What is or are the most essential needs of a man? 

What does he need to have, or know, before he can step into his role and purpose in life and move forward as a truly confident, safe, and joyful protector and provider for others?

I believe, as a starting point, he needs to fully and deeply know WHAT the answers to these questions point towards in his life:

Where does he go for safety and refuge?

Where does he find real rest?

Where does he go for instruction? 

What guides him?

What keeps him solid, and not collapsing, WHEN the storms hit?

What makes him thrive? 

Where does he find joy?

How does he get to fully experience the pleasures of a good life?

Men, look into your answers to these questions and examine where and what they point to. 

Knowing this may allow you to know what your source of life (i.e. strength, energy, motivation, love, security, provision, emotional and spiritual stability, hope, peace, joy, etc) is and where it comes from.

My question is, How can a man truly provide and protect those entrusted to him, if he does not KNOW that he himself is provided for and protected?

I found David’s example from Psalm 16 so incredibly comforting and inspiring. David knew trouble. He knew despair. He knew heartache. He also knew where and what his source of life was.

David KNEW:

• Gratitude: “every good thing I have comes from you”
• Heart gladness: “my heart is glad, and I rejoice”
• Body rest and safety: ”my body rests in safety”
• Security: “I will not be shaken”
• Stability: “He is right beside me”
• Protection: “You guard all that is mine”
• Rejoicing: “no wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice”
• Provision and inheritance: “You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing”,  “the land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!”
• Wisdom and instruction: “You will show me the way of life”
• He was not alone: “…granting me the joy of your presence, the pleasures of living with you forever”, “He is right beside me”
• Soul rest: “You will not leave my soul among the dead”, and above

Reading the words of a man who was so confident in what, in WHO, he was rooted in, and seeing his knowing of how he was protected and provided for, has challenged me again to look at where I find my source of life and refuge and HOW I know that I am truly protected and provided for.

I believe a man has to deeply know that he is protected and provided for, before he can most truly do this for others.

Thank you for reading this.

Thoughts or comments?

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