“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”  Isaiah 55:1-2

I love the annual celebration of Thanksgiving!

But Thanksgiving isn’t the only time of the year when we find ourselves looking for more. In many areas of life, we face similar longings and desires. However, the more we feed these appetites, the more they seem to grow. What would life look like if we could finally be filled? Satisfied once and for all to the very depths of our hearts, to the deepest longings of our souls? How different would life be? What would your relationships look like if you lived truly satisfied?

Each year at Thanksgiving there is much to be enjoyed: family, football, shopping – and food. Everybody’s traditions vary, but one thing is certain, there will be food and lots of it.

In our family, the Thanksgiving meal leaves us so full that we feel like we may never eat again. Our bellies are full, and we feel stuffed to satisfaction! But at some point after the Thanksgiving feast, the same thing always happens; we become hungry again. That stuffed feeling subsides, and we venture back into the kitchen looking for more to eat.

Well, I have good news. We can be filled. We can be satisfied. In fact, God has wired us to long for satisfaction and fulfillment. You see, the appetite is not the problem. The meal is the problem. The food and drink we hope will quench our appetite only leave us empty and longing for more. Yet, we continue on this path – looking for satisfaction in temporary pleasures instead of recognizing that only God can meet this need.

Is this you today? Perhaps you call yourself a Christian, but if you’re really being honest –  you are still looking for satisfaction. You’re doing your own thing and pursuing satisfaction in things other than God. Let today be the day that you turn back to Jesus. Let this be the day when you look to the only One who can truly quench the appetite of your soul. Acknowledge your need for the Savior and come back to true joy and satisfaction that is only found in Him.

How’s your Thanksgiving gratitude?

May this Thanksgiving fill you with gratitude, joy, and lots of good food!

Adapted from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church

DIG DEEPER

Read “The Beginning of Gratitude” by Jonathan Munson