We Need God

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

When my children were growing up, I remember hearing other parents say, “I just want to raise my children to be independent.” While I understand that it’s important for children to grow up and be able to take care of their own needs, I began to think about what it means to be “independent.” 

The dictionary defines the word independent as:

1. not depending on another’s authority

2. not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence

3. not connected with another or with each other

4. not depending on something else for strength or effectiveness

When I read this definition, I realized that I am not at all an independent human being. While I can make my own decisions, earn my own income, and basically do whatever I want as long as the law will allow, I am completely and utterly dependent on God. At the age of 23, I came face to face with my desperate need for God. Although I was “Independent” by all appearances, I was helpless as a kitten on the inside. My independence gave me a false sense of security. My world could fall apart at any minute, and there would be nothing I could do about it.

In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him.” The realization of my need for God changed my life forever. Since that day, I depend on God’s authority. I depend on His provision. I desperately need to be connected to Him and to His family of believers. I depend on Him for my strength and effectiveness.

When my children were born, I decided that I was not going to raise them to be independent but to raise them to go from being dependent on me to being dependent on God because God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him.