“The RoseBouquet”

I was looking at the Lord’s Prayer in my devotional time. It is considered a perfect prototype for how we should pray. It openly asks God for daily bread, a symbol over all time for food. We all need to eat on a daily basis. Some need to eat less than they are, but a bit of food each day keeps us alive. Jesus seems to be indicating here that we ought to ask for even this daily food in our prayers to God.

We often think it is up to us to provide for the basic standard of living in our country, and if we want anything fantastic over and above that, then - yes, we ought to ask God for that miraculous addition. That is not thinking like God.

I suppose the reason people resist asking God for their daily and most common felt needs and wants is because it implies a dependency on Him. They really don’t want to be so beholden to Him for everything.

Have you ever made a list of your true needs vs. your desires? What do you need to survive and what would be nice to have, but is not crucial to your well-being?

I’m about to do this for myself. Maybe you’d like to do your lists at the same time. If so, sit down, we’ll work on this together.

Let’s consider our Needs first. We’ve just had our first one suggested to us; daily food. Not all the treats and junk food most North Americans eat, but just basic food groups, some fruit and vegetables, and bread and water will keep us alive.

As winter draws nearer I am well aware that we need a home, and some basic ways of heating it. (It is possible here in Canada to freeze to death inside a house).

For similar reasons we need warm clothing. This reminds me that it is okay to pray for a parka and good boots here. In other parts of the world they may only need enough cloth to cover themselves for decency’s sake.

For our emotional health we need at least one or two family and friends to love and encourage us. Don’t you agree? Let’s put family and friends on our Needs list.

The Bible says that he who doesn’t provide for his family is an infidel, so if we are in a position of needing to bring in an income for these basics, it should certainly be necessary to have a job, or means of income. So let’s add job/income to that list.

Ah, one need is for our spiritual health! We need to know the gospel, and be taught in the Bible, so in my heart I’m convinced a Bible and a church to attend is vital too.

Can you think of anything else? Let’s look over our list.

Needs
~~~~~~
daily food
home (with heat in some places)
warm clothing
job/income
Bible/church

I’m sure as individuals we could add more items to that list. That is a bare bones list. If I am to refine my list and add another one with things I’d like to have, but don’t have to have, it might look like this;

Believe me, I could spend more time and add more to these lists, but I’m mainly trying to set a good example, so you can prepare your own lists, and take them to the Lord. From personal experience I can say that you will have some lovely surprises! The important thing is to know whom we really should ask for these things

If you like you can share your lists with me; I might learn from them.