Go out and heal the sick, cast out demons and do the Lords will. This is what Jesus told his disciples to do and well, they did. There was no way that they could it on their own but they had to A) make themselves available and B) believe the Lord would show up. “Go find your dinner.” Is what I was told this weekend in the middle of Mendoza, Argentina. My first thought was, “What do you mean go find your dinner? Did you hide it?” I ultimately knew exactly what they were talking about. We were going to live on faith that the Lord would provide us dinner without using our money. It really made me think and evaluate so many things when it comes to my faith. When we are going through tough times it can be easy, not always but sometimes its easy to say, “Yes God is good. He is faithful in bringing me through this spiritually.” But it can be a lot harder to say that when it comes to physical needs like, money to pay the bills, having a bed to sleep in, having food to eat, ect. I have never had to depend on the Lord in that way. I was brought back to two parts of scripture 1 being with Meshach, Shadrach, and Abenegowho refused to bow down to a false god. The king was angered and ordered them to be thrown into a fire. They replied, “Even if God does not save us, He is good.” Even if the Lord didn’t provide us with dinner that night, He was still good. The 2nd scripture was when the Lord called His disciples to go. He told them don’t take anything, not a blanket, pillow, extra food or clothes, but take the blessings that people will give you. It’s only thing to trust the Lord to provide but its another to humble yourself to receive a blessing. If you were sitting on the corner just waiting for a friend and I walked up to you and said, “Hey I want to give you this food!” You have money in your pocket because you were going to eat out with your friend would you take the free gift? You don’t know whats in the free to-go box at all. I would have said no, personally. I am more that capable of buying my own food. But the thing is, free gifts are called blessings. What was in the free to-go box was actually 2 tenderloin steaks for you and your friend with a side of mash potatoes and steamed veggies. We shouldn’t just take blessings when we need it, thats provision and blessings are a free gift.
That night we walked around and talked to people and you’ll never believe what happened. We were blessed with an abundance of fruit, 2 boxes of pizza, a bag of cookies, free soda water, and 20 pesos that we used to bless another family who gave us 2 pieces of candy. It was super exciting because our hearts desires was pizza and BOOM, we got it! We went back to meet up with our other team and we were told to go out and give away all of the food we received and bless others and that the Lord would provide us dinner again. This is when my mind started to wrestle with my spirit. The Lord provided once so He will again, will He though? What if He doesn’t? I would be missing out on a free pizza! But ultimately I knew I was to bless others, it is a blessing to be a blessing after all right? So we start handing out food and the same joy we received in receiving our blessings was the same others and we received while giving the blessings back out. We were running out of time as the night went on and restaurants were starting to close and I was at the point of joy were I felt like Meshach, Shadrach, and Abenego. Even if I don’t eat tonight God is good. As we were walking I saw a restaurant WAAAAAY in the back of a shopping center still open, I thought, “Why not.” I went and asked if they had anything to give and they gave us 2 sandwiches! That night my 6 roommates, 3 leaders, and I ate like kings and queens. We shared our 2 sandwiches and peanuts we received and that was enough. I was full when I went to sleep and when I woke up the next morning. Gods glory, am I right?
This week has humbled me in the way that I was revealed that the Lord will not only provide for me spiritually but also in my physical needs. This weekend I learned I must first learn to depend on him spiritually, then physically, then supernaturally. Miracles are everywhere but they just look different. God bless you all! Looooove Marissa
