Counting My Blessings by Seph Schlueter: A 7-Day DevotionalSample

Day 4

Imagine the scene.

You’re in the middle of nowhere. You’ve been listening for hours to this crazy preacher man. You’re utterly enthralled with what He’s saying. But your stomach has been growling for a while now, and you’re very much regretting not bringing anything to eat. You’re mentally calculating how far the nearest meal could be, and it’s a daunting thought; you’re already fatigued and traveling that far on an empty stomach seems foolish, if not dangerous.

You can see the Preacher acknowledge what He sees; the people are hungry. He gathers His closest friends, and there seems to be some tense conversation. Eventually, they pull out some scraps of what look like bread and fish. Your heart falls. They clearly have no real solution, and you begin to muster the strength it will take to make the upcoming journey.

Then, next thing you know you’re being split up into groups. And the man’s disciples start passing out baskets. And it gets to you, and there is an absurd amount of fish and bread, way more than you thought could be possible. You are incredulous. You were just part of a miracle.

We’ve heard this story a thousand times, and it really is quite the crazy story, but for years I read it while missing an important detail.

Before Jesus passed out the bread and fish, He first gave thanks for it. He gave thanks for the meager amount that was presented to Him. He knew, from a world’s vantage point, it was no where near enough to do what everyone needed it to do, yet He still gave thanks for it.

And multiplication came from it.

How often are we so caught up in the seeming lack of things that we forget to thank God for what we already have? We get so preoccupied with what we don’t have that we don’t have any gratitude for what we do.

God asks us to be thankful in all things. The abundance and the lack. And here, we see that thanksgiving comes before the multiplication.

Give thanks to God for what He has given, in all things, and give Him opportunity to multiply the little that You have.

Thanksgiving brings multiplication. Thank Him in all things.

ACTIVATION

Read Matthew 14:15-21. Reflect on the things you find yourself being frustrated or envious that you don’t have enough of. Take time and intentionally thank God for what you do have of those things, talk with Him about why you may struggle with comparison, and commit to trusting in His provision.