What Do You Need?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

Perceived needs are very relative.  For a toddler, it may be a beloved stuffed animal.  For an older child, it may be getting a new bicycle or computer game.  For a college student, it might be getting a coveted internship or entering into a romantic relationship.  

“In everything” covers the whole gamut of what we think we need and what we really, really want.  God wants us to come to Him with all of our requests.  Objectively, many of them may be less than crucial to our lives, but I don’t think any of us intentionally ask the Lord for foolish things.  In the moment they are important and I think God understands that.  

Good parents take into consideration the maturity level of their children when considering their requests.  When a three-year-old is begging for her stuffed bear that’s in the washer, Mom doesn’t say to her, “Oh grow up!  You don’t need that stupid bear!”  No, she takes her seriously, because to the child this is a crisis.  Years later she will laugh at the story her mother tells, but not now.  

As children of God, our Heavenly Father respects where we are in our spiritual maturity.  He does not demand from us adult thinking when we are still children.  And if truth be told, none of us will ever be spiritual grown-ups in this world.  Our requests, even as we grow older, still will often be rather immature if we look back from a heavenly perspective. Still, God will always be patient with us.  And, like a good parent, He will say “No” when He needs to in order to protect us from ourselves and our own ignorance.

Today, know that God wants to hear your requests, no matter what they are.  You are His child.  He will never turn you away or ridicule you.  So what do you need today?  He is waiting and listening.

© Jim Musser 2012