Recognizing Our True Needs in the Season of Wants

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Our Deepest Need for God

True blessing comes when we acknowledge our spiritual poverty and our need for God above all else. When we reach the end of our own strength and admit our dependence on Him, we open ourselves to the fullness of His kingdom in our lives. This recognition is not about feeling weak or ashamed, but about embracing the reality that we cannot do life on our own. In God’s economy, humility and need are not liabilities—they are the very doorway to His presence and peace. As you reflect today, consider where you might be trying to meet your own needs apart from God, and how admitting your need could lead to a deeper experience of His kingdom. [15:00]

Matthew 5:3 (ESV)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most resist admitting your need for God, and what would it look like to bring that need honestly before Him today?

Day 2: Jesus Meets Us in Our Place of Need

Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently met people right where their needs were most acute—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. He did not shy away from brokenness or shame, but instead invited people to bring their hidden hurts and deepest needs into the light. Just as He called the man with the withered hand to stretch it out, Jesus invites you to bring your own “withered hand”—that area you’ve kept hidden or felt ashamed of—into His presence. He specializes in meeting us in our need, not in our strength. Today, consider what you have kept hidden and how Jesus might be inviting you to stretch it out to Him. [26:05]

Matthew 12:10-13 (ESV)
“And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’—so that they might accuse him. He said to them, ‘Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.”

Reflection: What is one area of brokenness or need you have kept hidden, and how can you “stretch it out” to Jesus in prayer or conversation with someone you trust today?

Day 3: The Difference Between Wants and Needs

Wants are fleeting and often leave us unsatisfied, while true needs, when met, bring peace and grounding. Our culture encourages us to chase after the next desire, but real fulfillment comes when our deepest needs are acknowledged and met—especially our need for God. When a genuine need arises, it puts all our wants into perspective and reminds us of what truly matters. Take time today to distinguish between your wants and your needs, and notice how your heart responds when a true need is met. [11:39]

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: Think of a recent time when a true need was met in your life—how did that experience change your perspective on the things you merely wanted?

Day 4: Gratitude for Both Wants and Needs

It’s easy to focus on what we want, especially during seasons of giving and celebration, but there is deep value in expressing gratitude for both our wants and our needs—especially the needs that God has met. When we recognize and give thanks for the ways God has provided, we cultivate a spirit of contentment and peace. This gratitude grounds us, even in seasons of busyness or stress, and helps us see God’s faithfulness in every area of our lives. Today, listen for opportunities to express gratitude not just for your wants, but for the needs God has met this year. [28:49]

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Reflection: What is one specific need that God has met in your life this year, and how can you express gratitude for it to God and perhaps share that story with someone else?

Day 5: Bringing Our Needs Honestly Before God

God invites us not to resist, reject, or hide our needs, but to acknowledge and admit them before Him. When we do, we experience His faithfulness and care in personal and specific ways. Rather than feeling ashamed of our neediness, we can see it as an opportunity to encounter God’s love and provision. As you move through this season, make it a practice to observe your needs, admit them to God, and trust Him to meet you there. He is a loving Father who delights in caring for His children. [27:30]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV)
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Reflection: What is one need you are tempted to hide or minimize—how can you bring it honestly before God in prayer this week, trusting Him to meet you there?

Sermon Summary

As the year draws to a close and we enter the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, our hearts and conversations naturally turn toward what we want—gifts, experiences, even the food on our tables. It’s a time when we make lists, share desires, and reflect on what would make us happy. But beneath all these wants, there’s a deeper layer to our lives: our needs. Sometimes, it takes a crisis or a moment of desperation to remind us of the difference. I shared stories from my own life—moments on a submarine when air became the only thing that mattered, or a health scare when all my work concerns faded in the face of pain and the need for help. In those moments, wants become irrelevant, and needs take center stage.

We often resist admitting our needs because it makes us feel weak or vulnerable. Yet, Jesus begins his most famous teaching—the Sermon on the Mount—by blessing those who recognize their need for God: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This isn’t about material poverty, but about spiritual humility, an honest acknowledgment that we can’t do life on our own. The word “blessed” here means a deep, holistic well-being, not just fleeting happiness. When we recognize our need for God, we open ourselves to his kingdom—not just in the future, but right now.

Jesus consistently met people in their need, whether it was physical, emotional, or spiritual. He didn’t shy away from the broken, the outcast, or the ashamed. Instead, he invited them to stretch out their hands, to bring their hidden wounds and unmet needs into the light, so he could meet them there. We all have our own “withered hand”—an area of need we’d rather keep hidden. But Jesus invites us to bring it to him, trusting that he specializes in meeting needs.

As we move through this season, let’s not just focus on what we want, but also reflect on what we truly need—and how God has met those needs. Let’s be honest about our vulnerabilities, and grateful for the ways God meets us right where we are. In doing so, we experience the peace and grounding that only comes when our deepest needs are met by the One who knows us best.

Key Takeaways

1. Needs reveal what truly matters When a genuine need arises, all our wants and distractions fade into the background. These moments clarify our priorities and remind us of our dependence on God. Recognizing our needs is not a sign of weakness, but an invitation to experience God’s sufficiency in a way that wants never can. [06:59]
2. Spiritual humility opens the kingdom Jesus blesses those who are “poor in spirit”—those who admit their need for God. This humility is the gateway to experiencing God’s kingdom here and now. It’s not about self-pity, but about honest dependence, which leads to a deep sense of well-being and belonging in God’s presence. [15:00]
3. Jesus meets us in our hidden places Throughout his ministry, Jesus sought out people in their places of greatest need, even those areas they tried to hide. He invites us to stretch out our own “withered hand”—the part of us we’re most ashamed of—so he can bring healing and restoration. Vulnerability before God is the path to wholeness. [26:05]
4. Gratitude grows when needs are met We often express thanks for our wants, but there’s a deeper gratitude that comes when we recognize how God has met our needs. This gratitude brings peace and contentment, grounding us even when our wants go unfulfilled. It shifts our focus from what we lack to the sufficiency of God’s provision. [28:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Thumbs Up or Down: 2025 Reflections
[02:30] - Thanksgiving Wants and Holiday Desires
[03:48] - Submarine Story: The Urgency of Need
[06:59] - When Needs Overwhelm Wants
[08:30] - Wants vs. Needs: Maslow’s Hierarchy
[11:39] - The Fleeting Nature of Wants
[13:30] - The Peace of Met Needs
[15:00] - Matthew 5: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
[18:28] - The Kingdom of Heaven: God’s Economy
[20:49] - Why Jesus Starts with Need
[23:07] - Jesus Meets People in Their Need
[26:05] - Stretching Out Your Withered Hand
[28:49] - Gratitude for Wants and Needs
[30:00] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:1-3 (ESV) — > Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
> “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 5:3, what does Jesus mean by “poor in spirit”? How does this differ from being poor in material things?
The sermon shared stories about moments when needs became more important than wants (like the submarine story and the health scare). What happened in those moments that made needs take center stage? [[06:59]]
According to the sermon, what does the word “blessed” really mean in the context of the Beatitudes? [[15:00]]
What did Jesus ask the man with the withered hand to do, and why was this significant? [[26:05]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus start the Sermon on the Mount by blessing those who recognize their need for God? What does this reveal about the kind of people who experience God’s kingdom? [[15:00]]
The pastor said that “needs reveal what truly matters.” Why do you think God sometimes allows us to experience need or desperation? [[06:59]]
How does spiritual humility (being “poor in spirit”) open the door to experiencing God’s presence and peace, both now and in the future? [[15:00]]
The sermon described how Jesus met people in their hidden places of need. Why do you think Jesus invites us to bring our “withered hand”—our hidden or shameful needs—into the light? [[26:05]]

Application Questions

Think about a time when a real need in your life pushed all your wants into the background. How did that experience change your perspective on what really matters? [[06:59]]
The pastor mentioned that we often resist admitting our needs because it makes us feel weak or vulnerable. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to admit your need for God or for help from others? What holds you back? [[15:00]]
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” What would it look like for you to practice spiritual humility this week? Is there a specific situation where you need to admit your dependence on God? [[15:00]]
The story of the man with the withered hand shows Jesus meeting someone in their place of shame and need. What is your “withered hand”—an area of brokenness or need you tend to hide? What would it look like to “stretch it out” to Jesus? [[26:05]]
As we enter the holiday season, conversations often focus on wants (gifts, food, experiences). How can you shift your focus—and maybe your conversations—to reflect on needs and how God has met them? [[28:49]]
The sermon encouraged us to be grateful not just for our wants, but for the ways God has met our needs. Can you name a specific need God has met in your life this year? How did that experience grow your gratitude or peace? [[28:49]]
The pastor suggested listening for the difference between wants and needs in conversations this season. How might you gently encourage others (family, friends, coworkers) to reflect on their true needs and God’s provision? [[28:49]]

Sermon Clips

So blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. So let's pause right here on this poor in spirit. Nobody likes to be poor. Another way of looking at this verse, if we were to change the wording in a little bit to mean, to reflect what the poor in spirit means: blessed are those who recognize their need for God, for theirs is the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven. [00:17:16] (26 seconds) #RecognizeYourNeed

He spends a lot of time talking about the kingdom of heaven. It was the kingdom that he came to introduce to us. He describes it throughout his whole ministry. He talks about what the kingdom of heaven looks like and his intention was to bring the kingdom of heaven near, something that we are all invited to participate in. And the thing about the kingdom of heaven is this is God's economy, it's God's rule, it's not ours, it's his. [00:18:09] (30 seconds) #JesusMeetsNeeds

When we think about the kingdom of heaven we often think about golden streets and just all the stuff that you think about when you get to heaven. What we don't often think about is what's not there. Some of the things that aren't there, let me give you a couple of examples: arrogance. Arrogance is not in the kingdom of God. Pride, pride not in the kingdom of God. There's not a high view of self in the kingdom of God. [00:18:43] (31 seconds) #StretchOutYourHand

But in this case Jesus says nope, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. You get to experience the kingdom of God in the here and now. You don't have to wait for the future. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. So the question that I'd like for us to answer today is why is it that Jesus at the very beginning of the beatitudes talks about or highlights a need that we have? [00:20:42] (35 seconds) #ShiftFromWantsToNeeds

The Pharisees end up asking Jesus about it and asking a question about that man and Jesus tells this man, stretch out your hand. It's probably, again, has it hidden behind the scenes and Jesus says that very thing, that thing that you have hidden, that thing that you need most, I want you to extend it. I want you to stretch out your hand and Jesus meets this man in his area of brokenness, in his place of need. [00:25:11] (34 seconds)

In his greatest need at the moment, Jesus is highlighting it and he's not highlighting it for highlighting its sake, he's not just bringing attention to it so everybody's aware of it, but he's bringing attention to it because he wants to meet that man in his biggest area of need. And the truth of the matter is you and I today have some sort, some form of withered hand. It looks different for all of us, maybe a physical need, it may be in some other area of your life. [00:25:45] (39 seconds)

Maybe there's an area in your life where you've kept hidden, it's the very place where he wants to meet you in a personal and specific way. So stretch out your hand, today's a great day to stretch out your hand and let Jesus take care of that need. So we're going to be asked a lot about what do you want, there's going to be a lot of what he wants over the next few weeks and we'll answer that question over and over and over. [00:27:10] (27 seconds)

When we're talking about wants, make sure we talk about or think about what do we need and when you see your need, don't resist it, don't reject it, don't react to it, but acknowledge it. Just acknowledge that you have a need, observe it and admit it, recognize that there's a need in your life and that's what Jesus was saying in Matthew chapter five when he said blessed are the poor in spirit, those who recognize a need, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [00:28:02] (39 seconds)

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