We all have an appetite, a desire, to fill a need be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. An appetite is normal and healthy and reminds us to work toward getting the things we need. It also encourages us to receive the things we need to continue functioning. However, our appetites don’t always desire what is best or consider the cost of what it desires. Many of the sins we wrestle with originate from an unhealthy or unrighteous appetite. Appetites themselves are not wrong, but they can be influenced and manipulated. God gave us an appetite to continue to look to Him for the provision and work toward filling our needs. Yet, the ideas of indulgence, excess, and immorality creep in, and lustful appetites try to take over and set the agenda. These lustful appetites cause us to seek things beyond the boundaries of righteousness, leading us to consume that which leads to unhealthy, disease-inducing, oppressive states of being.
Freedom is doing what we ought to do- and not doing what we ought not to do. - Tony Evans
A change in appetite usually starts with restlessness and boredom with what is being provided. As the Israelites were making their way to the promised land, they got bored with the provision of manna that God provided each day from the sky (excluding the Sabbath). They began to desire to go back to Egypt in bondage to eat the food they received from merciless masters. Their appetites for something different rather than something blessed and sustaining caused them to desire rebellion and bondage over freedom and relationship with God. Our flesh and the world will continuously tell us what we should want and what we should have. It tells us we should deserve more than God provides and should want different than He mandates. It tells us God's menu does not offer what we want and our appetite should determine how we live and move and not our God (Acts 17:28). Appetite is a reminder, a motivation, but it should never become our purpose or god to appease. Our desire can be manipulated and changed through advertisement and repetition. The more we consider or are confronted with a thing, the more it can take root in our souls, giving way to sin. James 1:15 “These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
Our sinful appetites will lead us to disobedience by convincing us that what God has given is not enough. It will argue that what God is offering is subpar to the pleasure and feeling of achievement that this world, the lust of our flesh, and the promise of Satan can give. Satan encouraged Adam and Eve not to be satisfied with the love and provision God had given. This seed of sinful desires morphed into a distrust of the wisdom and boundaries of God. The enemy encouraged them to be ungrateful and indifferent to the blessing of God, discrediting the value of what they had and then place before them a glittery alternative. We are encouraged in all things to give thanks, remembering, and being grateful for who God is and all that He provides (1Thess 5:16-18.) Thankless and ungrateful hearts plow the ground for sinful appetites to be seeded and grow into rebellion and unrighteous thinking and living. Paul admonishes us in Galatians 5:16 to “let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” At times, our appetites may be convincing and loud, but they should never be given the wheel to drive and guide our lives. The position of guide belongs to the Holy Spirit, our comforter, our intercessor, our empowerment to display God’s character and to do His will.
Lord helps us to maintain a heart of gratitude and praise realizing and honoring Who You are and all that You. May our mouths and hearts be filled with thanksgiving for all that You provide. In our commit to resist unrighteous and unhealthy appetites be with us and strengthen our resolve. May we lean on Your Spirit to be kept and be guided in our times of struggle. Lord help us to be conquerors over our appetites continuously casting them down, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Exercise Your freedom in Christ.
Daily, choose to do what needs to be done. Being careful to avoid those things that would draw you into bad habits or mindsets. Avoidance is not cowardly and setting boundaries is not weak but wise, when you know the areas of temptation in your life. Our appetites can be strong voices in our heads, but we must continue to walk in freedom letting the voice of God take precedent. We must refuse to let unrighteous desires lead us into bondage and lesser living.
Encouraging Verses:
2 Corinthians 3:17 "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
Titus 2:12,14 "We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God"..."He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."