God's Daily Bread May Not Always Be Delicious, But They Are For Our Benefit

Here's a beautiful devotional/ testimony by Max Lucado From: The Great House of God on the lessons of how God provides us our "daily bread."

I hope you can learn as much from it as I have

What a statement of trust! Whatever you want me to have is all I want. Some days the plate runs over. God keeps bringing out more food and we keep loosening our belt. A promotion. A privilege. A friendship. A gift. A lifetime of grace. An eternity of joy. There are times when we literally push ourselves back from the table, amazed at God’s kindness. “You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup fills with blessing” (Psalms 23:5 MSG).




And then there are those days when, well, when we have to eat our broccoli. Our daily bread could be tears or sorrow or discipline. Our portion may include adversity as well as opportunity.

This verse was on my mind last night during family devotions. I called my daughters to the table and set a plate in front of each. In the center of the table I placed a collection of food: some fruit, some raw vegetables and some Oreo cookies. “Every day,” I explained, “God prepares for us a plate of experiences. What kind of plate do you most enjoy?”

The answer was easy. Sara put three cookies on her plate. Some days are like that, aren’t they? Some days are “three cookie days.” Many are not. Sometimes our plate has nothing but vegetables—twenty-four hours of celery, carrots, and squash. Apparently God knows we need some strength, and though the portion may be hard to swallow, isn’t it for our own good? Most days, however, have a bit of it all. Vegetables, which are healthy but dull. Fruit, which tastes better and we enjoy. And even an Oreo, which does little for our nutrition, but a lot for our attitude.

All are important and all are from God.

The next time your plate has more broccoli than apple pie, remember who prepared the meal. And the next time your plate has a portion you find hard to swallow, talk to God about it. Jesus did. In the garden of Gethsemane his Father handed him a cup of suffering so sour, so vile, that Jesus handed it back to heaven. “My Father,” he prayed, “if it is possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

Count Your Blessings

Everyday we face different problems. Sometimes we get pleasant surprises, but more often than not we grumble about life and how life is unfair to us particularly. What makes a Christian different? It's when we count our blessings. When we realize how blessed we are even in the face of adversity, we are different from the world. When we realize we have so much to be thankful for, that is when we are set apart.

I make it a point every night to thank God for every little thing. That way when I go to sleep I'm grateful instead of miserable. When I remember all the small blessings, it never fails to make me feel better. It makes me feel that God is watching over me. That even in all my troubles, God is there watching and taking care of me and my family.

Trying times

It is indeed trying times where I'm working right now. We need to hit target and I find myself praying for that as well. And I even think the company's no good. The company doesn't really provide for the employees' needs. Not all of it anyway. They give us a ride to the office but basically that's it. When possible, the company doesn't provide premium pay and even stifles on things like Christmas parties and bonuses.

Anyway enough of my complaining. I'm still grateful I still have a job here, though how bad I may think my situation is, I know there are a lot of people who are worse off and I am truly blessed to have what I have. So I thank God for this job and this company. I do hope things get better for us, but I also do hope the company achieves its goals for the year.