PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Apr
27

Using What We Do Have

Craig Peterson

Scripture
Matthew 14:16-19, 20a “We have her only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me, ‘ he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves…they all ate and were satisfied. 
Observation
Jesus had just heard what had happened to His cousin (John the Baptist) and was trying to get away. But people followed Him. He served them and had compassion on them when He saw that they were hungry. He took what they had, offered it to God and miraculously, all were satisfied. 
Application
There are times is our lives when we feel like we can’t get a break. We get bad news that we can’t do anything about. We try to retreat, only to find other people who have demands of us and our time. We feel like we don’t have what it takes to do what we have to do. We are tired, hungry, depleted and we feel completely inadequate….we don’t know what to do. It’s in those times we tend to lament what we don’t have. We can easily begin to complain about what we lack and feel sorry for ourselves. But Jesus gave us the example we need to follow….3 steps:
  1. Take what we do have
  2. Offer it to God
  3. Move forward in faith
When we do these things, rather than giving up, we will find that this is precisely when God can show up and do what only He can do. When we trust Him with what we do have instead of worrying about what we don’t have, He can and will do God sized things. 
Prayer
Lord, you know where I feel like I don’t have enough. Will you take what I do have and do what only you can do? Will you use what I do have to direct my path. I trust you and anticipate the blessing of your touch in my life. 

Devotions for April 27

2 Samuel 2
1 Chronicles 11
Psalm 142
Matthew 14

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