Jesus doesn’t give you what you need; Jesus IS what you need. He alone can fill your hungry heart; delight yourself in Him.

The Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:35-40 (NIV)

REFLECTION

Jesus doesn’t give you what you need; Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him, for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world, but without Jesus, you will never be completely satisfied.

If there is a growing discontent deep inside your heart—a hunger that hasn’t been completely satisfied by the people, pleasures, parties, material things, or accomplishments—today is the day to open your heart to the idea that it is Jesus that you were made for. But you have to walk away from “less,” and ask Him to become your “more.” Jesus is enough for you, and He is here.

MEDITATION

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel

The mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O Branch if Jesse’s stem,

Unto your own and rescue them!

From depths of hell your people save,

And give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.*

PRAYER

Father, You alone know how hard I have searched for satisfaction in the people and things of this world. But they are broken, and I am too. You alone can fill my hungry heart. You alone have the love that is like no other. You never change. Open my eyes today. Show me Your riches and glory. Help me know You more. Let me see the feast of You that is set before me, so I may delight myself in you alone. Amen.

*Latin, c. 12^th century. Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Koln, 1710.  Translated by John Mason Neale, 1818-1866, alt. Stanzas 1 & 4