JESUS SPEAKING

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala. (Matthew 15: 32 – 39)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

The crowds that had followed Jesus into the wilderness were famished. In a gesture of affection, Jesus miraculously turned a small meal into enough food to feed 4,000 men (as well as their women and children.) Within this account, we also read that Jesus gave thanks to God before distributing the food. This practice, seen in other portions of the gospels, has commonly become known as ‘saying grace.’ By thanking God for His provision before eating, we are following the example of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus sought to teach His disciples how to pray, He recited what has become known as, “The Lord’s Prayer.” Included within this prayer is the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are urged to remain focused on today, and to remember that God alone provides for all of our needs. In fact, concerning God’s provision, Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

If we, as believers, know that all good things come from the Lord, then outward displays of gratitude will manifest in our lives. Thanking God in prayer before meals is an excellent Christian discipline; as is praising God for all of the other blessings He has bestowed upon us.

“Lord heavenly Father, we recognize that You are the provider of all good things. May we honor You with thanksgiving and praise You for Your many blessings. May our hearts also learn to trust you in all things. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!