😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. Welcome to our first Wednesday Message of 2022. The older I get, the less I hear people talking about new year resolutions. I’m guessing it’s just an age thing, but I could be wrong. Although, I do still hear people talking about setting goals for themselves. If you think about it, a resolution is more focused on a decision and a goal is more focused on the end result. So, you really kind of need the resolution to make the goal a reality.
Yesterday morning I read this quote by Jane Trufant Harvey, from the book Ask Him. “Ask Him to instill perseverance when you are tired.” Pondering that thought, it took me down a trail to patience. Upon looking up the definitions of these two, I found:
Patience – the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Persevere – continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
In yesterday’s Gospel readings, Mark 6:34-44 we are reminded of the five loaves and two fish. But what lead to this unorganized gathering of so many? They were souls longing for more. Knowing deep within that there was more and He was the more that their hearts desired. I imagine there were some that left the gathering early trying to beat the crowd, knowing that it would be getting late and there really wasn’t much around to secure a meal. But an overwhelming number of others were patient and persevered knowing that the spiritual food and learning they were taking in was more valuable than the physical food they were missing. Even His disciples were getting a little antsy and suggested that Jesus dismiss the crowds.
God had other plans.
At times it can seem as if what we have to offer is so small and immeasurable. The disciples were feeling the same way. Instead of staying the course, we talk ourselves down, causing us to jump off course. The disciples wanted to end Jesus’ teaching moment, but instead He provided them with an incredible teaching moment that not only fed their souls, but also their bellies.
Even when your patience and perseverance are running on empty, all He asks is that you gather up what little you have left, look to your Heavenly Father, bless what you have, and share it with all those around you. Do you think the person next in line for the fish and bread basket was looking for big heaping piles of food or just enough to feed their family? Do you think in the moment, the crowd was even considering the fact that the baskets never went empty? Are you focusing on your blessing basket being emptied because others are constantly pulling from your basket? Spoiler Alert…As long as you offer your gifts to God, your basket will NEVER be empty. You may feel it’s a little low, but it will NEVER be empty. Heck, the disciples started out with five loaves and two fish, then after everyone ate their fill, they gathered up 12 baskets full of leftovers. It’s awesome how blessings grow and multiply when you share them.
We have many days, hours, and minutes left in 2022. Be patient, persevere, and focus on God’s plans for your minutes, hours and days. Offer what you have and watch it multiply.
Bless others and be blessed.
If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others. Click subscript to receive your message every Wednesday.
Third Day Devotions 