I write about Stuff

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” —Philippians 1:9 NLT

Most afternoons, long before dinner is ready, I can feel the hunger rising. It’s that familiar three‑o’clock ache that makes me glance at the clock and count the hours until the meal I’ve prepared. And in that waiting, the temptation comes—just a little something to hold me over. Something quick. Something easy. Something that promises satisfaction but never truly delivers.

But I’ve learned this: when I fill myself with what doesn’t nourish me, I lose my appetite for what will.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. There are habits, places, and even relationships that quietly dull our hunger for God. They don’t always look dangerous on the surface, but they slowly numb our desire for the things that truly give life. They shrink our appetite for prayer, Scripture, worship, and growth. They leave us full—but not fed.

And then there are people whose lives stir something holy in us. They don’t preach at us or posture as spiritual experts. They simply live with a kind of steady, radiant faith that awakens our own longing for Jesus. Being near them feels like standing beside a warm fire—you can’t help but lean in.

Paul prayed that our love would “overflow more and more,” that we would keep growing in knowledge and understanding. Growth is the expectation, not the exception. There is always more to learn, more to surrender, more to discover in God’s Word. A mother knows this instinctively—how growth happens in layers, seasons, and small faithful steps. And spiritually, we are no different. We grow as we stay hungry.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Hunger is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign of life. The moment we decide we’re satisfied—arms folded, heart settled—we stop growing. But childlike faith keeps reaching, keeps learning, keeps stretching toward the One who nourishes us.

So stay hungry. Stay thirsty. Refuse to settle for spiritual snacks that dull your desire for God. As long as you have breath, keep leaning into the slow, beautiful work of becoming more like Jesus. He will meet you there—and He will fill you.

What about you?