I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

Holy, Eternal and Sovereign

“God will be whoever you need Him to be!”

Ugh! Really? Have we minimized the Holy Eternal and Sovereign Ancient of Days to a mere “fit in my circumstances” type of god?  Do we have Him tucked away in a box labeled "Fragile -- Handle With Care"? and only let Him out when we have a need?  Maybe you don’t see this the way it hit me, but let me try to explain.

The God of the Bible – the Great I Am – is not a mere changeable being who will transform Himself to fit our circumstances. Oh, my friends … He is so much more than that! He is everything regardless of what you may be facing, limitless in power, boundless in might, and sovereign over all creation both great and small. He doesn’t merely sit on His throne waiting for us to beckon Him into some circumstance we can’t handle by ourselves!

Let’s look at that statement again.  It seems to me like we have transformed the Great IAM into a moldable “being” to fill a need – somewhat like a genie in a bottle who grants three wishes.  The “god” so many see is somehow commissioned to get involved in our lives when we finally turn to Him for help (unfortunately, usually a last resort) while simply staying tucked away in His box when we’re handling things just fine.  What if we don’t “need” Him to be something … does that mean He isn’t what we don’t need?

Oh, much to the contrary … He is everything, all in all, infinite and eternal and omnipresent in all life’s circumstances whether we choose to acknowledge Him or call upon His name or not! His presence exceeds our concerns. His power far surpasses our needs, great or small. His excellence is immeasurable in every way. And yet, as limited as we are in comparison, we have the audacity to say He will be what WE need Him to be?

What about if we change that declaration and simplify it:  “God is!”  Without boundaries. Without limits. Without a mold to fit into. God simply is, although He is with unimaginable complexity more than enough, sufficient in all things, full of grace, abounding in love, limitless in power.

When Moses asked God to give him His name, he said, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14). God didn't tell Moses, "Tell the Israelites that I'll be whatever they need me to be!"  as if He was uninvolved in what they were facing and would just somehow show up when needed. That's not our God!

When you or someone you know is facing a challenge, don’t reduce the Great I AM to human terms and limits. Don’t smile and try to make them feel better by telling them that God will fit into their circumstances. Friends, when we’re hurting or our friends are facing difficulties, take that opportunity to declare His vastness and remind yourself or others that there is NOTHING too difficult for our God – not because He is whoever we need Him to be when we need Him, but because He is all we need, all the time, and so much more!

He has created the mold into which WE must fit, not the other way around! He set our lives in motion; it’s up to us to adapt/conform our wills, our choices, our decisions, our responses, and our ways to His.  He’s not looking for opportunities to be whatever we need Him to be … He’s looking for those who will choose His ways as He leads through the circumstances.

We need Him every moment of every hour … not only when we face trouble, but every hour of every day throughout our lives. And, He will fulfill that need as we choose to conform our ways to His ways, learn from Him while subduing our rebellious flesh. Believe me when I tell you, He’s not waiting for a reason to fit into our circumstances … He’s already there waiting for us to acknowledge His presence and allow Him to lead us through.

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

(Robert Lowry, 1872)