Matthew 15:32-39 tells the story of Jesus feeding the 4,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. This story shows us the power of God to perform amazing miracles. However, there is another interesting part of the story.

Verse 36 writes, “Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.”

I think there is a lesson here. Jesus doesn’t go into a great long prayer explaining how he would like God to provide, he starts with what he had, thanks God for it, and gets to work.

The lesson for us is that no matter how little we may have, we should thank God for it, then get to work using it with faith that God will make things work out. Often we wish and pray for more resources, but maybe we should be praying for more faith.

Dear Lord, Help us remember to be thankful for what we have, and use it in our calling, with faith that you will provide more when we need it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do ever have a thought that appears in your mind, a terrible thought of revenge, rage, envy, greed, or lust, and wonder where it came from? I believe that this is one of the ways we are drawn into temptation by the devil.

Paul teaches us what to do when this occurs, in Colossians 3:5, he says, “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.”

How do we put these thoughts to death as Paul describes, we starve and suffocate them from our attention, and change our focus to something better. In Colossians 3:2 Paul says, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” We should pray for deliverance from the temptation.

Dear Lord, we are human, subject to temptation, and routinely fail to avoid it. Help us, and give us the strength to think of the things of heaven, and kill the sinful thoughts planted in our minds. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Jesus shows his exasperation with the disciple’s on a number of occasions in the Bible.

In Matthew 16:8-10, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?”

I think we all can read this as Jesus speaking to us, saying, “Do you still not understand? You see my power and miracles that I have done, but you still worry about your simple problems. Have faith.”

Dear Lord, We worry about the unknowns and insecurities in our lives, not quite sure you will be there when we need you. Help us have faith so that we will understand and have confidence in your promise to be there always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We all have different personalities, which make different things more and less challenging for us. For many of us, accepting criticism or correction is very difficult; whether we think it is necessary to always be right for our ego, or whether we take criticism as a question of our authority or intelligence, it can be challenging for some.

The Bible gives us some insight into this situation in a number of verses including, Proverbs 10:8 which says, “The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces,” and Proverbs 20:3, writes, “Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.” Finally Proverbs 9:8 says, “So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.”

We have probably all seen the “know-it-all” who can’t accept any criticism, and shouts down anyone that has a differing view, and also, the successful leader who listens with humble confidence to differing opinions, and responds with grace. Which is more like Jesus?

Dear Lord, Help us learn the wisdom and humble confidence that Jesus demonstrates for us, that we may become wiser and more useful for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It is interesting to look at different Bible translations of verses, to help bring out the meaning of the text.

I found that the God’s Word translation of Proverbs 14:14 brings relevance to what is a somewhat “matter of fact” verse in other translations. It says:

“A heart that turns from God becomes bored with its own ways, but a good person is satisfied with God’s ways.”

Isn’t it common to see someone searching for their way in life and rather than turning toward God, they turn away looking for life satisfaction in many things, only to be left feeling incomplete. In contrast, when we turn toward God looking for his will and ways and following, we find peace.

Dear Lord, as you said, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, help us turn toward you for fulfillment in life, and you will guide our steps. In Jesus’ name. Amen.