I want to ask you to think about something: What do you require? Is there something you would name as a necessity?
What I mean is, what is it that you have to have every day? This isn’t a joke (like “I have to have my Dr. Pepper”). In all seriousness, some people have to have blood pressure medicine. Others have to have maintain certain diets. And I guess it’s safe to say we all have to have water, food, and sleep on a regular basis. These are necessities.
I thought about how important certain necessities are in the big scheme of things and I was reminded of one more…
“It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s word]. It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:22-26, Amplified).
God is a necessity.
As I looked up Lamentations this morning, reminded by the Holy Spirit that God’s compassions fail not, I was delighted to read this portion in the Amplified version. And I thought to myself, “…require Him by right of necessity…”?
Yes! Most definitely.
I’m at a place in my life (a good place) where I can wholeheartedly and unashamedly say, “I need God like I need water!” And believe me, my body lets me know when I need water because I often forget to drink my fair share. But in the same way, my spirit reminds me daily how much I need God. And if I’m honest, I am much better at fulfilling my need for God than I am for water. But I wouldn’t change that.
He is the strength of my life.
He is my portion forever. He is my light and my salvation. I could go on and on, but you get the point. And all the more, in these days that are increasingly evil, I’m so thankful His compassions fail not. I’m so grateful He is always as near as a whisper. I’m so glad He’s my strong tower in times of need. And I’m so humbled He calls me His own.
More than water? Yes. More than anything. Our life requires Him. God is our necessity.
Let us remember to thank God for all that He has blessed us with, and that His mercies are new every morning (not just once a year).
