You’re probably familiar with Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, where He says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt. 5:6). Or Psalm 63:1, where David says, “God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.” But if you were honest, how long has it been since you hungered for the Word? Or eagerly sought it? Or gave up what you needed most in order to have more of it?

In our instant-gratification culture, we rarely feel this kind of hunger. We snack constantly on social media, news updates, or endless tasks and distractions until we feel full. But friend, that fullness isn’t real. It doesn’t satisfy. In fact, it dulls us. It numbs the very hunger that God wants us to feel for His Word.

We’ve got a hunger problem—or rather a fullness problem. Our lives are so packed and cluttered that we barely notice the empty place in our hearts that only God can fill. If we never feel the ache of real hunger, if we never experience longing in the quiet or the discomfort of waiting, we will never crave what is meant to nourish our souls. So, how do we prepare our hearts for the feast of God’s Word? 

Set the Table

Confession: I am easily distracted. If I have to go on a hunt for my Bible, notebook, or pens every day, I will undoubtedly end up doing an adjacent task (or eight) and not my Bible reading. One thing that I’ve found to be helpful is to keep all of my quiet time supplies in a little basket by my couch. That way everything is always in one place and ready to go. 

When it comes to Bible reading, preparing ahead of time can make all the difference. It’s like setting the table: just like you prepare for a meal by setting out plates, utensils, and the food itself, you can also prepare your environment for your time in the Word. Other ways you can set the table for your daily devotions could include:

  • Scheduling a consistent time and place for your Bible reading.
  • Downloading a focus app on your phone to keep you “locked out” of distractions for a few minutes.
  • Journaling your thoughts and questions as you go to keep your mind from wandering. 
  • Having a written plan for what you’re going to read for a certain period. 

The important thing is to recognize what hinders your ability to get into the Word and find creative ways to minimize those obstacles as much as possible. 

Of course, this isn’t always possible. You may have a husband or children you love but who often distract you during your Scripture reading. Or perhaps your job keeps you on-call for hours at a time so you never know how long you’ll actually get to spend in the Word. If this is the case, ask the Lord to help you focus for whatever moments you can and then give yourself grace when your quiet time may not have gone exactly as planned. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s creating an environment where you can savor even a single bite. 

Chew, Chew, Chew

A 2017 study published by the International System for Agricultural Science and Technology found that foods released more flavor when people chewed longer compared to people who chewed quickly and swallowed right away.1 The same is true with Scripture.

Oftentimes we can fall into the trap of thinking we need to read large portions of Scripture at once in order to get anything out of it, but that isn’t necessarily true. Even when you’re doing a quick read-through or surveying a passage, it’s important to slow down and find at least one phrase, verse, or idea to meditate or “chew” on. It’s hard for Scripture to sink down into your heart and life if you’re just rushing and not taking the time to really appreciate the richness of what God has set before you.

If your reading only consists of one or two verses, don’t feel discouraged. God’s Word doesn’t return void (Isa. 55:11). Even small portions can feed your soul deeply. It’s better to take a few bites and really digest them than to eat nothing at all.

Cultivate a Craving

But what if you take the time to set the table to savor God’s Word and you still don’t crave it? The solution isn’t to pull away from Scripture; spending less time with it won’t make your desire for it greater.

Instead, the real challenge is stepping back from the distractions that dull your hunger for what truly satisfies. It can take time to train your body to want more veggies than ice cream, just as it does to train your heart and mind to turn from lesser things and truly long for God’s Word.

Intentionality matters. When you’re willing to sacrifice even good things, you signal to your own cravings that something better is coming.
 

God’s Word is richer than any temporary pleasure, more nourishing than any fleeting distraction, and more enduring than the deepest craving. It offers a deeper nourishment, a truer joy, and a lasting satisfaction that nothing else can give. 

And here’s the hope: you don’t have to manufacture this craving on your own. You can ask the Lord to awaken in you a hunger for His Word. He delights to answer that prayer. He’ll help you to joyfully let go of lesser things and taste and see how His Word is always the better portion.

1 Luckett, Curtis R., and Han-Seok Seo, “The Effects of Both Chewing Rate and Chewing Duration on Temporal Flavor Perception,” Chemosensory Perception 10, no. 1 (2017): 13–22, accessed September 25, 2025, https://agris.fao.org/search/en/providers/122535/records/65dfd7587c7033e84bef4689.

Ready to cultivate your hunger for God’s Word? When you join the True Woman ’25 livestream (starting this Thursday!), you’ll be equipped through powerful teaching, heartfelt worship, and unforgettable moments in God’s presence. Be challenged to live surrendered as you behold the wonder of the Word.

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