Day 7 (NEED)

Read Matthew 6:25-34

Why do we fear need so much?  Need is actually quite a privileged position. In fact, from God’s perspective our need is actually an opportunity; it is the stage upon which God demonstrates His faithfulness.

I know this very intimately. 

And I’m sure your life is like mine—very acquainted with need.  Every day some new need pops up.  And, of course, I complain.  But why? After all, history has shown me when I look back upon my life, the moments that I most brag about God are those moments that I saw God at work in the midst of my need.  Those are the times when I learned to trust Him more. 

So, Aaron, why do you keep complaining when you experience need?  Why don’t you just start rejoicing whenever a need comes along? 

Can you imagine if the next time you had a need in your life, you jumped up and down and said, “Halleluiah! Now I get to see the faithfulness of God!  I can’t wait!” 

If only! 

I know you know as well as I do that God isn’t going to abandon us.  So why then do we always think the opposite?  Who is it that is whispering in our ear, saying, “Oh no… this time it’s going to be bad.  This time things will be different.  This time God might not come through.” 

Yeah… we know who that is.

So don’t listen to him. 

Let the rest of the world think that way.  You think like a Christian.  Isn’t that what Jesus said?  “The heathens think this way… they are the ones who worry about what they will wear or what they will eat.  But you … you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”  Don’t behave like a heathen, behave like a Christian.  God knows your need, before you even realized your need.  He is not taken off guard when you get that little letter in the mail that declares a some new need–a new bill you can’t pay or some other catastrophe. God doesn’t panic in that moment so neither should you. 

Seek ye first…

Faith is realizing the super abundant generosity of God concerning your greatest need.  Death is coming for all of us and that’s because of sin. THAT’S A CATASTROPHE!!! Death is forever!  Unless the one who has power over death changes things for us.  And the absolutely, incredibly good news of the Gospel is just that—God has in Jesus Christ! 

Some thoughts to ponder:

• While the Gospel can’t pay our bills, how does it affect the way we handle the various needs we have in life? 

• How does worrying about our needs paralyze us as children of God and our service to the Lord?

Prayer starters:

• Lord, I don’t always understand why You allow trouble to assail me.  I exhaust so much energy worrying about things that You already have in hand.  On the needs and issues that I can address give me strength and wisdom to do so in a godly manner.  In the things that I have no strength or power to address, give me faith to trust You. 

• In the face of disappointment, discouragement, and anger help me turn to You, O Lord.  You are the one who has brought me out of bondage to sin and death, what other chains can possibly harm me? 

• Father, You have not given me a spirit of timidity—of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear—but You have given me a Spirit of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Amen.