I recognize the thrist for the Spirit I have been dehydrated for a while. I can fill my soul with other things that are considered hydrating but in reality the Living Water is still missing and I need it to live.

A result of hungering and thirsting for things of the spirit is greater honesty. I believe, like Mark Twain once said, it is impossible to pray a lie. I guess you can still lie but what's the point???? As I pray my mind clears more effectively and I am more honest about my role in my problems. I am able to focus honestly on my worries and concerns, my fears and my powerlessness. I am more able to recognize, by the spirit, stumbling blocks that impede my progress in returning to my Heavenly Father and overcoming my addictions. I also think that I am more likely to listen to and recognize the Spirit in helping me find answers to my prayers. And, perhaps the most important thing that happens is that I begin to recognize that I am powerless to do this alone and that I need to have the Lord's power, I need to put my life in harmony with His so that I am worthy for his power to heal me. I am better able to see me as I am, not as I tell myself I am, but the way the Lord sees me.

The Lord actually says He hates a LIAR. A liar is impossible to help. True progression is stopped. When I am honest I am not trying to "cover" my sins or pretend that I am something I am not. But, by honestly admitting who I really am (a beloved daughter of my Father in Heaven) I am also compelled to recognize behaviors that are not in harmony with who I am. And, as I have learned to be more honest I am learning how the power of the atonement can actually help me overcome the addictions and other behaviors that have kept me from being one with my Father in Heaven.

"Hungering and thirsting after righteousness." I think in a very real way that is simply wanting, searching, seeking, loving, and needing Heavenly Father over anyone or anything else. He is Righteousness. Righteousness is His name. When I am living in a way that places my will in subjection to His, as His Son did so beautifully, then I do what He did, love what He loves, hate what He hates, become as He is. I will also have His power come into my life to heal me and to fight my battles. And, he will lead me by the hand, to teach me, open my eyes, and bless me.