N is for Needs - 13 Prayers

This is my latest post in the 2019 series Prayer A to Z. You can find the others here.

N is for Needs–

Be a sheep.

Sheep are goofy. They can’t meet their own needs without help. The summers I spent at my grandparents’ farm in New Mexico included a flock of sheep behind the house. All day they would graze on the grass around the pond. But at least twice a day we were told to go out and get the sheep TO the pond to drink. You see, to the sheep, the pond wasn’t there. It was a hill. It didn’t matter that they’d been up that hill earlier in the day and found water. At that moment, it was just a hill. The circular pond sat in the bottom of a dirt “bowl” and couldn’t be seen from the ground below. (not by sheep or child)

I, of course, could at least remember the water was there. But it always amazed me that those sheep couldn’t remember where the water was. Some even resented being forced up the steep hill – until they saw the water. Once the first one saw it, it would call to the others below and our chore became much easier.

Why be a sheep?

Because I want you to be dependent on God. Psalm 23:1 says, “Because the LORD is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” Let Him provide the water and the pasture – even if He has to lead you there every single day.

Which needs?

Every one! In Phil. 4:19, it says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” And in Psalm 34:9 we are told to “fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!” No. This doesn’t mean to tremble in terror at the thought of God. This fear is an awe — a reverence, and understanding and acute respect for His mighty power.

He knows what your needs are.

If we have this respectful fear of God, we shouldn’t worry about Him meeting our needs. “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we wear?’ for the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

If God knows my need, why pray?

Because Jesus told us to. Right there in the model prayer, Jesus says, “Give us this day our daily bread. ” He’s praying for an earthly need. So, he’s telling us to pray for our earthly needs.

Do your part

In Mal. 3:10, it tells us God Said to put Him to the test and see if He won’t open the windows of Heaven for us and “pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” There’s just one more thing… You have to take the whole verse.

It starts with… “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.”

A tithe is an act of obedient giving. Ten percent off the top of your income to support God’s work. You give your 10% and God will ensure your 90% will be more than enough to meet your needs.

I know. You may think your budget is so tight that you can’t afford to give 10% to God. But I promise He will see you through. I’ve seen Him do amazing things with money. Hubby and I are Oklahoma school teachers (AKA very modest income). But when we started making our tithe a priority, the blessings were obvious. It’s all part of being a dependent sheep and letting the shepherd guide you. Don’t be stubborn.

Father God, thank You for knowing and meeting all my needs and then blessing me with so many things that I take for granted. I thank you for the beauty of nature and the graceful tones of music – neither of which I “need” for survival, but they certainly add to my existence. Help us to set aside each stray anxiety and know that you’ll take care of us and lead us back to what we truly need.