Day 5: Trust and Frosted Flakes
As you begin to spend time with God, settle yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Spend a few moments gathering your thoughts, becoming aware of God’s presence with you and in you.
Journal for 5 minutes on yesterday’s experiment of seeking and accepting God’s will for your life. What did you notice and learn? What challenged you? Did God say anything to you throughout the day?
Then, begin today’s devotional.
Read: Matthew 6:11, Exodus 16, Philippians 4:6-7
"Give us today our daily bread." Sandwiched (no pun intended) between each meaningful line of the Lord's Prayer, Jesus instructs us to ask God for our daily bread. I have often wondered how our daily bread fits with the rest of the prayer - "forgive us our debts," and "Thy Kingdom come." How do the needs of today fit with these huge Kingdom ideals?
Imagine with me for a moment - you walk out of Perks Lobby on a normal Tuesday morning. You are on the way to the Caf for some of those delicious heart-shaped waffles, when you see dozens of your classmates and friends scattered, scooping Frosted Flakes off the sidewalk and out of the grass. It would be weird, right? Frosted Flakes coming from the sky?
Yet this is essentially how the children of Israel survived for 40 years. Read Exodus 16 - it is simply remarkable! The children of Israel are wandering in the "Desert of Sin" (yikes!) and are flat out of food options. God responds: “I will rain down bread from Heaven for you." Each morning, He sends manna from Heaven. Scholars have likened manna to a seed that tastes like wafers with honey. If that’s not enough, He drops quail in the evenings for the carnivores among them. Each morning, they are to go outside and gather just enough manna for their families for that one day. No more, no less. Some people test this: they do not trust that God will bring the manna again. They take a little more. It rots by the next day and God is not pleased. Today’s manna is only for today, not tomorrow.
I am what people over the age of 50 call a "worrywart." If left to my own devices, I worry about everything. "What ifs?" are my native language. However, I feel God calling me to something deeper - something to which He calls each of us. Trust! Trust is not just something you give in relationships; it is not just believing people will not hurt you. Trust is an attitude towards God and life. Trust says: God, You are good, and You will bring what I need for today. Tomorrow, You will bring what I need for then, too. When we ask God to give us our daily bread, we are trusting that He will provide enough physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational sustenance to get us through the day and help us serve His purposes. Trust is God’s currency – show Him your trust, and He will show You His faithfulness.
Prayer: Lord, I love you. Thank you that, just like the Israelites wandering in the desert, You have given me all that I need for today. Help me to trust You each and every day to provide me with the sustenance that I need. Thank You that You are a good God who takes care of His children! Amen.
Today's Experiment: What is one part of your life where you need to trust God more? Practice today focusing your prayers, intentions, and thoughts on trusting God in that area.
By Abby Stovall, Housing Coordinator