“Many Christians readily proclaim, ‘God is always there,’ but if they are pressed for an honest response, they will also admit, ‘I don’t always feel God. I’m not always aware of His presence with me.’ Too often this is true when we experience periods of intense neediness or when we truly confront our inner state of neediness for the first time.”- Dr. Charles F. Stanley
“Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”- 1 John 1:3 (NKJV)
Moving on to Chapter 4 (“His Presence”) of Can You Still Trust God?, Dr. Charles Stanley asks how content you are when you’re with the Lord. Above all, do you find yourself spending enough time with the Lord to fully delight in Him?
Therefore, Dr. Stanley encourages you to make the effort to get to know the Lord deeply, intimately. In a way that allows you to feel God’s heartbeat. To know God’s vast and eternal love. Hence, Dr. Stanley exhorts:
“Once a person truly gets to know the Lord, however, that person is going to discover that it is a delight to know the Lord. No times are sweeter than the times spent with Him. No times are more fulfilling, satisfying, or joyful than the times spent basking in His presence. . . . The person who delights himself in the Lord . . . will not want anything that might inhibit, hinder, stall, or interfere with his relationship with the Lord.”
In conclusion, Dr. Stanley refocuses on God’s need-making promise in Philippians 4:19: “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (NKJV).
Dr. Stanley notes two things about this section of Philippians:
- The apostle Paul certainly knew about need. For example, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians from a prison cell in Rome. Certainly, Paul knew that needs exist for us every day of our lives. We never outgrow our neediness or mature to the point we don’t have needs.
- Paul admitted his neediness. In addition, he shared what he learned about needs as well as how to deal with them.
Today’s question: What Scriptures encourage you during periods of intense neediness? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “True contentment – the hallmarks”
