I need so much right now. It’s easy to look around in this season and see the needs around me. My need for finances, kitchen ware, winter tires, community, prayer, even my emotional need for things like the ability to process what the heck is going on. Not to mention my need to re-adjust to Canadian culture, and let’s not forget my BIG need to get fully funded by November 15th.
As “big” as these needs are they are not “My Great Need”. So what is “My Great Need”? You’ve probably guessed it by now. God. He is my great need. Hear me out though allow me unpack this a little bit more.
I just had a full weekend of ministry at the “body Soul, Spirit expo” a place full of people seeking spiritual answers. From tarot card readers, to alchemists, alternative medicine experts, and psychics they were all there. Their booths often boasted a banner of the person’s face, with catch phrases, and big promises for a “small” price.
Then there was us.Twenty five or so Christ following believers. With our free booth, offering nothing more than a few free words from Jesus.
I share this with you because I learned a powerful lesson this weekend about my great need for God, and a timely reminder of where I came from.
I want you to understand over the course of the weekend we were with people from all different walks. Witchcraft, alchemist’s, alternative medicine experts,the broken hearted, the proud, the religious, those with physical ailments, and emotional hurts we saw it all this weekend. Yet they all found themselves at our booth encountering God in unique and beautiful ways. All these people have tried various different ailments for life, some had even tried Jesus before, but walked far, far away. Yet here they were in front of me willing to hear what he had to say.
Then a beautiful thing happened, God spoke to each and every person in beautiful, unique and touching ways. The proud, old, young, religious, spiritual all people trying “their own path, their own way”. One such beautiful soul had an attempted suicide attempt on September 30th, but came in, tensed shoulders and their guard up. After a few minutes of hearing what God had to say, they found themselves grabbing tissue because they couldn’t believe the incredible things our heavenly Father had to say about that specific situation, and them. I was able to first hand share that message with this person, I witnessed Jesus take the burdens off their shoulders, and speak healing into their heart over the course of about 30 minutes.
With tears rolling out of their eyes this person shared that they have had a heavy heart of guilt, and shame surrounding that dark night, not knowing how much it had affected their family. Regretting not only their decision but their very life, lost confused and heavy is how they entered the “Jesus” booth. Light hearted, loved, understood and known by the Father is how they left, with a beginning to a beautiful healing journey and an understanding of their identity. We went so deep, so far, so fast with this complete stranger because The Holy Spirit was our guide and all 30+ minutes of it was incredible!
So much healing happened in that booth, with revelations about identity, value and God’s heart towards individuals. People left seeing God in a whole new way, it was honestly a dream come true for me to see so many people begin to walking in freedom and healing, all from a few minutes with Jesus.
And to think I get a lifetime with him! In fact I am 1,300 days into an eternity with him! Not because I am good, or earned it, but because he is good, and freely offered it to me! That is what unconditional love looks like.
But back to my point. There is so much hurt, pain and suffering in this world, and to be anything aside from an “okay” person takes a daily dose of what so many experienced this weekend. God. So many people argue they can be good without God, sure maybe occasionally when the mood strikes you,maybe you can even be mature in a tough situation, and if you’re honest with yourself, probably only because it makes you look good.
However to live anything aside from a selfish life requires maintenance. We all have talents, abilities and aspects that are “good” or reflect God’s goodness, but we would be fools to think that we can maintain (not to mention grow) that without spending time with goodness itself!
Life hurts, relationships fall apart, people…wait even I do reckless stuff. Without him I fall apart! Without him I grow ever increasingly selfish, without him pains turn into hurts, hurts turn into wounds, wounds into bitterness and resentment, which then grows into anger and unrighteousness. Which is exactly where God found me.
That was exactly the point I gave up and submitted to God. There he was, willing and eagerly waiting to heal my heart, if only I would give it to him. He took that seemingly worthless, shattered, black heart, and then he did a beautiful thing.
To quote Zechariah 3:3-4 “ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him. “ Take off his filthy clothes” Then he said to Joshua “See I have taken away your filthy clothes and I will put fine garments on you”.
Wow can you imagine yourself in that story! That is exactly what he has done with my heart. Life has hurts, mistakes, pains, trials, tribulations, and bad things disguised as good things, but my God has a healing touch, and a truthful word that will guide me through it all. So yes I have a lot of needs, desires, and cares at this stage of life, but none of this comes even close to my need for his greatness. He is truly“My Great Need”.
