“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9)

What God can do with little offered to Him

Jesus took a little boy’s small lunch of a few loaves and fishes and multiplied them to feed thousands.

“Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).  Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” (John 6:10-11)

More than enough!

Jesus not only took care of the current need, but there were also baskets of leftovers He didn’t want to go to waste!

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” (John 6:12-13)

Therefore 

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8)

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Cor. 4:8-9 NLT)

As long as you live in this fallen world, troubles will happen from time to time! Jesus said, “In this world, you will have troubles.” But He followed that statement with a wonderful promise: “But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

You can be an overcomer, too!

In the book of Revelation, chapter twelve, there was a great battle between the armies of God and the forces of the devil. The satanic forces were defeated by two things: “by the blood of the Lamb (what Jesus did on the cross) and “by the word of their testimony” (what they proclaimed with their mouths). 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)

Therefore

Even though you may have troubles occasionally, God will never abandon you. He will be there to help you with direction and strength. You can live a victorious life and defeat the enemy when he attacks, “by the blood of the lamb and by the word of your testimony.”  Therefore, arm yourself with His wonderful empowering promises and boldly proclaim them in the face of troubles.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57)

“For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” (Deut. 29:4)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Eph. 3:20 ESV)

What are you afraid to ask God for? He can do so much more than you can even dream of.

Therefore

 “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chron. 29:11 ESV)

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” (2 Peter 1:3)

“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8)

As time goes by

Everyone has exactly the same amount of time each day to use; a 24-hour period of 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds.

Two brothers with two attitudes

I heard of twin brothers; one was negative, and the other was positive. One woke up each morning and said, “Good lord, it’s morning!” His sour attitude dictated his day, and it was filled with negativity. When the other brother woke up each morning, however, he said, “Good morning, Lord!” And his day was filled with positivity and joy. Both boys used the same words, but in a different order, with predictable results determined by their attitudes.

Choose positive!

No matter what your day is filled with, you can control your attitude.

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Therefore

“My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.” (Psalm 71:8)

Prayers to start each day

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 99:12)

“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:5)

Seven wonderful benefits are listed in the following passage to thank and praise God for.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-6 NIV)

1.     Forgives all your sins.

2.     Heals all your diseases.

3.     Redeems your life from the pit.

4.     Crowns you with love.

5.     Crowns you with compassion.

6.     Satisfies your desires with good things.

7.     Renews your youth like an eagle’s.

Therefore

“Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.” (Psalm 103:22 NIV)

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. (Isa. 55:8 NLT)

We are limited

 Have you ever watched one of those old TV gameshows where the excited moderator tells the contestant to choose one of two doors, behind which are prizes? One is worth a lot of money, such as a brand-new car or a fancy vacation to some exotic destination, and the other is a gag prize, such as a goat or an electric doorknob polisher. It’s a complete guessing game, and the clueless contestant has no way of knowing what’s behind each door. It’s a tense moment of nervous anticipation as everyone waits for them to choose and then to see the reveal.

In a sense, this is how life is

You live your life day by day, not knowing what's ahead of you; sometimes you encounter positive events and other times the opposite. In the movie, Forest Gump, he famously said, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get!” The entire movie was about his choices and where they directed him.

You have a great advantage!

God has all the information you lack! He understands what's ahead of you and what the best choices are for you to make! His understanding is way above yours! And the best part is that you can ask Him for guidance.  

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)

Therefore 

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:9 ESV)

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:4)

“…as he is so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17b ESV)

What Jesus said he came to do

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Therefore 

“Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.” (1 John 2:6 ESV)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14 ESV)

Short but powerful promise

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, …

Therefore

…and he will repay him for his deed.” (Prov. 19:17)

Short but powerful promise

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man…

Therefore

…God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)