All We Need

You may have heard the phrase, “God is all I need.” And then you get to thinking, well, that’s not true. I need food, clothing, a place to sleep, money . . . . Yet, the biblical perspective includes those things in trusting God.

This is how it’s expressed in the Bible. The first time that comes to my mind is when the inheritance land was divvied up to the tribes of Israel. The Levites—the tribe of Levi, who served in the Tabernacle--weren’t given land at all. For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them (Joshua 14:3). Why? But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them. (Joshua 13:33). Wow! The Israelites didn’t get a land inheritance because God was their inheritance. You might think, yes, but  . . . . You’ll be glad to know that God fed and clothed them. Their every need was taken care of. The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them. (Deuteronomy 18:1-2). The Levites took care of keeping the Tabernacle as prescribed by the law, and God took care of their needs. Their whole lives had meaning because they served God. In exchange, God took care of them.

The psalmist David said, The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). The rest of the Psalm elaborates how God cares for us in every area of our lives, even through the worst times: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (verse 4). It continues with God’s protection, ending with, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (verse 6a). It’s a great Psalm to memorize. I hope we really believe it.

God is all we need. He promises to meet our needs.

Consider these verses:

• Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:8).
• (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things (Matthew 6:32).
• For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things (Luke 12:30).
• Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God (2 Corinthians 3:5).
• But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Do we believe this? I think it’s amazing how we limit God by our lack of faith. We don’t think He can do it—not because we don’t think He can—but because we don’t trust Him enough to do what He clearly says He will do. I think God understands our lack of faith, but He doesn’t appreciate it. He wants to be everything to us. He wants our trust and confidence.

Read these verses about how God wants us to love, trust, and obey Him with all our hearts. He doesn’t want halfway. He wants total commitment to Him.

• And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5).
• This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 26:16).
• And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 30:2).
• Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In return, God is a good Father to us. He provides for our needs. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11). Do you know what those “good things” are? Read the same story in Luke 11:13, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? The good gift is the Holy Spirit!

God becomes our Father when we accept Him in faith. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).

Which brings us back to the beginning. A Christian’s contentment is found in Jesus.

He is the:

• Messiah (Mark 8:29)
• Son of God (Luke 3:22)
• Bread of life and water of life (John 6:35 and following)
• Light of the world (John 8:12; 12:46)
• One who exists before Abraham (John 8:58)
• Door of the sheep (John 10:7, 9)
• Giver of abundant life (John 10:10)
• Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14)
• Resurrection and the Life (John 11:45)
• Master and Lord (John 13:13)
• Way (John 14:6)
• Truth (John 14:6)
• Life (John 14:6)
• True Vine (John 15:1, 5)
• Beginning and the end—the Alfa and Omega (Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13)

Jesus is all we need. Period. He is everything.

Let me share one more verse with you. Especially notice the end of it: 

Let your conversation (way of life) be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

(Hebrews 13:5)

Jesus is all we need.

Happiness in the Empty Nest

The children are gone.

I’ll never forget the feeling. I had traveled overseas with our son—our “baby”—and helped him get settled and into the dorms for his first year of college. We’d gotten him a driver’s license, opened a bank account, bought him clothes and school supplies, and now he was on campus. I flew back to Spain, and my husband met me at the airport. We spent a day in a pretty place between the airport and home, and then my new life started.

The empty nest.

The first thing I noticed was the silence. Deafening silence. No music, no motorcycles, no friends, no chatter. My husband is a quiet man, and he’d come in the room, and I’d be spooked.

At dinner, it was just him and me. I learned to prepare half the food I did before.

My husband likes me to be home when he’s home, and I was accustomed to driving our son here and there—to guitar lessons, to meet friends, etc. I got cabin fever.

 A total lifestyle readjustment.

We’ve been doing the empty nest for more than ten years. I’ve changed some things up. I’ve learned some things along the way. And, I am really enjoying being with my man again.

Let me share with you some of the things I’ve learned personally and from friends who have gone through the same adjustments.

Love your husband. When you married, he was your number one. Then, the kids came, and you were busy with them. Now they’re gone, and it’s time to rekindle the flame, treat him like royalty, and enjoy being together in a new "honeymoon."

• Cook for him.
• Give him undivided attention. Friends of ours share coffee in the morning and tea at night. They enjoy a time of prayer and devotions together. Get into a together routine that you couldn’t do when the kids were home.
• Enjoy being together. Since the kids left, we sometimes take an afternoon and go on a walk together. Sometimes, we take a picnic lunch and drive an hour away to see a place we’ve never visited before. Once a year, we go away for about 30-36 hours, an overnight holiday that leaves us refreshed. We shop for groceries together, do ministry together, and share our lives—just the two of us.

Let them go. I’m talking about the kids, of course. I figure they need to have the same freedom I was given: to get an education, grow up, and become independent. Our kids have done that, gotten married, and become parents themselves. We are thankful that we gave them the gift of independence. Having said that, we are still a very close family. We talk to both of our children at least once a week. We Skype with them, their spouses, and the grandchildren. We visit when we can, and they visit us when they can. But, we let them go. We allow their new family to be their family and make their own decisions. They will learn the same way we learned: by doing.

Get a life. There is life after children! Yes, it’s different, but now you have time to do some of the things you always dreamed of but didn’t have time for. In my case, I’ve started this blog and written two books. (One of them is published, His Ways, Your Walk. The other is a novel.) I also do some counseling, encouraging, and mentoring. I’m editing a book.

Practice contentment. I admit I had to ask God for it. Lord, please help me with the silence. Please help me overcome this cabin fever. Please help me be happy at home with my husband and give me a new vision for what I can do for You. And, you know what? I love the silence! I am happy at home. I enjoy this precious time of life with my husband. I have new ministries. The Apostle Paul said, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11).

I never knew the empty nest could be so full!

  Are you an empty nester? Please share what it's meant for you.