The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD’S MATH" for Monday, 16 May 2016 with Scripture Matthew 14:13-21

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD’S MATH" for Monday, 16 May 2016 with Scripture Matthew 14:13 On hearing about this, Yeshua left in a boat to be by himself in the wilderness. But the people learned of it and followed him from the towns by land. 14 So when he came ashore, he saw a huge crowd; and, filled with compassion for them, he healed those of them who were sick.
15 As evening approached, the talmidim came to him and said, “This is a remote place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go and buy food for themselves in the villages.” 16 But Yeshua replied, “They don’t need to go away. Give them something to eat, yourselves!” 17 “All we have with us,” they said, “is five loaves of bread and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 After instructing the crowds to sit down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, made a b’rakhah. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the talmidim, who gave them to the crowds. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and they took up twelve baskets full of the pieces left over. 21 Those eating numbered about five thousand men, plus women and children.
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Is anything too hard for the LORD?[Genesis 18:14 (NIV)]
Five years ago, when I was still a university student, I had a problem with an assignment from my professor. My proposal was due the next afternoon, and I had no time to fix its many mistakes. I was stressed.
The next afternoon, when I was working my job as a tutor, one of my students asked me, “Can you give me the answer? How many is five plus two?”
His question made me angry because he was in fourth grade and could answer the question by himself. I answered him, “You know the answer is seven. Why are you asking me?”
With a smile, he replied, “No, in your math, five plus two is seven, but not in God’s math. For God, five plus two is more than five thousand because God can feed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish.”
His question and answer relieved my stress and made me calm. Reflecting on this understanding of God’s math, I prayed for God’s help; and to my surprise, my professor gave me one more week to fix my proposal. Now, I remember that God is always present with us, bringing hope and peace.
Read more from the author, here.
"More from Linawati Santoso"
“No, in your math, five plus two is seven, but not in God’s math. For God, five plus two is more than five thousand because God can feed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish.” As I heard my student's words, I immediately thought of miracles. Yes, miracles still can happen in our life.
Like Sarah who laughed as the two visitors informed her that she was going to be pregnant and give birth to a son, we may laugh and say to ourselves, “Oh, it’s impossible for me to ….” or “I can’t reach my dreams. It’s too hard for me. Please stop hoping for ….” Every time we think like that, we can stop, take a breath, and then repeat with loud voice, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (See Genesis 18:14 and Philippians 4:13.)
We all have a mighty God who has done many miraculous things in the past and can still do the same today. Year after year, I find my life surrounded with miracles. God has improved my spiritual life, health, and relationship with others. Even though I’m still hoping for other miracles (especially dreams for my future), I decided to trust God totally.
Moreover, I realized that our Christianity is not depending on many miracles we have seen in our life, but on our personal relationship with God, day by day. If our prayers are yet not answered, it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us. God has prepared something better for each of us. And "something better" is really the best thing for us.
The most important thing is to know that God is loving and mighty. God has an authority in our life and loves us. Indeed, knowing Christ Jesus as our Lord is the greatest miracle of all. God bless us.[Linawati Santoso]
The Author: Linawati Santoso (East Java, Indonesia)
Thought for the Day: “All things are possible for God” (Matthew 19:26, CEB).

Prayer: Beloved God, help us to realize that you never forsake us. In all circumstances, our help comes from you. Amen.
Prayer focus: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS---------------------