21 Days To Cultivate A Grateful HeartExemplo

Day 15: We Give Thanks for Our Daily Bread 

Jesus “gives thanks” before both miraculously feeding the multitudes and announcing the New Covenant at the Last Supper. 

“Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.” 

The things we experience regularly are the easiest to take for granted. Three or more meals a day with more food than we know what to do with can often cause us to overlook the simple blessings. 

In the story of the loaves and fishes the people who gathered were more concerned with what Jesus had to say to them than they were about their basic needs. It’s easy to assume they were hungry. When was the last time you felt real hunger? I know for me, as soon as I even think I’m hungry I head to the pantry or the nearest drive thru. I have snacks in my car and my backpack. 

What I love most about the story is no matter how hungry everyone was Jesus didn’t forsake what He knew was important to His Father. He gave thanks for the simple provision of bread and fish. 

REFLECT: Do you regularly practice “giving thanks” at meals? Do you give thanks privately or out loud with others? How can you share your gratitude with those that you “break bread” with or share a meal with? 

RESPOND: Make it a point today, whether in public or the privacy of your home or office to give thanks before your meals. Thank Him for the provision that surpasses your needs and fulfills the majority of your wants. If you’re sharing a meal with a coworker or family member, invite them into the practice with you and tell them why. Let them know as you cultivate a grateful heart you want to share that with those around you.