Gratefulness

In Matthew chapters 14 and 15 we find two accounts of JESUS feeding large crowds of people. Those testimonies and how JESUS approached the need has caused me to stop and reflect in my own life. I ask myself, “Am I approaching my place of need as JESUS did?”

In both testimonies where JESUS fed those thousands of people, when He prayed He did not ask for a miracle. Instead, He thanked His Father for the provision. That denotes a deep level of trust in His Father. He wasn’t worried nor was he panicked. He had no doubt GOD would provide. Even when a small amount of food was found His disciples saw it as lack— it wasn’t enough. JESUS saw it as provision— more than enough. 

When we see lack we ask for multiplication because we think that’s what we need. When we see provision we are grateful. Our gratefulness is the way to provision that will leave us with more than enough— including leftovers. But, rarely does our provision begin with abundance. I wonder what was going through the disciples mind as JESUS prepares thousands of people to eat a little bread and a few fish. Perhaps the same thing that goes through our mind when we see what we don’t have instead of what we do. GOD wants us to move way beyond believing He can provide. He wants us to rest in knowing He will! It’s His pleasure to give us the Kingdom!

What provision do you have that you are just now seeing? Run thank the Father!