2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Isaiah 14-16 GW; Revelation 7 GW; Psalms 23 GW
God provides needs, not wants.
“Though None Go With Me” by Jerry B. Jenkins impacted my life. Elizabeth Grace Leroi devotes her life to Jesus at an early age. Almost immediately, disaster strikes. Over and over, she endures heartbreaking tribulations. Loss of her young love, death of her husband and Son, drug addict daughter, heartache described her life best. Yet, each time, she trusted God amid her pain. Elizabeth never got what she wanted, but she always had what she needed. At the end of the fictional book, God’s grace and mercy throughout each tragedy become evident. But only in hindsight can you see God’s workings.
Sometimes, God doesn’t seem to provide for our needs. However, the problem lies with our expectations of “needs.” Just because I think I “need” something doesn’t mean I do. The one who knows the difference best is our heavenly Father. Divine vision gives God the best view.
Needs trump wants.
“What I like about camping, it makes me appreciate home.” Ron said after a recent camping trip. We love spending our weekends in nature, but they make us appreciate the creature comforts found at home. Our bed seems softer, the shower hotter, and the house warmer. Living without helps you understand what you have.
Having a place to sleep, protected from the elements, is a gift from God. You don’t need a mansion to find shelter from the storm. We want the villa; we need the tent.
“Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20 NASB)
And in case you forgot, Jesus didn’t live in a house. Sandals were the only covering for our Saviour’s feet when He walked the earth. God’s Son didn’t have a driver’s license. Our definition of needs and God’s differ.
God provides your needs, not wants.
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Lord, thank You for providing for our needs. Forgive us for getting wants and needs confused. Help us remember, Jesus didn’t cling to material things; He clung to You. As we move through our day, let us hold tightly to You. Give us what we need, not what we want. Help us know the difference. IJNIP. Amen
Question for reflection
What want are you confusing for need?
