I am poor and needy

I am poor and needy

"I am poor and needy—yet the Lord thinks upon me!" Psalm 40:17

Whoever may forget me—there is One who in mercy remembers me. He is ever mindful of me—"The Lord thinks upon me." The more our spiritual poverty is revealed to us, and the more sensible we are of our need of His mercy and grace—the better. The Lord will enrich us, and supply all our needs. Yet will He keep us daily pensioners on His bounty , and lead us to feel that we have no stock or store—but that we must continually live on His fullness , and . . .
  be rich only in His riches,
  be strong only in His strength,
  and be gracious only in His grace.

The excellent John Newton, who wrote most of the Olney hymns, speaking of himself, said something to this effect: "When I first entered upon my Christian course, I thought that the Lord had given me a grain of grace, which by care and diligence would become an ounce—and that in time the ounce would become a pound—and the pound in the course of years many pounds. I thus expected an increasing store, and hoped to die rich in grace. But the Lord has so taught and led me, that I now see that my store is wholly in Him! I hope I feel my spiritual poverty more than I ever did. I now expect and desire to die poor in myself—and rich only in the Lord!"

"Blessed are the humble souls that see
  Their emptiness and poverty,
  Treasures of grace to them are given,
  And crowns of joy laid up in Heaven!"

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