Lord, You're All I Need
Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20 ). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: ". . . I have called you friends . . ." ( John 15:15 ). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away . . ." ( John 16:7 ). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4 ).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
This devotion has been really helpful to me. Hope it would bless. I hope to talk about it in my next entry. Hopefully. But, in the meantime, consider these. Have we been like the disciples who knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and bring revival? Or do we truly have a close intimacy with the Savior, our Friend? Do we know Him? We so often have seen His blessings, and know His Word, but do you really know Jesus Christ intimately? “The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control.” Oh, I really love this line a lot. A Christian who truly is intimate with Jesus, shows evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control!
Lord, You're All I Need
Off' times i've tried to live my life according to my will
When darkness comes its difficult to rest and just be still
But Lord You are my Shepherd that guides me in the way
and I will learn this glorious truth if I your word obey
You're all I need, You're the Lord of everything
You're all I need, this is why I humbling sing
Your strength is sustaining, and your graces made me free
You're my heart's lone desire, You're all I need
By wanting more, I've wanted less than all you've given me
You've gave Your all by laying down your life at calvary
So I surrender all of, my best to you I give
And thank you now, for giving me, a reason to live
You're all I need, You're the Lord of everything
You're all I need, this is why I humbling sing
Your strength is sustaining and your graces made me free
You're my heart's lone desire You're all I need
More than enough, You're all I need!
I've never really understood this song, up till now. When I just encountered it, on my mp3 player. Its just like a song written, just for me in the situation that I am in now. Ok, I'll tell you more later about it. But for now, I feel strongly that I need to address this issue about blogging. For myself, as well as maybe others who might be going through the same situation as me.
Its been God's revelation to me, I guess, that I found out that the purpose behind a Christian's blog that proclaims to be God-pleasing, ought to be so in every aspect. We truly must watch our motives and intentions even behind every single entry. I believe that many a times, I've been guilty of this myself. By claiming that I want to edify and encourage through this blog, I myself had unknowingly or sometimes, knowingly, fallen into the temptation of seeking to draw attention to self. Its very, common. Humans, as us, are sinful and I think by confessing our sins, and making right both with God, and with Christian brothers and sisters is perhaphs the right thing to do. Its not that all my entries are, just that some maybe. Anyway, we have really to be watching out motives and intentions behind every entry. I have to be wary too now! The purpose of every Christian's blog, ought to glorify God. Only when we see God reflected in a blog, and not the person himself or herself, then we can truly say that this blog has been glorifying to God. Sometimes, we tend to use blogs, though not intentionally, but unintentionally, use blogs to "show-off". And I believe that shouldnt be the case. Well, as you can guess, many things that I said, I sometimes am guilty of them too! But I believe that now, I should really weight and watch whatever I post. Even if going into prayer, before embarking on an entry is helpful! I found it helpful many times, when the Spirit leads and guides me to express myself. And by praying, we can really be sure that we are not, unknowingly, drawing attention to ourselves. Prayer helped me alot in many of my entries. Do not post for the sake of posting, I've realised that many times we do. Unless we have something really interesting to share, edifying and encouraging, then I suggest we should keep a personal diary. Ha. By allowing public viewing of blogs, I believe we have to be discerning to what we say or write, that it should not disqualify us from the prize, that it should not be stumbling to anyone, that it will encourage and edify. Yes, the two key words, encouarge and edify. We should always bear in mind that whatever we say, we should follow what Ephesians 4:29 suggests. Let no corrupt communicating proceed out of your mouths, but what is useful, that it might impart grace to its hearers. We ought to remember that whatever we say, we should be speaking in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, that which to mean, edify. So, with all these in mind. I think you will expect me to blog less, yes, sadly. Haha. But I believe what is important is that each entry will edify and encouage. Expect to see me testify of GOD'S FAITHFULNESS and GOODNESS. Notice the caps difference. Because I really hope that no one may see a human behind all these, but only see God's goodness in my life, that truly, glory be to God and God alone. Expect me to be praying for the Spirit's guidance in every entry. (: It may sound so, ermm, exaggerated. However, I think its my own conviction. The Lord has shown me that I should change, and I will. So, let each seek God and come out with their own convictions on what to do, and what not to do. Don't follow for the sake of following, but follow God because He has convicted and shown you so. Yeah?
Anyway, you maybe guessing what the song was for? Lord, You're all I need. I truly thank God, and I really mean thank God, that He has worked miraculously, softened my dad's heart and allowed me to go for one church activity per week. Well, really thank Him! Oh well. Its because the day before, my dad just agreed to let me go for both sat and sun. But, when he broke the news to me that I can only choose one, I still felt so thankful. I must really learn to be contented. God is truly faithful. In a sense that, when dad told me so, God showed me immediately that moment that its His will, and not only did He just show me, He provided peace, peace that surpasses alllll understanding to teach me to trust Him. I want, I really want to testify of God's faithfulness. I actually thought it wouldnt be such a good idea to blog about this again, because it was also after thinking about whether I should blog about this that God revealed to me about how I should blog. But I prayed, I asked God that if He allowed me to testify only of His faithfulness and share on what I feel about this. And I really hope, that you will look into this, and understand that God, has been sooooo good to me! God has taught me two things. (:
1st: That I should be far sighted instead of focusing on satisfying my own desire now. The Lord has shown me, that I shouldnt always be looking at temporal things. Like cannot go for youth activities, yea? I should, however, be looking ahead, far ahead and try to picture His perfect will. As I had shared before, that whenever trial comes, if we should endure through it, we are surely to see Romans 8:28 being fulfilled and see God bless a child who honors Him and follows Him faithfully. Yes. I can now see, through God's eyes, what might be install for me in my situation. God is indeed refining me. He is refining my testimony so that His Spirit can use this sword, as a weapon, to break down strongholds of the enemy, as such, my dad's heart. And I truly believe that God will honor those who honor Him. God will someday, cause my dad to see how obedient I am to Him, and also to my dad, and someday dad will come to realise how God has shaped me.
2nd: I also shared this before! Haha. That if we knew 3 things, or even two things. Firstly that God is all-knowing, and seconldy, that God loves us, we should never ever ever ever doubt His will. Really. Its very logical. If God knows everything, from the beginning to the end, if He planned everystep of our life, and He loves us soo much to give His son to die for our sins, why can't we trust that God does what is best for us? I believe God has taught me that by choosing His way, instead of trying to figure ways out to "lie" or "sneak" out to church, He has a life filled with joy, blessings and peace ready for me. Consider these, joy, blessings and peace. These are things not attainable through man's own strength. But God is ready to give to those who will follow Him! I know also that if I were to try on my own strength, to go against His will for any reason, I will be filled with grief, guilt, sorrow and anger. Nothing that I would want to have.
And what the song teaches me. It teaches me and reiterate that God, alone is more than enough for me! God is all I need, in this life! Isnt that great. Ps 23: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Indeed, to hve God the creator of heavens and earth as my personal shepherd, I shall be contented with whatever life holds for me. Though the moutains fall to the center of the sea, though the world caves in on me, I will still be contented. Because, simply, He's all I need, all I'll ever need!
