There are words I hope to never hear again.

Words that claim tragedy, loss, sadness – and in my life, among these words that bear bad news and birth bad memories and shatter worlds are these:

“I’m not hungry.”

I’m serious. How can 3 words from 2 little ginger children wreak so much havoc on my life?

I make a nice, simple dinner. I planned it. I went to the store and chose every ingredient intentionally (OK . . . I had the groceries delivered . . .), so how can you look at this delicious plate of food – night after night – and say “I’m not hungry.”

Of course, they really mean, “I want pizza”, or “I want cookies”. It’s not that they aren’t hungry, it’s that they don’t want to eat what I’m offering. They want what they want.

If I let them refuse over and over again, they would not thrive, and eventually die from lack of nutrients. We need food to live.

I lose my appetite when I’m sick. Everything just sounds gross.

I had a friend who cared for an elderly family member who was in the final stages of her life. When I would ask how she was doing, the response would usually include, “We are just trying to get her to eat something.”

The closer we get to death, the less we want to eat.

I wonder if this is true in our spiritual lives too.

They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door. Psalm 107:18 (NLT)

Knocking on death’s door.

There are seasons I am hungry for time with Jesus. I can’t get enough of the Scriptures. I run toward the voice of God at every opportunity.

Then, there are the seasons – and I bet you have them too – when the hunger just isn’t there; when I lose my appetite.

I don’t often consider those seasons dangerous ones immediately, but maybe I should. Loss of appetite is a sign of sickness – or as with my kids, just flat rebellion, which leads to the same place.

I wonder how long many of us have been spiritually sick, but have been refusing treatment for our illness.

How long have you seen the symptoms of a lack of God in your life, but passed over them claiming, “It will get better . . . sometimes, it just feels this way”?

Spiritual apathy isn’t a virus that just comes and goes, it’s a chronic infection. It won’t just get better on it’s own.

When I become spiritually apathetic, the last thing I want to do naturally is spend time with Jesus – but the only thing that will bring me healing is to consume more of Him.

Maybe you’re not hungry – eat anyway.(John 6:35)
Maybe you’re not thirsty – drink water anyway.(John 4:10)
Maybe you’re not tired – rest anyway.(Matthew 11:28-29)

Maybe you don’t feel like it . . . well, of course you don’t – you’re not well.

• Read the scriptures, and be filled with the Bread of Life
• Return the the well of experience to remember what Christ has done in your life
• Set right the priority in your life and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you before you pour anything else out
• Receive the medicine regularly of good teaching and strong accountability
• Listen to music that fills your soul with truth
• Write down how you are feeling, so you can understand what God is saying to you
• Talk to a friend about where you are at and how you can help each other grow
• Refuse to stay apathetic

Consider this your prescription. You can fill it at the feet of Jesus at any moment.

He’s been waiting for you with unending supply.