²⁹ Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. ³⁰ A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. ³¹ The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel.

³² Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”

³³ The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”

³⁴ Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.”

³⁵ So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.

³⁷ They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 

Matthew 15:29-37

Dear God, I just want to sit with lack of faith this morning. Sit with the idea that I don’t bring my cares to you enough. Sit with just how far I have to do in my walk with you.

I was listening to N.T. Wright talk about Ephesians yesterday with Russell Moore, and he was talking about “the armor of God” (your armor) and how it occurred to him recently that the armor Paul calls us to put on is armor that you reference to yourself in different parts of the Old Testament. It is truly your armor that we are to wear. Do I really put that on.

I woke up a few times last night and also this morning with a gnawing in my gut. There’s something in my life that is causing me angst. So what am I doing with that angst? Am I running from it and trying to distract myself from it? Am I trying to figure it out on my own and force my will upon it? Or am I bringing it to you and asking you to guide me and the others involved? Am I putting on my armor? Am I bringing you my fish and loaves, admitting it’s not enough, and asking you for a miracle–or at least a blessing?

Father, I do want to bring my little bit to you, sacrifice it before you, and then have you do something amazing with it. Be glorified in all of this. Be powerful. Be amazing. And don’t do it for me. Do it for your kingdom. Do it for everyone involved. Do it for their personal lives. Do it for your life to shine through them. Do it so that we might all be a reflection of you and your power might come into the earth.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen