Thursday, January 29, 2015

"My Hope and Stay"

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! 
Matthew 5:3

Poor in Spirit describes someone who is spiritually helpless, someone in desperate need of God. It's an absolute confession that I am nothing and can do nothing apart from Christ. 


This verse, the first beatitude, keeps bringing to mind the song "Lord I Need You." 


It says, 

"Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here, I find my rest
Without You, I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You
Oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense
My righteousness
Oh, God how I need You

Where sin runs deep
Your grace is more
Where grace is found, is where You are
Where You are, Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You
Oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense
My righteousness
Oh, God how I need You

Teach my song
To rise to you
When temptation comes my way,
When I cannot stand
I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay"

{LORD I NEED YOU lyrics by Matt Maher}
{My favorite version right now can be found HERE.}

No matter what is going on, on good days when life couldn't be better and on bad days when things look bleak and everything seems to be going wrong may I still remember my desperate need for God. I can only be filled with Him when I acknowledge my need for Him when I am poor in spirit. 

It's absolutely the opposite from what I want to believe. I want to believe I can do it; I have everything under control and that I have no need. But, in my soul, I know better.....

He is my rest, the one who guides my heart, my defense, my righteousness, my grace, my freedom, my hope and my stay. Thank you Jesus. 



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Oh Ashley, I want God to save me from ever thinking anything other than the fact that I NEED Him. I don't want to suppress that truth. Can I just ask Him to keep me ?