Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. The men alone numbered about 5,000. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!
Memory verse: Philippians 4:19, And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
As we approach the end of what seem to have been a rather quick year, the chorus “God is a miracle worker, God is a glorious God” sticks to my mind as I keep wondering about all the plans people would have made in the passed months and their hopes to fulfill them all, even though it seems time is running out. Already at this time of the year, some will be looking at their plans for the year and ticking off completed projects while some might be looking at their list and wondering where it all went or it’s all going wrong. This at times can knock a person down because time seem to be running out fast but have you heard of the “miracle working God”? the one who is never ever too late?
Ideally at this stage of the year, discouragement starts to kick in for most people who have not achieved much or nothing at all. The devil is so good at keeping the calendar of everyone’s events and equally quick to remind you of how time is running out on your yet to be accomplished year’s targets, dreams, missions, plans and more. He pretty much rubs it in your face and most likely result to you losing the little mustard of faith you have left in the year; a situation which in most people’s circumstances results to giving up on faith and resulting to fate.
The life of brother Job in the bible is a perfect example of this. He was doing so well and was the wealthiest man in the west until things went sour following his trial, when God permitted the devil to test Job’s faith in God. In the test process, Job lost almost everything from possessions to children, to reputation, to health, presence and more, except that God kept him life. Job inclusively lost his fellowship with mankind to the point that the closest person to him, his wife wanted rid of him. Job knew his God but never knew he was being tested. He believed God would come through for him at some point but the time was not any time soon. It seems like time was running out and his wounds and sours would soon kill him. According to Job 2:9, while his faith in God was being tested, “His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
This is a medium of the devil to make you give up on the remaining time of the year. What seems to be like no time to you, is a sufficient and significant time for God to show up and make all those plans come to manifestation. Remember Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha had died for about four days before Jesus turned up. He was already wrapped and tied up, placed in the tomb and was smelling. The late Lazarus’s sister suggestively said to Jesus that Lazarus his friend would have been alive, had Jesus turned up on time. Though upon arrival, Jesus wept but was glad he wasn’t there, he advised “Lazarus was asleep” in order to show forth God’s glory, and to the glory of God, Jesus rose Lazarus from death, John 11:1–44, what a miracle working God!
What seems too late to man seems only just starting with God, to the people, Jesus was too late, but no matter how late He might seem, He is always on time. As this year winds down and you are looking at those lists wanting to give up to fate, I encourage you to hold on to your faith in God and not give in to fate. Be like Job who said in Job 14:7 that “There is hope for a tree when it is cut down. It will sprout again, Its shoots will not stop sprouting” and in verse 14 said “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”
The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys, Job 42:12, Time didn’t run out for him as He lived to see the goodness which he long awaited, he had more children than before also. God is a miracle worker, no matter how the devil tries to twist this for you, remember there is enough time, He will come through for you, your miracle is on the way. You might seem to have failed, but there is still room for success, God is able to turn those stories to testimonies. wait patiently and faithfully on him.
Prayer Points:
- Father, I thank you for you another wonderful week
- Father, help me to hold on to faith concerning my plans for the rest of the year, help me to achieve them all.
- Father, give me strength and courage to override all the lies of the devil, empower me to stand strong and not give in to fate.
- Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and answering my prayers. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Have a productive week, God bless you.
