What separates those who experience profound encounters with God from those who merely attend meetings? It’s not intellect, not spiritual pedigree, not even years in the faith. It’s hunger; a desperate, unquenchable desire for God and what he can do.

Many believers today have settled into a routine faith. They go to services, join programs, and even serve in ministries, but they feel little of God’s presence. Their spiritual lives have stalled, driven more by habit than by passion. The key difference between this type of Christianity and one filled with ongoing encounters with God is not about knowing theology or being busy with religious activities, it’s about having a heart that longs for more.

Why do some believers seem to experience God so powerfully while others barely feel His presence? The answer lies not in God’s favoritism but in the intensity of our pursuit. Jesus taught this principle clearly:

Matthew 7:7
New King James Version

7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Notice the increasing intensity in these words—asking becomes seeking, which escalates to knocking. Each represents a greater level of hunger, a more determined pursuit.

The Scriptures are filled with examples of men and women whose hunger for God set them apart. Their stories challenge our complacency and invite us to a deeper pursuit.

Consider David, a man already uniquely blessed by God. He was anointed king, victorious in battle, and privileged to bring worship to new heights in Israel. He had access to the tabernacle, led worship, and even brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. By all accounts, David had attained spiritual success that most would envy. Yet he wasn’t satisfied.

Psalm 27:4
New King James Version

4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple”.

Despite all his spiritual experiences, David remained hungry, consumed by a singular passion to know God more intimately.

The greatest hindrance to a fresh encounter is being satisfied with the last one. David understood this truth. His hunger was never fully satisfied because he recognized that there was always more of God to experience, more depths to explore, more glory to behold.

Perhaps the greatest threat to our spiritual vitality isn’t sin or opposition but satisfaction, becoming content with our current level of experience with God. The church at Laodicea faced this very problem. Jesus warned them, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17 NKJV).

Today, as we prepare for Leaps and Bounds Abuja, we must stir up this hunger. But hunger isn’t something we can manufacture or fake. It must be cultivated. How can we cultivate this kind of desire?

1. Begin by meditating on God’s faithfulness in your life. As we approach Leaps and Bounds, take time to recount the ways God has moved in the previous meetings. Remember when the message brought transformation, or when His power manifested in answered prayers. These memories aren’t just testimonies—they’re seeds of expectation for what God will do at Leaps and Bounds Abuja. Let your testimonies fuel your expectations for the next meeting.



2. Create space for hunger to grow before Leaps and Bounds begins. In the days leading up to our special meeting, intentionally create margins in your schedule. We often arrive at such meetings distracted, our minds still racing with the day’s activities. This week, set aside dedicated quiet time to prepare your heart. Allow yourself to feel the hunger in your heart for more of God, so you come to Leaps and Bounds not just physically present but spiritually receptive. This preparation positions you to receive everything God has prepared for this special time together.



3. Finally, pray specifically for increased hunger for what God will do at Leaps and Bounds. In your prayer time this week, don’t just ask God to make the meeting “good” or “powerful”, ask Him to make you desperately hungry for everything He has prepared. Pray, “Lord, don’t let me miss a single thing you have for me at Leaps and Bounds. Make me dissatisfied with merely attending; I want to encounter You powerfully.” The measure of your hunger will likely determine the measure of your experience, so ask God to increase your spiritual appetite before you even arrive.



As we approach Leaps and Bounds Abuja, let us not come as spectators expecting to be entertained, but as desperate seekers expecting to encounter the living God. Prepare your hearts by cultivating a hunger that refuses to be satisfied with anything less than His manifest presence.

Like Jacob, who wrestled with God through the night, let us declare, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26 NKJV). That kind of hunger—persistent, resolute, and uncompromising, is what positions us for the profound encounters God longs to give us.

Prayer Point:
Father, create in me a hunger that cannot be satisfied by anything less than Your presence. Break my contentment with past experiences and ignite a fresh desire for everything You have prepared for us at Leaps and Bounds.