Ben's Benediction

Prayers for What We and Others Need, the final message in the series, "Can you Hear Me, God?"

Dear Church Family and Friends,  

When we think of what constitutes a need, the definition can get muddy real fast. There are felt needs, emotional needs, physical needs, and ultimately spiritual needs. Needs differ on stage of life, location, profession, and economic status. God's Word spends no time asking the question of what constitutes a "real" need and calls everyone to pray and to give glory to God in all circumstances.

God cares about every need of his creation he prioritizes our ultimate need of unity in Him in grace through faith in Jesus. He is delighted to answer needful prayers for ourselves or others that aim toward that end. However, not all of our "needs" reflect that purpose and often our needful prayers are aimed to leverage God to fulfill our purposes. God is gracious with us and will lead us in toward what is best even when we don't see it or when we have to be dragged kicking and screaming.

Humbling lives and our needs before him in the knowledge that he is working all things toward the good will give us strength and peace when things seem to be going all wrong. When you pray for your own needs and others needs, what purpose do your needs reflect? His purpose or yours?

Love and prayers,
Ben