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Day 66 Luke 9:10 When the apostles returned, they told Him all that they had done. Then He took them aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 When the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” 13 He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 And they did so and made them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them. When a place is deserted, no one lives there. People like going to deserted places to find out what they can about the area. Jesus went to the deserted place near Bethsaida to get alone with His disciples. However, the crowds followed Him. He didn’t turn them away but healed them and taught them throughout the day. When it became late, the disciples suggested He send them away to get food. Instead, Jesus told them to give them food from what they had, five loaves and two fish. Jesus told the people to sit, blessed the food, and gave everyone enough to fill them and there were fragments left over. What do you do when the cupboards are bare, and you don’t have the means to buy food? You might go to the local food pantries, but what if there isn’t a food pantry in your community, then what do you do? Do you pray and ask God to provide what you can’t? Do you remind God that you are His child and He promised to provide everything you need? What do you do? Do you panic? You might do all the above, panic being the first thing. Then when you calm down, you remember a few Bible verses. You might remind God of the verse in Psalms. Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging for bread. You draw strength from the verse because you are one of His descendants. Then you move to another promise. Philippians 4:19 My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now you have hope. You claim those verses and go back to your kitchen, knowing God will provide. You search through your cupboards, taking this and that, and realize you could make something from the ingredients, and then there is a knock on your door. Someone you know or don’t know offers you food and you bless God for His provision when you gratefully accept what the friend or stranger handed you. Do you think that won’t happen? Yes, it does. I have seen it many times in my life. God has always kept His promises. I have never gone hungry, and if you think about your life, you will realize it’s true for you too. God will never break a single promise, but will always give you what you need, just as he did for the five thousand men plus women and children in that deserted place near Bethsaida. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for Your provision in my life. Thank you for Your promise to take care of me and provide everything I need. Let me praise You for Your blessing and provision, knowing You will always take care of me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 19 September 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.