How did one boy’s lunch become a feast that fed five thousand men, plus all the women and children that were with them? Simple. He gave all he had, his whole lunch – five small barley loaves and two small fish – these he gave to Jesus. It was not nearly enough to meet the need of feeding the hungry crowd gathered to hear what Jesus had to say. But the boy surrendered his lunch anyway, though it seemed as nothing compared with so great a need.

BUT – “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. 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 6:11-13)

They all had “enough to eat” and there were leftovers! That’s what I meant by “a feast.” There was plenty for everyone. A miracle! Could it be miracles happen when we give everything to God? when we hold nothing back? The boy that day gave his whole lunch to Jesus. He held nothing back for himself. Am I brave enough to do likewise?

That young boy didn’t have much to give that day on the hillside. I don’t feel like I do either, most days – have much to give that is. Jesus took that boy’s little and turned it into a lot. He turned it into not just enough, but more than enough. Truly a miracle amid the mundane of the day. Maybe that’s how it works – the offering precedes the miracle? I give myself to God – then He takes the offering of my life and does the impossible – complete transformation – a miracle!

Lord, I don’t have much to offer You. I give You my brokenness. I offer You all of me, all that I am, trusting You to put me back together – to make me whole.

Lord, I give You all my fears, trusting You to make me courageous.

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Lord, I give all my pain and sadness to You, trusting Your presence to be my comfort and my joy.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:10)

“You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,” (Psalm 30:11)

Lord, I’ve been burned. I bring You the ashes of my life, knowing only You can make something beautiful out of ugly ashes.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord . . . has sent me . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,” (Isaiah 61:3)

Lord, I give you my despair, knowing only You can replace it with hope.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Lord, I give you all my doubts, asking You to fill me with faith, for You have said –

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20-21)

Lord, it doesn’t seem like I have much to offer to You, besides my sin and my shame. But still, You invite me to offer even this to You, saying –

” ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ ” (Isaiah 1:18)

There’s that miraculous transformation that only You can do Lord. Just like the little boy and his lunch – it wasn’t nearly enough but You made it more than enough. Today, I offer you my broken, weary, doubtful, fearful, sinful self – knowing only You, Lord, can make something eternal and good out of what is temporal and sinful. You are the miracle worker, so I bring my offering to You alone. You invite me to do just this with these words –

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

today I offer you myself, all that I have, all that I am – not nearly enough – trusting You to take what I offer and make it into something beautiful for eternity –

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry in on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

sincerely, Grace Day