Daily Huddle - Thu Mar 11, 2021 What Do You Have?

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  I’m often surprised by it.  By what God says, that is not at all what I would say or think, or do.  By who He chooses, that makes no sense to the human or natural mind.  He chose a man that stutters to be a statesman, He chose fishermen to change the world, He chose the least man of the least family of the least tribe in Israel to defeat the Midian host.  I just love God’s Word.  I love what it says that you can do immediately and what it says that you can take with you, to think and say, to believe and do.  But I also love what you can observe, what you can gather from it.  One thing I have found interesting.  How many times God provided for someone’s need - starting with what they had?  There was a famine in the land, and Jezabel was chasing him.  And God sent Elijah to Zarephath, and He told Him a crazy thing.  “I Kings 17:9 – “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there.  I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”  Not Bill Gates, not the local governor, or business owner, not even the local church, or food pantry – the widow with one son, no husband, no money and no food, who has been asking God to spare their life.  When Elijah saw her gathering sticks, he asked for a drink of water, and a piece of bread…  “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house.  And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar, and a little cooking oil at the bottom of the jug.  I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.  “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do what you have said.  But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me.  Afterward, make a meal for yourself and your son.  God directed Elijah’s provision from a widow who had nothing, who was in the same boat as he was.  But she didn’t have nothing, she had something.  God already gave her the seed.  The widow of the prophet who asked Elijah for help whose sons were about to be taken by the lenders.  What do you have?  Just a little oil.  God started with what they had.  God asked Moses, what do you have in your hand?  A staff – throw it on the ground.  It became a serpent that swallowed the serpents of Pharoah’s enchanters.  Stretch it out.  And the Red Sea parted.  “You give them something to eat.” Jesus told his disciples.  “But a years wages wouldn’t feed this crowd!” What do you have? – we have five loaves and two fish.  God often will provide for your need, with the seed that you have.  He may even use your seed to meet someone else’s need.  You have something, not nothing.  God can multiply the seed!  He has already given you the seed for what you need.  Do you have faith?  You only need faith the size of a mustard seed.  What do you have?  You may need some things, but what do you have?  Do you have breath in your lungs?  Then Praise Him!  Do you have arms to raise then raise them.  Do you have two pennies to give?  Then give them.  Do you have an alabaster jar? Then break it.  Do you have palm branches, then lay them.  Ask God for what you need, He’s Jehoveh Jireh – your provider!  But ask Him what to do with the seed, with what you have.  Praise Him for that, start with that.  He will often start with what you have, and use it to bring what you need.  That’s how the oil keeps pouring, that’s how the armies are defeated, that’s how the mountains fall, and the water comes out, and the walls fall down, and bodies rise up.  Praying that you will know what you have.  It’s enough.  It’s enough to start with.  Ask God what He wants you to do with what you have.  Maybe it’s not for your need, maybe He wants to use it for someone else.  He said He would provide for you.  He’s never not kept His Word.  He woke you up this morning, for victory not defeat, your limits don’t limit Him.  What you have is enough. Praying that you will ask Him, and be faithful first with what you have.  Content with where you are, but also knowing, He will take you far! 
 
Love you all,
dad