Seeking God, or what God gives?

First, let’s clear something up, because people get nervous here: it isn’t wrong to bring your needs to God. He invites it. Jesus told us to ask. Most of the Psalms are someone asking. A prayer request isn’t a sign that your faith is shallow.

The question is a different one. It’s whether the relationship ends at what you want to receive.

Two prayers

Say these out loud and feel the difference:

• “God, I need you to help me with this.”
• “God, I need You.”

The first one is good. The second one is where the first is meant to lead. When our prayers only ever sound like the first, God turns into a vending machine we visit when something runs out, and it’s no wonder we feel far from Him in between.

A man who almost left

Psalm 73 is written by someone who nearly walked away from God, and his reason was about gifts. He looked around and saw the arrogant doing well: healthy, comfortable, untroubled. And he’d kept himself pure for nothing, as far as he could see. My feet nearly stumbled.

Then something changed. He went into God’s presence, and he saw things differently. And by the end of the psalm, here’s where he lands:

Scripture — Psalm 73:25–26, 28 (OTB)

Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth, I desire nothing besides You. My flesh and my heart may falter, But God remains the strength of my heart and my portion forever. … But as for me, it is good to be near God; I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge, That I may tell of all Your deeds.

He didn’t get what the others had. He got God, and found that was the better portion.

What is your portion?

A portion is your share, the thing you end up with. Most of us, if we’re honest, have been treating God as the way to get our portion: health, a job, answered prayers. The psalmist says God is the portion.

You don’t get there by pretending you don’t want anything. You get there by coming near, and finding, as he did, that it is good to be near God.

Recite this

It is good to be near God.

Try it this week

Pray the second prayer once a day this week, by itself, with nothing attached: “God, I need You.” Then, if you have requests, bring them too. Notice whether anything changes.

I will start on ________________, and I will tell ________________ how it went.