When you daydream about your life, what’s on your list of desires? A first draft islikely to include wishes for things like a nicer home, a newer car, or a better-payingjob. Maybe you’d add travel, adventures, or more time and money to develop your interests.
Go a littledeeper for a second draft, and you’re apt to list more intangible things like happiness, freedom, love, good relationships, and health — and the same for your loved ones.
Dig further still, and your list is bound to grow more abstract, reflecting the deepestneeds of your heart. The truth is, when it gets down to this level, we probablyall have the same list. And it includes a craving for such things as unshakeablepeace, inner rest, sustaining joy,meaningful purpose, and consistent security. We want hope no matter what’sgoing on. To be fully known and accepted despite the worst parts of us. Lovedjust as we are.
For many people,it might be hard even to acknowledge these abstract deep desires, fearing thattheir needs, once admitted, will go unmet, and then what? This image-driven,critical, fallen world can’t deliver what we crave most.
As Believers,we know there is good news. The Bible assures us that God can meet the mostprofound needs in our lives. In fact, it claims that He has already given usmany of them. It began on Mount Sinai.
Some 50 days afterthe children of Abraham left Egypt, on the date He later designated as theFeast of Shavuot, Jewish tradition holds that God gave us the Torah at MountSinai. The word Torah means “law” or “instruction,” and as such, for MessianicJewish Believers, Shavuot is a time to celebrate the gift of God’s Word in itsentirety — Old and New Testaments. Shavuotcommemorates a biblical feast that changed our relationship with God. God wantsus to know Him, and He gave us His Word to reveal who He is. Shavuot is alsothe time to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, given on the Feast ofShavuot after Yeshua (Jesus) died and rose from the dead.
The Bible isthe most important book ever written — because it is alive with God’s HolySpirit. Infused with the very Spirit of God, the Bible has the power to changeour lives. God’s Word guides us, comforts, encourages, and assures us. It showsus that God is the one who has both the power and perfect love to meet ourdeepest needs and desires.
Let’s take alook at how reading — and rereading — God’s Word can touch those places of needlike nothing else can. We encourage you to look up these verses and even readthem aloud. Scripture teaches that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by theWord of God. And the bigger our faith in God, the more He helps us experiencethe things we want most out of life.
Here’s a taste of what the Bible reveals about some of the greatestlongings in our lives and how God meets them.
It’s all in God’s Word. He is in His Word. In meeting Him there, we lay hold of His gifts that meet our deepest needs.
If you struggle to read God’s Word regularly, here are some ideas that may help.
Which of these ideas fits you best? Try out different ones, or come up with something that suits you better. Get in the Word consistently, and discover the riches of God waiting for you there!
“My God will fulfill every need of yours according to the riches of His glory in Messiah Yeshua” (Philippians 4:19).
When is “not-enough” enough? When the Lord steps in and makes up the difference.
Purim is a festive time recounting a fascinating chain of events in Israel’s history. Learn the story of Purim while taking away spiritual insights to encourage your life today in “10 Things to Know about Purim.”
