Hello friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks.
Welcome to day 11 of Towards the Light,
An Advent Journey.
And today I'd like to talk to you a little bit about discerning true needs.
It's a season that invites us to pause and to take stock,
Not just of what fills our lives,
But also of what truly sustains our lives.
Advent's a time to reflect on the difference between what we want and what we need,
And to open our hearts to the provision of God.
In Matthew 6,
Verses 31 and 32,
Matthew records Jesus speaking in the Sermon of the Mount in these famous words.
He says,
So do not worry,
Saying,
What shall we eat,
Or what shall we drink,
Or what shall we wear?
For the pagans run after all these things,
And God knows that you need them.
Now this isn't a call to ignore the practicalities of life,
But it is an invitation to trust,
To believe that God sees and provides for our deepest needs.
So what are those true needs for you this Advent?
Perhaps it's the need for peace in a restless heart,
Or maybe the need for hope in a season that this year feels particularly heavy.
In Philippians 4,
Verse 9,
Paul reassures us,
Writing,
My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
But to experience that,
We first need to discern what we're truly asking for.
The beautiful Anne Lamott writes that one of the most profound prayers we can pray is simply help.
It's a humble and honest acknowledgement of our need for God's grace.
Help.
In saying it,
We admit that our strength alone isn't enough,
And we turn our eyes towards the One who provides not just what we want,
But more importantly,
What we deeply need.
So take a moment to reflect today.
What are you truly hungry for this Advent?
Not in a material sense,
But spiritually or emotionally.
Where is there a longing in you that only God can fill?
And as you carry those questions into the day,
May you have the courage to name your deepest need before God.
May you trust that God sees your need and is already at work to meet it.
May you rest in the promise of divine sufficiency,
Knowing that God's provision will always be enough.
And may you find clarity as you seek first the kingdom of God and God's way of doing and being in the world,
Discovering all else falls into place when we come into alignment with those things.
I invite you today too to maybe take time to write down a need that you want to bring before God in prayer.
Make that prayer or that confession or even cry for help one that you place your trust inviting God into the space where only divine love can truly satisfy.
And may grace,
Peace and that satisfying divine love be with you all the way through the day.
Amen.
Grace and peace,
My friend.
We'll see you tomorrow for day 12.
Bye for now.
