TEXT FOR THE YEAR 2026: “Blessed are those who recognize their spiritual needs” (MAT. 5:3).
1. What basic needs did Jehovah create us with? (Matthew 5:3).
Jehovah created us with certain basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. These needs are so important that if we were to lack them, even for a short time, our lives would be very difficult. In addition, Jehovah created us with spiritual needs, and if we want to be truly happy, we must recognize these needs and never fail to satisfy them.
2. What example helps us understand what it means to recognize our spiritual needs?
The example of a very poor man, dressed in rags and sitting in a corner, exposed to the heat of the day and the cold of the night, helps us understand this point. He is weak and emaciated from lack of food, and, combined with his poor appearance, people avoid him. This person recognizes that he needs help to improve his situation.
The same is true of spiritual beggars, that is, those who recognize their spiritual needs. They recognize how desperate their situation is and that they need help to improve it. For that reason, they feel the need to take advantage of the spiritual gifts that Jehovah gives them.
3. What will we see in this article?
In this article, we will examine the example of the Phoenician woman who begged Jesus for help and how she demonstrated three essential qualities for those who recognize their spiritual needs. We will also analyze the examples of three highly spiritual men: the apostles Peter and Paul, and King David.
AN EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY, PERSISTENCE, AND FAITH
4. What did the Phoenician woman want Jesus to do for her?
The Phoenician woman went to Jesus because her daughter was “cruelly possessed by a demon,” and she had faith that he could help her. She approached him, knelt down, and begged for his help. In this way, this woman demonstrated remarkable qualities.
5. What qualities did the Phoenician woman demonstrate, and what did Jesus do? (See also the image.)
The Phoenician woman demonstrated true humility when she wasn't offended by Jesus comparing her to a little dog. She wasn't insulted, nor did she turn away without asking for his help. Furthermore, she showed persistence by repeatedly pleading with him for help, because she had faith in him.
In this way, Jesus saw that the woman had great faith and decided to help her, even though he had said that he had been sent to help only “the lost sheep of the nation of Israel,” and he cast out the demon that tormented her daughter.
ILLUSTRATION
A Phoenician woman is on her knees asking Jesus for help, while he is sitting at a table eating with three of his disciples.
The Phoenician woman demonstrated humility, persistence, and faith, and thus obtained the help she needed. (See paragraph 5.)
6. What do we learn from the story of the Phoenician woman?
We learn that if we want to satisfy our spiritual needs, we need to cultivate humility, perseverance, and unwavering faith. Humility and perseverance motivate us to ask God for help consistently and sincerely.
Furthermore, we must strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and have complete trust in those he is using to lead his disciples. When we demonstrate these qualities, Jehovah and his Son are pleased to satisfy our spiritual needs.
LET US BE LIKE PETER: LET US ALWAYS BE WELL-NOURISHED SPIRITUALLY
7. What task did Peter receive, but what else did he have to do? (Hebrews 5:14-6:1).
Peter received the task Jesus entrusted to him before ascending to heaven: to “feed his little sheep.” He faithfully fulfilled that responsibility and was even used by Jehovah to write two letters that are part of the Bible.
However, in addition to spiritually feeding others, he also had to feed himself spiritually. To do so, he diligently studied the inspired letters written by the apostle Paul. Although he recognized that some things were difficult to understand, he persevered and had faith that Jehovah would help him to understand and apply that “solid food.”
8. What did Peter do when he received new instructions from Jehovah?
When Peter received new instructions from Jehovah, although at first it seemed unthinkable to him to eat animals that the Law considered unclean, he obeyed after receiving this instruction: “Stop calling unclean the things that God has purified.”
Furthermore, he changed his way of thinking and acted immediately according to the new guidance. He went to Cornelius's house, even though he would never have entered the home of a non-Jew before. There he preached boldly, and he had the joy of seeing Cornelius and his family accept the truth, receive the Holy Spirit, and be baptized.
9. What two benefits do we gain from developing a strong desire for solid spiritual food?
By developing a strong desire for solid spiritual food, we gain at least two benefits. First, we learn things about Jehovah that motivate us to love and respect him more. Second, we feel more moved to tell others about how wonderful our heavenly Father is.
Furthermore, we learn from Peter's example that when the organization changes its understanding of a Bible truth, we should accept that change promptly. Only in this way can we remain spiritually well-nourished and continue to be useful to Jehovah.
LET US BE LIKE PAUL: LET US ALWAYS BE WELL-CLOTHED SPIRITUALLY
10. What does it mean to be well clothed spiritually? (Colossians 3:8-10).
Being spiritually well-dressed involves taking off “the old personality” and putting on “the new personality,” which requires constant effort. This means striving to abandon negative attitudes and behaviors and replace them with qualities that please Jehovah.
Paul was spiritually impoverished because, although he had striven to please God from a young age, he lacked a precise understanding of God's purpose. Furthermore, his pride, coupled with his ignorance, resulted in him exhibiting an unpleasant personality.
11. What flaw in his old personality did Pablo struggle against?
The Bible indicates that Paul was furious with the followers of Jesus; he threatened them and “wanted to kill them.” After becoming a Christian, he tried his best to rid himself of the remnants of his “old self.” But even so, on one occasion he had a disagreement with Barnabas, and it is mentioned that there was “a fierce outburst of anger” between them.
However, far from being a definitive setback in his struggle to rid himself of his "old personality," he continued to strive tirelessly to overcome his weaknesses and thus gain God's approval.
12. How did Pablo manage to get rid of his old personality?
Paul managed to shed his old personality by not relying on his own strength, but, like Peter, by depending “on the strength that God gives.” Although he sometimes made mistakes and became discouraged, he regained his strength by remembering all the good things his Father had done for him. In this way, he recovered the courage to continue his struggle to rid himself of his old personality.
13. How can we imitate Paul?
We can imitate Paul by making a continuous effort to put off our old personality and put on the new spiritual clothing that Jehovah provides. If we take a step back in our struggle to control the traits of our old personality, let us not think that we are a lost cause. Rather, let us continue to exert all our effort to align our thinking and actions with what Jehovah expects of us.
LET US BE LIKE DAVID: LET US ALWAYS SEEK THE SHELTER OF JEHOVAH
14, 15. How does Jehovah protect his people today? (Psalm 27:5; see also the picture.)
Jehovah protects his people today by ensuring that nothing and no one can destroy the faith of his servants. Even if Satan, the demons, or persecutors are powerful, they cannot cause us irreparable harm. Even if we were to lose our lives, Jehovah promises to restore them.
Not only does it protect us from external threats, but it also helps us manage our worries and burdens, so that we can continue to serve Him with courage.
Furthermore, it provides us with protection through the congregation, surrounding us with constant spiritual support: it gives us a large family of brothers and sisters who support us, pastors who care for us, and meetings where we receive encouragement and practical guidance.
ILLUSTRATION
A sister raises her hand during the Watchtower Study. Other brothers and sisters also raise their hands.
A sister seeks Jehovah's protection by attending a meeting with her brothers. (See paragraphs 14 and 15.)
16. In what ways did Jehovah protect David?
Jehovah protected David when, by following his guidance, he made good choices that shielded him from the consequences faced by those who do not respect God’s standards. Furthermore, when David suffered because of others, he took refuge in prayer, and Jehovah protected him by giving him comfort and assuring him of his love and care.
17. How can we imitate David?
We can imitate David by seeking Jehovah’s guidance when we need to make decisions, being mindful that if we make bad choices, Jehovah will not protect us from the negative consequences. Furthermore, when we suffer because of others, we take refuge in prayer and trust that Jehovah will protect us.
LET US NOT NEED TO SATISFY OUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS
18. What challenge do we face, and how can we continue to meet our spiritual needs? (See also the pictures.)
The challenge we face is living in a world surrounded by people who ignore their spiritual needs or try to satisfy them in ways that displease Jehovah. To continue satisfying our spiritual needs, we must regularly feed on God’s Word, put on the new personality, and seek the spiritual shelter that Jehovah provides through prayer, the congregation, and meetings.
ILLUSTRATION
Images: The sister in the previous image continues to meet her spiritual needs. 1. She studies an article in “The Watchtower.” 2. She goes to a couple’s home to bring them food. The husband is sitting in an armchair with his head bandaged and an IV in his arm to receive medication. 3. Two elders are shepherding the sister.
We must continue to satisfy our need for spiritual food, clothing, and shelter. (See paragraph 18.)
WHAT CAN WE DO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FOLLOWING GIFTS FROM JEHOVAH?
Spiritual food
We must persist in understanding and applying the teachings that we find difficult to grasp or that seem profound, trusting that Jehovah will help us.
We must go beyond the basic teachings. It is not enough to just stick to "the milk"; we must strive to understand the "solid food," that is, the deeper truths that strengthen our faith and spiritual maturity.
We must promptly obey new instructions. Just as Peter accepted the new understanding he received through a vision, we too must readily accept adjustments in our understanding of biblical teaching.
We must apply what we learn and share it with others. Just as Peter not only understood the new direction but acted immediately, we too benefit from spiritual nourishment when we put it into practice and tell others about what we learn.
Spiritual clothing
To take advantage of the gift of spiritual clothing, we must strive daily to live in accordance with the new personality and fight against our old personality, relying on the help God gives us and maintaining perseverance even when we make mistakes.
Spiritual shelter
To take advantage of the gift of spiritual shelter, we must turn to Jehovah in prayer when we face difficulties, trusting that he will provide us with comfort and protection.
We must follow his guidance and make correct decisions, aware that if we disobey, Jehovah does not automatically free us from the consequences of our actions.
We must rely on the congregation, taking advantage of the company of brothers who support us, pastors who care for us, and the meetings where we learn and receive encouragement.
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