September 18th, 2026
by Paul Cypert
by Paul Cypert
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”. Matthew 5.
Jesus was describing a satiable human need that He called blessed. Being hungry and thirsty for union with the triune God…
The rightness of ‘as it should be’ one with Him and myself and as much as possible with those around me.
I’ve gone to bed hungry a few times. Left the fields of our small family farm headed to the house dying of thirst.
Better yet, In the world I grew up in, drinking water during football practice was considered not manly. At the close of each practice the team huddled together. Got a pep talk or an exhortation. Then the huddle phenomena would occur. As the speech wound down, everyone began to posture and inch themselves into position so that once dismissed they could make a mad dash towards the northwest corner of the field house. Awaiting was a faucet and water hose. Cold clear water!
I didn’t play football after my freshman year but as my friends tell it, some of the best fist fights that they ever witnessed were on the way to that water hose as people vied for position - dragged each other down, and threw punches at each other going for a drink water. The coaches were football savvy but didn’t have a clue concerning the human body’s need for hydration. Although, they seemed to relish and enjoy the water wars. Maybe character building? Or, perhaps just football coaches.
I have this friend who is a big man. Played College football with some guys that went to the NFL. He is super strong. We were on a fishing trip for trout with friends. It just so happened the trip coincided with a Bill Bright of Campus Crusades for Christ led 40 day fast. Fasting and praying for the nation and revival. I was all in! Both the fishing trip and the fast. I had my gallon of a squeezed lemon, teaspoon of maple syrup, a dash of cayenne pepper distilled water. I was many days into the fast.
On one particular day the fishing trip included a shore lunch. Our guide pulled the boat over set up shop and made lunch along the banks of the White River in northern Arkansas.
They said it was really good. I will never know. What I did know was that my friend was munching on some barbecued potato chips. The x-large bag of chips looked small in his hand as he grasped them somewhat possessively. He was munching and talking away. And as they say in my neck of the High Plains it flung a craving on me. I thought and I have no idea why I thought this; there is no man including him that could keep me from physically taking that bag of chips if I really wanted them.
Granted, I was a bit delusional, no alot delusional from hunger and as I walked off into the woods to talk to the Almighty and avoid people eating their lunch. I thought to myself it is good to be hungry, it is good to pray, it is good to know Jesus in this way.
And then, the moment of fierce empowerment passed but not the hunger. Realizing that if I acted on my thoughts it would not end well for me. I repented from the desire to do bodily harm to folks over a bag of chips. I sensed His presence and love for me as I rejoined my friends, laughed and smiled at the small talk and the big one that got away.
That moment there all along the river bank reminded me of a song,
Psalm 42, 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
All deep and genuine spirituality begins here: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”. Are you hungry and thirsty my friends?
And they ask, “Where is your God?”
Well, he’s in my heart. And my heart is full!
Let Nothing Disturb You,
Paul
Jesus was describing a satiable human need that He called blessed. Being hungry and thirsty for union with the triune God…
The rightness of ‘as it should be’ one with Him and myself and as much as possible with those around me.
I’ve gone to bed hungry a few times. Left the fields of our small family farm headed to the house dying of thirst.
Better yet, In the world I grew up in, drinking water during football practice was considered not manly. At the close of each practice the team huddled together. Got a pep talk or an exhortation. Then the huddle phenomena would occur. As the speech wound down, everyone began to posture and inch themselves into position so that once dismissed they could make a mad dash towards the northwest corner of the field house. Awaiting was a faucet and water hose. Cold clear water!
I didn’t play football after my freshman year but as my friends tell it, some of the best fist fights that they ever witnessed were on the way to that water hose as people vied for position - dragged each other down, and threw punches at each other going for a drink water. The coaches were football savvy but didn’t have a clue concerning the human body’s need for hydration. Although, they seemed to relish and enjoy the water wars. Maybe character building? Or, perhaps just football coaches.
I have this friend who is a big man. Played College football with some guys that went to the NFL. He is super strong. We were on a fishing trip for trout with friends. It just so happened the trip coincided with a Bill Bright of Campus Crusades for Christ led 40 day fast. Fasting and praying for the nation and revival. I was all in! Both the fishing trip and the fast. I had my gallon of a squeezed lemon, teaspoon of maple syrup, a dash of cayenne pepper distilled water. I was many days into the fast.
On one particular day the fishing trip included a shore lunch. Our guide pulled the boat over set up shop and made lunch along the banks of the White River in northern Arkansas.
They said it was really good. I will never know. What I did know was that my friend was munching on some barbecued potato chips. The x-large bag of chips looked small in his hand as he grasped them somewhat possessively. He was munching and talking away. And as they say in my neck of the High Plains it flung a craving on me. I thought and I have no idea why I thought this; there is no man including him that could keep me from physically taking that bag of chips if I really wanted them.
Granted, I was a bit delusional, no alot delusional from hunger and as I walked off into the woods to talk to the Almighty and avoid people eating their lunch. I thought to myself it is good to be hungry, it is good to pray, it is good to know Jesus in this way.
And then, the moment of fierce empowerment passed but not the hunger. Realizing that if I acted on my thoughts it would not end well for me. I repented from the desire to do bodily harm to folks over a bag of chips. I sensed His presence and love for me as I rejoined my friends, laughed and smiled at the small talk and the big one that got away.
That moment there all along the river bank reminded me of a song,
Psalm 42, 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
All deep and genuine spirituality begins here: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”. Are you hungry and thirsty my friends?
And they ask, “Where is your God?”
Well, he’s in my heart. And my heart is full!
Let Nothing Disturb You,
Paul
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