What do you do if you’re hungry? Do you just wait for some food to come to you? Do you hope that maybe something tasty will drop into your lap? If you’re like most people, probably not. You’d likely get up and seek out something. But it’s doubtful that you’ll walk into the kitchen and find a complete meal on the counter, ready to eat. You may have to forage around, looking in the cupboards, the refrigerator, or the freezer, as you locate the ingredients for a decent lunch.

What if you’re missing a crucial component of your meal? I can’t imagine that you’d just expect that food to show up at your front door. You might even make a quick trip to the store to pick up whatever you need.

So now what do you do, once everything is together? Wave a magic wand over the items? Stare at them, waiting for them to spontaneously transform into a delicious dish? Hardly. You’d probably start pulling out the appropriate tools – pans, bowls, utensils, and maybe a recipe – and prepare your meal.

What about your spiritual hunger? Do you just wait for God to drop something good into your life? Do you pull out a devotional and read a couple of paragraphs, expecting to be fulfilled? Do you have a regular schedule for feeding your spirit? Or do you just pop in for a few moments with the Lord, akin to grabbing a cereal bar, as you head out on your way?

If we are going to feed our souls in a way that satisfies, equips, and matures us, we have to put forth effort. We have to pull out the tool (His word) He’s given us.  We have to give of our time. There is no substitute when it comes to our relationship with God. We can’t know His direction in our lives if we don’t know Him. We can’t know Him unless we spend time with Him and in His word – both quantity and quality matter.

Regardless of how busy your life is, you need the nourishment of time spent before the Lord – in His word and in prayer. If you’re not spending regular time with Him, block out some time each day. Whether it’s the same time every day, or it varies based upon your schedule, make your time with Him a priority. Only then will you be filled and satisfied spiritually.