Day 3 | Revealing With Dulls My Appetite

As we pray and fast with a focus on our hunger for God, ask yourself the question, what dulls my appetite for God? I know that many times I think of the obvious like tv, movies, social media, news, etc. But I believe one of the most dangerous areas of our lives are the reasons we don’t recognize as easily.

Pastor Dave talked about this passage but I want us to read it again. Luke 14:16-20 says, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’”

Notice the three reasons these different men gave for not being able to come to the banquet. One was his new land. One was his new oxen. And another his wife. God is the one who gave the land. God is the one who gave the oxen. God gave the bride. So it begs the question, shouldn’t we be good stewards of what God has given us? Absolutely. Scripture clearly teaches that. But these gifts from God should never replace us enjoying the presence of God. Sin creeps in and will take the gifts and responsibilities that God has given us and will turn them into reasons why we avoid God or do not pursue Him the same. It is a subtle idolatry that we rarely notice.

As you fast and pray this week, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the subtle things in your life that dull your appetite for God. Repent and ask God for forgiveness for allowing the gifts he has given you to replace your relationship with him. And ask God to give you a hunger for him over anything else. May your appetite for God be a starvation that is only satisfied in His presence.

Pastor Jericho Toilolo