A note in my Bible captured my attention. In Psalm 70:5 David wrote, “But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.”

The Hebrew word for needy is ebyon. Matthew 11:5 says, “…the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Note: One of the earliest groups of Jewish followers of Jesus adopted the name Ebionites that is ‘the poor ones.’

Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When we acknowledge our spiritual poverty, we are able to cast aside our independence (humility) and receive His grace.

James 4:6 says, “…God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Verse 10 says to humble ourselves. Our fleshly independence separates us from God’s grace. When we cry out to Him, our heart is acknowledging our need for the only One who can help us.