Stuffed to the Brim!
Day 4—Don’t Delay: Obedience Is the Door to Freedom
Jehovah Nissi
The Banner of Belonging
Every army rallied under its own flag. When we stand beneath His name, we declare whose side we’re on. His banner marks us as His.
Obedience isn’t fighting for identity.
It’s standing under His name.
Psalm 119:81, 87 (NASB2020)
“My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not abandon Your precepts.”
When Hunger Drives You
I was a star athlete as a child—mostly in my own mind.
Because I lacked love at home, I craved attention anywhere I could find it. In fact, I was starving for it. Thankfully, sports became my outlet. Snow, ice, rain—none of it mattered. I practiced endlessly because I wanted to be great—but ultimately, deep down, I wanted attention and acceptance.
When greatness came, it was addicting—but never satisfying.
After winning at the highest level possible, A.J. Brown famously said,
“I tried to feel how everyone made it seem to be a champion, and unfortunately it was short-lived... two days to be exact. I thought my hard work would be justified by winning it all. It wasn’t.”
I am sure you can relate. It’s not just about football or the applause. It’s about the soul. And when you can understand the Who behind the soul, obedience allows you to live life to the full.
When Winning Isn’t Enough
The reason the world doesn’t satisfy is simple.
We weren’t made to be filled by it.
Could you imagine if we were—how much more death there would be because that thing is everything we think we need?
Every human soul is wired with a hunger that only God can satisfy. The psalmist says, “My soul languishes for Your salvation.” That word languish means to long, to ache, to grow faint with desire. It’s not weakness—it’s worship.
Without hunger, we’d have no need for God to fill us.
Without longing, we’d have no reason to linger in His presence.
The psalmist teaches that longing itself is a gift—an invitation to deeper fellowship.
When God Becomes the Goal
You can chase applause, success, or even ministry impact, but they all eventually dry up. Only one well never runs dry.
When you thirst for Him—as the deer pants for streams of water—you’ll find yourself by the riverbed, drinking deeply. And once you’ve tasted the Living Water, no earthly reward can compare.
Thirst for Him. Let Him fill you. Then walk out all He’s filled you with—in every place you reside.
Never Finished Challenge
Take five minutes today to sit in silence before God.
Pray this:
“Lord, awaken hunger in me again. Strip away every false filler—comfort, distraction, or success—and let my soul ache only for You.”
Then read Psalm 42:1–2 and Psalm 119:81 out loud.
Write one word that describes how your soul is hungering today—and one way you’ll let Him fill it.
What does today say about God?
Provider.
I remember receiving—and still to this day receive—many gifts.
Each one of you, through your generosity (God working through you), has reminded me of His divine and eternal provision.
He holds everything we need to live fully—on earth and in heaven.
The gifts He gives don’t expire, and they don’t just quench thirst. They transform roots.
They send life-giving blood to the right places in the body.
They make sense of every footstep.
These are gifts He thought about before the world was spoken into existence.
What a Provider.
What a Father.
What a King.
Thank You, Jesus.
Share the mana
If this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that God still leads from the front. My prayer is that these words would awaken and strengthen your relationship with Him.
See you Saturday for Day 5, LIVE, in our series “Don’t Delay: Obedience Is the Door to Freedom.”