Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
(Luke 9:16-17 (NIV))

Do you understand this story beyond the miracle?

The first thing that Jesus did when presented with the five loaves and two fish was thank God for the gifts that He had received!

He did this before dividing the blessings to pass out. He remembered the source of all good gifts. He thanked God for His creation and the gifts that He has given to us from it and through it.

I am not professing a gospel of prosperity.

What I am bringing to light is the need to be thankful to God for all that He gives us.

When we are truly thankful for God's gifts, He provides all that we need. It is even possible that God will provide more than we need, but there is no guarantee. God knows what each of us can handle and when we are mature enough to handle it. Thankfully, there is no set formula for achieving prosperity as some people profess. What there is a set "formula" for is thankfulness and a Godly attitude. It is a matter of a change of heart, and that is up to each of us.

We must first give thanks to God before we partake of His blessings. We must never forget where these blessings come from. Even Jesus, who was God made man, stopped to give thanks to God.

Shouldn't we give thanks in all things?

We must also give thanks when the blessings are different than what we expect!

If we are willing to face the truth, what we often think of as blessings are driven by our sinful nature. Would we be thankful for a single meal when we are hungry? Would we be thankful for a roof over our heads during a storm? Would we be thankful for the grace and mercy that frees us from the law of sin and death?

Miracles happen every day. Do we recognize what the Lord is doing right before us?

We must give the Lord the glory!

Copyright 1998 - 2026 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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