Get ready...

          ​I’m choosing this week not to move from the story of the five loaves and two fish. Yes, it is a powerful story of God’s miraculous provision to not just ten or a hundred people but five thousand. Even if we were to try to calculate that mathematically it just would not make sense. But the thought that comes to mind is the fact that Jesus got them ready to receive! He told the disciples to instruct them to sit on the ground in groups (Mark 6:39). They obeyed but they still saw no food sufficient to feed them. Sometimes, we just have to obey, not because we are seeing any sign of provision or help coming, but if God says to sit, then sit, it means His provision is on the way! 
         Unfortunately, too many times we may miss God’s cue because we are not seeing or hearing what we want to see or hear. Change is still not happening, and we feel stuck where we are. God has given us an instruction but we’re still seeing the same empty cupboards, maybe finances are still too low to pay that important bill or to purchase what is needed. It’s hard, it’s depressing, it’s discouraging. Maybe before the change can manifest in the physical it has to take place in our minds and hearts. Maybe we need a mental, emotional, psychological change to take place in us. We may need to stop being negative, stop anticipating the worst, stop giving in to feelings of depression no matter how warranted they may seem. God may not be able to do anything until a change takes place inside of us … with our attitude. Last week, I encouraged us to keep praising, keep trusting. Let’s face it, God may be ready to bless us, to deliver us, but we may not be ready to “receive” it.
         I’m also reminded of the story of the prophet Elijah who was believing God for rain to end the drought Israel had been facing for years. He told king Ahab to “Go up, eat and drink for there is the sound of abundance of rain” (1 Kings 18:41). King Ahab obeyed even though he saw and heard nothing, but the rain did come. Well, it’s the same with Jesus. He gave the instruction for the people to sit when all they had was a meagre lunch. He did not perform the miracle first then tell them to sit – at least then they would have had something to believe in! He told them to get ready to eat when they couldn’t even see the food. They obeyed, and food was provided! 
         What instruction is God giving you today? It may seem foolish. Everyone around you may also think it’s foolish. But will you obey God’s instruction or your feelings, or even what your eyes can see? God’s miracles usually don’t make sense and His instructions that go along with them don’t make sense either. Maybe we just need to focus on the instruction God is giving us. The people had to take their eyes off the five loaves and two fish and look to Jesus instead. King Ahab had to take his eyes off the cloudless sky and obey Elijah’s instruction instead. What do you need to take your eyes off of? Whatever it is, focus on the instruction God is giving because He may simply be preparing you to get ready to receive. Praise when you feel to complain. Trust when you feel discouraged and it doesn’t make sense. Only God can and will do it and He will always do it the best way.

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