Needs and wants

can be so muddled in my head

 

And, God, I pray to You

for that which I think I need

 

But really,

in this world of pain

of happiness

of joy and sorrow

 

only YOU really know what I need

 

It is not health

or prosperity

or well-being

as some may think

 

One thing is needed

 

Only ONE

 

It is to sit at Your feet

and listen

 

Only this is truly needed

 

All else is unmerited blessing

 

Cultivate contentment

in me

For Divine Vision

sees my singular need

 

– Susie Stewart

 

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

– Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!
Fear the Lord, you His godly people,
for those who fear Him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

– Psalm 34:8-10 (NLT)

 

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.

– Psalm 84:11 (NLT)

 

This is a comprehensive promise, and is such an assurance of the present comfort of the saints that, whatever they desire, and think they need, they may be sure that either Infinite Wisdom sees it is not good for them or Infinite Goodness will give it to them in due time.  Let it be our care to walk uprightly, and then let us trust God to give us everything that is good for us.

– Matthew Henry

 

“No good thing will He withheld,” but how is this true, when God oftentimes withholds riches and honors, and health of body from men, though they walk never so uprightly;  we may therefore know that honors and riches and bodily strength, are none of God’s good things; they are of the number of things indifferent which God bestows promiscuously upon the just and unjust, as the rain to fall and the sun to shine.  The good things of God are chiefly peace of conscience and the joy in the Holy Gost in this life;  fruition of God’s presence, and the vision of His blessed face in the next, and these good things God never bestows upon the wicked, never withholds from the godly, and they are all cast up in one sum where it is said, “Blessed are the pure in heart (and such are only they that walk uprightly) for they shall see God.”

– Charles H. Spurgeon

 

For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

– Matthew 5:45 (NLT)  

 

Photo by Andy Stewart