Verse 3 says, “He told them: “Take nothing for the journey–no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.” Jesus asked His disciples to trust that all their needs would be provided. It took a great amount of faith on the disciple’s part to trust in the provision of all their needs. We were just talking tonight in our small group at church about this very topic. We took some time to pray that God would provide a bold prayer for audacious faith and boldly asking God to provide for us. I actually had a hard time thinking of something. The problem for me is I know that everything I want and everything I need is actually attainable through my own efforts. I think sometimes as Americans it is harder to trust in God for His provision because we have so much. It is easy to look at all that we have and think of it as something we attained for ourselves. I want to have the kind of faith where I can take nothing with me and trust God to provide all my needs. My wife Nancy put beautifully when she said we should never put God in a box. God is so much bigger and more capable that my simple mind can comprehend.
2012 Day 38 – Luke 9:1-17
07 Tuesday Feb 2012
Posted in Daily Reading
Daily Devotion 
Well, this just hit me today, and it’s in line with what you wrote, Dino. He tells the disciples not to take anything, not to stay in luxurious places, not to force themselves on people, but to trust him to provide all their needs. And so what does he do? Later that day he proves to them that he can meet every single need they have when he feeds the 5,000. Dang, he’s good! Here’s a lesson and here’s the proof that I can do what I just taught you about myself. Hmmmm. Makes me wonder how often Jesus says to me, “Hey, I can provide this need for you if you just trust me.” And then I, in my arrogance say, “Um, I don’t think so. Looks pretty impossible.” And then I walk away before he has the chance to “feed the 5,000” in my life. Good grief. I have been so arrogant and non-trusting. For some reason, I can trust God on the stuff that is just way beyond me, but anything that I can keep my little fingers on, I grab and hold on tight. Or anything I’ve had past experience with I take the attitude of, “Oh, I’ve got this. Thanks, God, but I’m good.” God really started convicting me of my arrogance a few weeks back, and he just keeps pointing it out. I’ve been a Christian since I was a kid, and I’m realizing that I had this idea that I had this whole thing down pat. Had it figured out. Then I realized I really didn’t. So I asked God to show me where I’ve been a fool. One more for the list.:)
Just to add to your points about God providing for us, if we’ll simply get out of the way and let Him work, He’ll usually give us more than we can handle. Not only did Jesus feed the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, but there was so much leftover, they filled 12 baskets full! So many times we think we have things figured out, but if we’ll just get out of the way and let God work, it’s then that we’ll realize He has so much more for us in store.