The Satisfied Soul: 5 Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "The Satisfied Soul" by Pastor Lindsey Greene Upshaw

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: The Root of Our Hunger

Based on the Message: "The Satisfied Soul" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" - Psalm 42:1-2

Devotional: Have you ever craved something so intensely that nothing else would satisfy? Maybe it was your favorite comfort food, a relationship, or even an achievement. We all experience hunger, not just physical, but spiritual and emotional as well. These cravings often have deeper roots than we realize. Our spiritual appetites are shaped by many factors: family patterns passed through generations, emotional wounds seeking comfort, and our inherent human nature that longs for fulfillment. Just as scientists distinguish between hunger from genuine need (homeostatic hunger) and hunger for pleasure (hedonistic hunger), we spiritually hunger both for what we truly need and for what only feels good in the moment. The problem is that we often try to satisfy our soul’s deepest longings with things that can never truly fill us. We reach for temporary pleasures, relationships, achievements, or substances—anything to quiet the ache within. But these solutions are like eating cotton candy when our bodies need nourishment. They provide a momentary sweetness but leave us emptier than before. God understands this hunger better than we do. He created us with a longing that only He can satisfy. When we recognize the root of our hunger—that we were made for relationship with Him—we can begin to seek true satisfaction.

Quote: " All of us have a hunger we're trying to satisfy, whether it's with alcohol, women, men, or achievement. But my love, I want to tell you, God wants to satisfy your hunger." - Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: What temporary satisfactions have you been pursuing that consistently leave you feeling empty? Can you identify the deeper hunger beneath those cravings?

Prayer: Father, help me recognize the true source of my hunger. Show me where I've been seeking satisfaction in things that cannot fulfill me. Create in me a deeper longing for You, the only One who can truly satisfy my soul. Amen.

Day 2: The Bread That Satisfies

Based on the Message: "The Satisfied Soul" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst.'" - John 6:35

Devotional: We live in a world of endless options promising to satisfy our deepest longings. New products, experiences, relationships—all claiming to be the answer to our emptiness. Yet somehow, we remain hungry. Jesus made an extraordinary claim that cuts through all these empty promises. He declared Himself to be the Bread of Life—not just another option among many, but the only true source of satisfaction for our souls. Unlike physical bread that temporarily satisfies before hunger returns, Jesus offers lasting fulfillment. When we try to satisfy our spiritual hunger with anything else, we're essentially choosing fast food over a feast. We might feel momentarily full, but soon find ourselves empty again, often craving even more than before. God's perspective on satisfaction differs from ours. While we focus on immediate gratification, God works from an eternal perspective. He's concerned with developing our character, transforming our desires, and satisfying the debt of sin we could never pay ourselves. His satisfaction addresses our eternal need to come back into right relationship with Him. Choosing God's satisfaction requires decisions— to choose to make Him Lord and to choose to come to Him with your hunger. It means turning away from quick fixes and temporary pleasures to embrace a relationship that truly nourishes our souls. It means trusting that God's way, though sometimes challenging, leads to eternal life and genuine fulfillment.

Quote: "We say, "God,You can do exceedingly and abundantly, but not in this area, so I'm going to take care of it myself." But you need to know that your God is big enough, strong enough, high enough, wide enough, and deep enough to satisfy that desire, that longing, that need, that deep, deep hunger in your soul."- Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: What area of your life are you still trying to satisfy through your own means rather than surrendering it to God? What keeps you from fully trusting Him with this need?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Bread of Life. Forgive me for the times I've sought satisfaction elsewhere. Today, I choose You over temporary pleasures. Satisfy the deepest longings of my heart as only You can do. Amen.

Day 3: Choosing God's Satisfaction

Based on the Message: "The Satisfied Soul" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." - Matthew 5:6

Devotional: Every day presents us with countless choices about how we'll satisfy our deepest longings. These decisions might seem small in the moment—what we'll watch, who we'll spend time with, how we'll cope with stress—but they shape the direction of our spiritual lives. God offers us satisfaction that's fundamentally different from what the world provides. His way often contradicts our natural inclinations. Choosing God's satisfaction means making deliberate decisions, sometimes moment by moment. It means saying no to things that promise quick fulfillment but leave us empty, and yes to the God who truly satisfies. This choice isn't a one-time decision but a daily commitment to hunger for righteousness rather than temporary pleasures. The beautiful promise is that when we hunger and thirst for righteousness—for God's way rather than our own—we will be satisfied. Not with the fleeting satisfaction of worldly pleasures, but with the deep, abiding fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with our Creator's design. This satisfaction remains even when circumstances are difficult, because it's rooted in who God is, not in changing conditions.

Quote: "God's satisfaction is different than our satisfaction. The expectations, needs and desires of God are different than your expectations, needs and desires. But His way is better."- Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: What specific choice can you make today that demonstrates you're choosing God's satisfaction over temporary pleasure? What might this decision cost you, and what might it gain you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, strengthen my resolve to choose You over temporary satisfactions. When I'm tempted to fill my hunger with things that don't truly satisfy, remind me of Your promise that those who hunger for righteousness will be filled. Help me make choices today that reflect my trust in Your better way. Amen.

Day 4: Cleansing Your Spiritual Palate

Based on the Message: "The Satisfied Soul" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

Devotional: Our taste buds can be trained. Anyone who has ever given up sugar knows the initial struggle followed by a remarkable shift—suddenly, fruits taste sweeter and processed foods overwhelmingly sweet. Our spiritual appetites work similarly. What we have been introduced to and eat consistently shapes what we crave. Many of us have developed spiritual taste buds conditioned by unhealthy influences. Perhaps childhood experiences, past wounds, or simply years of consuming worldly values have shaped what our souls hunger for. These influences can make righteousness seem bland while sin appears enticing. God invites us to cleanse our spiritual palates—to retrain our souls to hunger for what truly satisfies. This cleansing process involves intentionally limiting our intake of things that create unhealthy cravings while increasing our consumption of God's word, prayer, and worship. We must also examine what enters our minds through our eyes and ears. The media we consume, conversations we engage in, and thoughts we dwell on all shape our spiritual appetites. When we fill ourselves with content that glorifies values contrary to God's, we shouldn't be surprised when our souls crave things that leave us empty. The good news is that our souls were designed for righteousness. When we begin to cleanse our spiritual palates, we discover that what God offers isn't just good for us—it's what we most deeply desire.

Quote: "Let's be honest. We don't always hunger and thirst for righteousness. How do we cleanse our palate? If you need to fast, fast. If you need to pray, pray. If you need to repent, repent." - Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: What specific inputs (media, relationships, habits) might be training your soul to hunger for things that don't satisfy? What one change could you make this week to begin cleansing your spiritual palate?

Prayer: Lord, show me where I've been feeding my soul with things that create unhealthy cravings. Help me to be intentional about what I allow into my mind through my eyes and ears. Cleanse my spiritual palate so that I hunger for righteousness and find true satisfaction in You. Amen.

Day 5: The Satisfied Soul

Based on the Message: "The Satisfied Soul" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"My soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation." - Psalm 35:9

Devotional: What does a truly satisfied soul look like? In a world where dissatisfaction drives much of our behavior—from consumer purchases to relationship choices—the picture of genuine soul satisfaction stands in stark contrast. A satisfied soul is first and foremost restored. Through Christ, we're redeemed and made whole, no longer defined by our past failures or wounds. This restoration frees us to live from a place of fullness rather than lack. A satisfied soul is also self-aware. It recognizes its own hunger signals and understands their root causes. Rather than mindlessly responding to cravings, it discerns between genuine needs and unhealthy desires, bringing both to God for His provision and healing. Perhaps most distinctively, a satisfied soul rejoices—not because circumstances are perfect, but because it has found the source of true joy. Like Mary, who proclaimed her soul's exaltation in God despite facing an uncertain and challenging future, the satisfied soul can rejoice even amid difficulty. This satisfaction doesn't mean we never experience hunger or desire. Rather, it means we've found the true source of fulfillment and keep returning to it. We still face struggles and temptations, but we approach them from a place of fundamental satisfaction in Christ rather than desperate emptiness. God invites each of us into this deep soul satisfaction—not as a distant possibility, but as God's very present call to be deeply loved by Him.

Quote: "You know how you want your summer body to look like, but what does your summer soul look like? A satisfied soul looks restored, loves God, is consecrated, rests in Jesus, is self-aware, and rejoices."- Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: Which aspect of the satisfied soul do you find most challenging to experience consistently: being restored, becoming self-aware, or rejoicing despite circumstances? What might God be inviting you to surrender in order to experience greater satisfaction in Him?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You desire my soul to be satisfied in You. Help me to live as one whose soul is truly full—restored by Your grace, aware of my true needs, and rejoicing in Your goodness regardless of my circumstances. May my life reflect the reality that You alone satisfy the deepest longings of my heart. Amen.