“I have food to eat that you know nothing about… my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:32,34)

I still remember one of the lessons I taught to the NewLife Junior High kids way back when I was the youth pastor of the church. I played for them one of the simplest worship songs, and then encouraged them to change the words to make it more true to their heart and experience. The original song goes like this:

Lord, you are more precious than silver

Lord, you are more costly than gold

Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds

And nothing I desire compares with you

Once the lyrics were changed, they sounded something like this: 

Lord, you are more satisfying than chocolate

Lord, you are more awesome than N’Sync

Lord, you are more powerful than Batman

And nothing I desire compares with you

The results may have been comical at the time, but the heart of the lesson is very much the heart of discipleship, and especially the heart of fasting. This world is full of things that promise to satisfy us, to comfort us, to give our lives purpose and excitement. Think about it: when you are anxious, where do you turn? Food? Mindless scrolling? Sleep? Pornography? When you are craving excitement and stimulation, what do you run to? Drugs? Illicit relationships? Risky behavior? When you are sad, where do you give your attention? Alcohol? Netflix? Fond memories of the past?

The heart of discipleship is recognizing that whatever our hearts are craving or searching for find their answer in God. As some have said, there is a God-shaped hole inside all of us, and nothing in this world can fill it. Or, as Augustine put it, “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.”

Pay attention to where you turn when you are experiencing anxiety, sadness, craving, or other desires. What is it you believe those things will give you? What would it look like to turn to God instead, to declare to Him something like this:

Lord, you calm my anxiety more than ice cream

Lord, you lift me out of sadness better than alcohol

Lord, you fulfill my longings more than any other person could

And nothing I desire compares with you

Amen.