Consider the disciples’ position in Mark’s account of the feeding of the 5000 (Mk 6:34-43). They are certainly tired. It is late in the day, and they see a need; it’s dinnertime and there are thousands of hungry people (probably 15,000 or more with women and children). The disciples’ solution is to send the crowds away to buy food at local farms and villages, but Jesus says to the disciples, “You feed them.” The disciples quickly forget that they are with Jesus, the one who has calmed the stormy sea, brought a young girl back to life and healed two blind men. The disciples can’t imagine how they can come up with enough food to feed this crowd. Once again, Jesus reveals his power, and with a child’s sacrifice, Jesus turns two loaves and five fish into a buffet for thousands with leftovers to spare. How many times are we in His presence yet searching for an answer, a miracle, surveying our options, and completely oblivious to the access we have to God’s power!

Scriptures
Mk 6:34-43; Jn 6:6; Lk 12:34; 2 Cor 9:6; Mk 10:27

Verse
…Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.” Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. (Mk 6:34-41)

Thought
Crossroads in life often appear out of nowhere–unplanned and unexpected. We may deal with crossroads by procrastinating, refusing to deal with the situation or by worrying and stressing out. We can easily forget who is with us! We have the God who created the universe with us, saying, “I’ll help you if you just ask.” When at life’s crossroads, lift your need to God. Ask for His help. Ask for a miracle. Then assess the situation. What do you have to offer? Be willing to give him all that you have available–spiritually, physically, emotionally, materially. Give what you have to God and ask him to help you navigate the situation. You can then expect that he will multiply what you have given him and do abundantly more than you can ask or imagine.

Questions
How do you deal with crossroads in your life (procrastinate, avoid, worry)? When you ask God for help, do you throw in all that you have for his use in the situation or do you want him to pull a rabbit out of the hat? Have you experienced a miracle in your life? Do you recognize miracles when they occur? If you are asking for a miracle, how invested do you think God expects you to be?

Response
Lift your need to God. Assess the situation & what you have to offer. Give God your resources and allow Him to navigate for you. Expect Him to multiply what you have given and expect a miracle.

Prayer
Father, help me to seek you first in all that I do. Help me to honor you with all that I have. Change my thinking and help me to rely only on you as my source. Without you, I have nothing. Thank you for loving me even when I fail to recognize your presence and power. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.