All That I Need Is In Him

You are born helpless and needy, being totally dependent on nurturance from others. In fact, God has created you with a deep need that can never be satisfied until you turn to Him. One of His Names is El Shaddai, which means: God, the All-Sufficient One.

The Lord woke me up today with a jolt. Regardless of how well you know the Word and want to obey it, it’s not always easy to follow through, isn’t it? What do you do when the rent is due and you have nothing coming in, or when your spouse has been given a matter of days to live, the latter being my situation at the moment.

For weeks I’ve not been feeling up to par. My mind has had a hard time focusing, and I spent a lot of time at his bedside and in prayer. Whenever I did have a moment to myself, I felt an urgency to share God’s goodness with you, which is the ministry He has given me.

Because of my situation I felt it was all right to give in to feelings. After all, I wouldn’t expect anything from anyone else in similar circumstances. Nevertheless I had an emptiness deep inside, and felt that I was letting Him down.

But today He set me straight! I was reminded that He has given me:

“the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” (Isa. 50: 4)

Yes, I know that He wants me to encourage you. After all, if I encourage you in good times through His Word to overcome any situation, then I should be able to prove it in bad times! I know His Word, and have put it to the test time and time again.

Now I’m the one who is being put to the test. But, you know what? It works! It’s taking me out of the doldrums and I also know why. It’s not just about having faith, nor about whether or not He may be taking my Jack home soon. It doesn’t even have anything to do about grieving, loneliness or feelings. It’s all about Him and putting Him first!

He also reminded me that:

“He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2 Cor. 9: 6)

God’s Kingdom is all about sowing and reaping. If you have something to give, share it with a grateful heart! He cannot extract anything from nothing! You first need to give Him something to multiply, just like the young fellow with the two loaves and three fishes in the Gospel.

Before the Israelites were delivered, they had to first sacrifice an unblemished lamb. That supplied the blood which, when applied to the lintels of the door, saved their firstborns and freed them from slavery.

I have learned that when you’re in dire need of prayer, pray for others! It works! The Lord wants you to put your focus on Him instead of your circumstances, especially in dark times. Another secret to any breakthrough is to thank Him for all His goodness, and praise Him at all times. There is nothing like songs of praise to raise your spirits. He inhabits the praises of His people, (Ps. 22: 3) and to those who mourn, He provides:

“beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.” (Isa. 61: 3) Praise the Lord!