I say often that I crave Chipotle. I feel like if I don’t get it once a week I will get the shakes. I say I crave it and yet I have nothing on my son Hayden. In order to get today’s post you need to watch the following video. My son Hayden inspired this post. He does something almost every time we feed him. I can’t fully explain it with just words. Watch this to see what I experience multiple times a day…
My boy loves him some food. That’s anticipation. That’s craving. It’s like he starts hurting right before he eats. He acts like he’s starving. He loves the milk.
The Bible says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
The Bible tells us that we are to crave pure spiritual milk. To my understanding that spiritual milk is the Bible. So we are told to crave the Bible as if you can just crave something on command. 1, 2, 3, crave Chipotle! Did that work? For some of you it might of but for others of you just saying Chipotle doesn’t make you crave it. Similarly to this verse just reading that we should crave the Bible won’t make us crave it.
So the question is how do you crave the Bible?
Well, let me tell you how I crave Chipotle. I eat there. A lot. It took me three visits to Chipotle before I started liking it. The first couple of times I ate there I didn’t get it. The first couple of times I ate there I didn’t crave it. I kept going because people kept telling me how amazing it was. Something happened on the third visit. I found something that I loved and then I started craving it. That was 9 years ago. I now eat at Chipotle at least once a week. I crave it. I love it. I think about it. I talk about it. I miss it when I don’t eat it. It’s the same thing with the Bible.
Start digging in and reading the Bible and you will develop a hunger for it. Read it. Talk about it with others. Listen to someone teach it. Ask God to give you a desire for it. And then read it some more. The more you digest the Bible the more you get a craving for it. Here are some practical ways to start digesting the Bible…
- Write out a challenging or inspiring verse on a sticky note and put it somewhere so that you’ll see it often. Put it on the dashboard of your car, on your bathroom mirror, or on your refrigerator.
- Make time to talk about it. Whether this is a small group at a church or with a close friend, schedule out weekly time to talk about what you are digesting in the Bible.
- Pray and ask that God will help you crave it. Before you go to church ask God to speak to your heart. Then write down a verse or quote from your pastor and talk about it with someone that week.
- Make time to digest it. I eat three meals a day whether I need to or not. I don’t forget meals. I eat meals at the times when they should be ate. Breakfast time, lunch time, and dinner time. I don’t skip one of those times. Funny thing happens around one of those times I start craving food. I’ve trained my body to crave food around certain times of the day. It’s the same thing with the Bible. Before I go to work I spend ten to 15 minutes reading the Bible. I ask God to speak to my heart and then I read. I’ve been doing that for so long that now if I skip it I crave my time with God.
We need food to survive. Maybe that’s why the authors compare the Bible to food. Maybe when we don’t digest it we starve our spiritual selves. After watching my son Hayden crave milk I now get what it means to crave the Bible.
What food do you crave? What suggestions do you have for craving the Bible?Â
I’m craving me some Chipotle right now myself. The last time I was there was over a month ago. Before that is was several months. I love their carnitas in a bowl. You get more! 🙂 Love the analogy of craving Chipotle and the Word. In fact, time for me to get away from this media and have that time. Loved the vid of Hayden. have a great week Rob. And if we ever get to meet in person…chipotle it is!!
Bill, I ate there today for lunch. I had a chicken bowl and it was slap your momma good. Loved it.
The food that I crave the most is birthday cake. I seriously love it. And suggestions for craving the Bible…
Do it first thing. Before you even brush your teeth. Spend time with God and you’ll be forced to change. And forced to love it. It’s impossible to stay the same while in the presence of a holy God.
Okay I love that you put birthday cake. That is amazing. What is your favorite flavor of birthday cake? I mixed things up this year and had a pineapple upside down cake. It was good.
That is hilarious. He really loves to eat. LOL.
I crave Colombian food… well, I’m Colombian and I love me some native food. Thankfully I live in NYC and I can find any cultural food in my city. #win.
As far as craving the Bible. We have to desire the author and approach the Bible as sitting with God and Him talking to us. That has changed my perspective. And who doesn’t want to sit with God and talk?
We got a few nice Colombian restaurants down here in ATL. Just sayin’.
I’m sure, just like your pizza, your burgers, your chicken, (Chick Fill-a really?) and other stuff. It’s 87% weaker.
I’ve never had Colombian food. I wonder if we have any in VA?
Never been to Chipotle. At first I thought you were just referring to chipotle sauce. But, boy howdy do I crave coffee. Gotta have that first sip in the morning. Have a hard time starting the day without a mug nearby. Or is that more of an addiction?
You’re right that a routine is so important in ready God’s word. It’s amazing how simple it becomes once it becomes a routine rather than something forced. The day seems weird without it. Thanks for your thoughtful post.
Somebody needs to take you to Chipotle!! You are missing out
I agree Ryan!
Thanks for stopping by Josh. I feel like my day is jacked if I don’t read before work.
Thanks for stopping by. I feel like my day is jacked if I don’t read the Bible before work.
Hayden gives a vivid depiction of that verse. Coffee with vanilla creamer is my craving, first thing in the morning. Setting goals sometimes motivates my reading of the Bible. A goal might be to read a proverb or Psalm each day until I complete the book. It might be to read a chapter a day until I complete each of the 4 gospels, or any particular book of the Bible. At times, my goal has been to read the Old Testament or the New Testament, a chapter a day. The important thing is to let it speak to you. Digest it.
I agree. Digesting it is what’s important.
Loved the video. That was very funny. Also good thought about making regular time for Bible reading and study. Blessings.
Thanks Daniel!
Funny! I crave either Chipotle or Five Guys. Both are excellent!
About craving God’s word- sometimes I forget to simply ask God for that intense desire.
I love Five Guys! It’s great.
Wait…I’m so confused. You’re a real person?! I thought you were just one of those internet things!
You should legally change your name to robshep.com, even though my computer keeps autocorrecting it to robs hep.
Great idea. I can see it on my license now.
Great metaphor of how we should crave the word and the Lord! Thanks for the object lesson!
Thanks Tor!
I recently got over a chick fil a breakfast craving. Two of my cravings now (also my fiancee’s cravings which makes it dangerous) are Chili’s chips and salsa and cheese dogs from a local restaurant.
If only I ate spiritually like I ate physically! I like how you mentioned your 3 meals a day no matter what. My spiritual feeding is at best one meal a day. We’re starving ourselves!!
I love Chick-fil-A! They have great breakfast.
Fantastic! I can’t remember if I’ve ever ate Chipotle before, but there’s this little mexican restaurant that makes Taco Bell and Del Taco want to hide their Burritos.
A daily does of the Bible seems to sound good every time.
Ed, thanks for stopping by. What is the name of the mexican restaurant?
I loved seeing you in the video with your baby! So fun! I remember those feeding times of fussy followed by sheer bliss 🙂 I LOVE Chipotle! Their chips and guacamole is AMAZING. On my low calorie counting through myfitnesspal.com I counted out 16 chips and could have some guacamole too fo a special treat – they are both VERY HIGH in calories so I have to limit myself – but I have done it – and I lOVE it!!
Me too. My bowl is 15 Weight Watcher points. I love it but I have to skip the chips and salsa.
My latest craving is Sweet Frog, a frozen yogurt place in Hampton Roads area, if you’re in the 757 you have to check it out. Oh, you should know before you go it is self serve and they charge by weight at the end. So…if you find that it costs more for your family to eat dessert at sweet frog than it does for your entire dinner at your favorite mega-chain franchise casual family dining eatery…you probably got a little too much yogurt, try the medium cup next time and don’t let your kids pour their own, you know who you are 😉
For craving, how about creating a Pavlovian type association with your bible just like your kid has with food. Something like, before you read your bible you could take a really cold shower, but have some really comfy clothes warming up in the dryer, then when you get out of the really cold shower you put on your dryer warmed comfy clothes while reading your bible. This would create a positive mental association between your bible and warmth and comfort. See, easy right? Or I suppose if you want to take the easy way out just do like you say and read it daily 🙂
Monica and I love Sweet Frog. I like your idea. I think you should try it and let me know how it goes.
I love food. This post was a truth bomb wrapped in bacon.
Brynn, you are wicked awesome. I love that phrase, “truth bomb wrapped in bacon.”
Now I’m hungry.
I should read some Scripture…then eat some pizza.
Mmmm pizza. I love pizza. Had it for dinner.
Best decision I ever made was to buy an iPod Touch and download the Bible on it… and later now my Droid as well. It keeps me accountable, I have it with me at all times, and I read it more than I have in years. There are even times that I actually have trouble putting the Bible down. God bless technology… I mean, how many ways has God now used tech at all levels to send the Good News out into the world and allow believers to discuss, encourage and grow?
Awesome video. Trenton is one now, and anytime we open the cabinet in the kitchen where his food is kept, he comes un-glued! I love it, well when it’s not in the morning. Now, Chipotle. Rebecca is about three months pregnant now with numro 2, and her late night cravings have consisted of chipotle and buffalo wild wings! So glad women do not crave healthy food during this time…
SO cute! although, maybe if you put the bib on a bit looser, he wouldn’t scream? just sayin…
diet coke from a FOUNTAIN. corona w/lime in a BOTTLE. DARK chocolate. cupcakes. the TOP half. york peppermint patties–COLD.