All The Power

"So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them. When his disciples thought this had gone on long enough—it was now quite late in the day—they interrupted: “We are a long way out in the country, and it’s very late. Pronounce a benediction and send these folks off so they can get some supper.” Jesus said, “You do it. Fix supper for them.”They replied, “Are you serious? You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper?” But he was quite serious. “How many loaves of bread do you have? Take an inventory.”That didn’t take long. “Five,” they said, “plus two fish.” Mark 6:34-38

I like the story about the little boy who went out to mow the grass with his father. While dad pushed the power motor his five-year old trailed behind with his plastic push mower. Back and forth they went in an order pattern leaving neat rows of short grass in their wake. The father was leading and the son following.

After thirty minutes they had finished their task. The dad turned off the power mower and was pushing it back toward the garage to put it away until next week. Hurrying up to walk beside his dad the little boy excitedly declare, "Dad, we did it! We cut the grass!"

Looking down at his boy, the dad nodded in agreement, "Yes we did, Son! Yes we did!"

That's a good illustration of what it's like to partner with God to accomplish something He wants done. He is the dad with the power mower and you are the boy with the plastic toy following in His steps. God provides all the power and you just stay close to Him and give it all you have.

The feeding of the 5,000 was like this, God provided all the power and the disciples tried to stay close to Jesus and do as much as they could!

God calls you and me to that same partnership of knowing, loving and serving Him.

He waits for us to see the need He wants to meet. Once we see the need we fall in behind Him and trust His power to do what only it can do as we do everything we are able to do.

You will know you have learned to partner with God when you begin to see needs and problems not as obstacles but as opportunities for God to display His power. Partnering with God changes your outlook on problems.

Once you see the need you must be willing to give all you can to help meet that need. You push that little plastic toy mower for all it's worth! Partnering with God teaches you to be obedient to God by giving Him what He asks from you.

Seeing the need and giving toward the need will allow God to meet the need from His grace and riches. And you can look to you Heavenly Father and say, "We did it, Dad!"

He will smile and throw an arm around your should and prompt you to begin looking for another need!