LIVING STREAMS DEVOTIONAL
By Pst. Ezekiel Atang
MAY 2025
THE GREAT ASSIGNMENT
(Luke 14:21-23 KJV)
Thursday, 29th May
HOW TO ESCAPE SHORTAGE AND POVERTY
(John 6:5-9, 11 KJV)
“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”
Shortage and lack are not necessarily a product of recession, depressions or the GDP of a nation, but many times a function of attitude. You may want to do some research by taking a look at bitter, unforgiving and ungrateful people, then look at their general welfare. And then, compare it to that of those who are very cheerful, easy going, forgiving and thankful. I am sure you will see a very stark difference and between them both.
One major way to break out of financial stress, shortage and abject poverty is gratitude or thanksgiving. Who would have thought that thanksgiving would be an appropriate thing to do in the face of shortage and lack? Well, Jesus thought it out, and then acted on it for us all to see. Our text said when He asked Philip about how to feed the thousands, He already knew what to do and what did He know to do? Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a very powerful secret weapon with which to crush and destroy poverty, lack, and perennial poverty. So, the next time someone asks you about your situation of shortage or lack, tell them “I know what to do”. Then, go into your closet and thank God for the very little or that nothing that you have left.
A story is told of an old man who runs an orphanage, once, they faced a severe shortage, and everyone in the house including the children did not know how they would get their next meal. Then, at meal time this man prepared the table and then ask the whole house to thank God for the meal before them. They all closed their eyes and thanked God for the food, and as they said “Amen”, they heard a knock on the door. It was a woman who had brought a huge basket of food for the house, and that was how they all ate that day. Praise God!
Action Points
-Place all your needs on paper or in a particular place and start thanking God for all of them.
-Never allow the shortage or lack anything deter you from your goal or vision again forever.
-Keep moving forward while you thank Him all the way.
-Even when things do not change, still thank Him none the less, because it will work for your good.
Prayer
Make a prayer points out of the assignment.
Nugget
Thank God for the very little or that nothing that you have left.
For Further Reading and Meditation
MORNING
Genesis 32; Luke 2
EVENING
Ecclesiastes 2
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