Secret Formula for Success

In the famous story about Jesus feeding the multitudes with just some loaves and fish, a secret is revealed that applies to all of life’s circumstances. Let’s take a look at the account as reported in Luke, chapter 9.

What was the problem? 5,000 men — along with women and children — were hungry and had no food.

For there were about five thousand men…and had them all sit down. (Luke 9:15)

What were the available resources? Five loaves and two fish

“We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” (Luke 9:13)

In John’s account, the disciples tell Jesus, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9)

What was the key to success? Put the meager resources in His hands

And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he [Jesus] looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Miraculous results: Every person ate until they were full and there was still a ton of leftovers!

And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. (Luke 9:16-17)

Do you want your life to count large?

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all;

but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess”

~ Martin Luther

Let’s wake up each day and place our paltry amount of resources in His hands. Doing so makes room for God to show up to produce bigger results than we could ever pull off ourselves. Consider this scenario that happened a few days ago.

Problem: A nurse I know texted me and asked for prayer. Her day’s duties were much larger than normal.

Available Resources: Herself and thin staffing.

Secret Formula: Just like a little boy handed loaves and fish to Jesus and then walked away with no food for himself, this nurse went into a bathroom stall and prayed, “Lord, I can’t do this. You have to,” then returned to the floor.

And there you go. We don’t pray, “Lord, help me,” which implies that we will take things part of the way then ask God to finish up. Instead, we give it all to Him with prayers like, “All you. No me,” and “I can’t. You can.” We place our resources in His hands and walk away because the human resources no longer belong to us. For this nurse, the prayer of “I can’t do this. You have to,” translates to “Lord, I place myself and my team in your hands and ask that you do the impossible. Get it all done with perfect care and execution for each patient.”

Miraculous Results: Another successful day on the hospital floor happened despite an insane number of admissions and discharges — “seven in and 12 out.” What occurred was clearly not the results of one woman and her staff. Jesus multiplied efforts so much that management noticed and commented positively.

Imagine what it was like for the little boy to watch as thousands were fed with his small offering. I wonder if he helped put some of the leftovers in a basket with amazement.

Do this every day.

Hand Jesus your to-do lists, relationships, concerns, job, health, anything and everything, then watch Him multiply your scant resources with miracles. The days I do not purposefully hand Jesus my day’s duties and concerns turn out to be just that — days. The clock ticks and the sun sets but seeing results that exceed my resources on those days is rare.

The hand-off is literal.

I can’t stress this enough. A little boy literally placed loaves and fish into the hands of Jesus. There was physical touch involved, an exchange of goods, and the boy walked away because now Jesus had become fully responsible for the results.

Consider what it takes to shake hands with someone. We must extend our hand to grip the hand of another. The handing of our resources into Christ’s hands needs to be just as intentional. If you don’t already, I suggest reading your to-do list to Him out loud during your prayers instead of praying a general silent prayer that He be with you that day. I believe there is a difference between the two, similar to texting a person versus talking face-to-face.

Let’s put things in His hands! Jesus multiples!

Picture Explanation: Someone turned 70 last weekend and came home from the hospital this week with a new heart. I have witnessed another miracle.

Speaking of giving Jesus our days to multiply our efforts in our short life: If you are interested in being contacted to participate in a One Gritty Blink Bible study, click on the Oaks Ministries link below and send me an email so I can place you on a list to be contacted as online and face-to-face studies are planned. Let’s not just focus on things in this short life, but also what counts for eternity!

Note: No part of my posts are derived from A.I. Thoughts and writing stem from my mind and heart as I process life week-by-week and continue to grow in my understanding of God and how to apply His wisdom to the world around me.

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