There’s been a lot of chatter lately about asking God to give you a word for the upcoming year. What if you spent some time in prayer and asked Him to give you something for 2025 – a word, a picture, a verse – something that He wants to communicate to you? I’ve done this in the past and it’s always been interesting! It often starts with an idea in my mind during prayer and then is affirmed with other readings, discussions, and people over the course of several weeks.

I think my Word for 2025 is RESUPPLY. I’ve been reflecting on the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Mark 6:30-44). This story sits in a collection of miracles Jesus did in the presence of his disciples and others to demonstrate his identity and power. In the feeding of the 5,000 it is the disciples who learn something significant. They’ve asked Jesus to send the people away since there were so many of them and everyone was tired and hungry (that hangry feeling!). Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat” (6:37) which was actually an impossibility and they were aghast. So Jesus blessed the five loaves and two fish and sent the disciples out to distribute it to the people. Here’s the thing – apparently Jesus did not suddenly make enough food for everyone appear in a great big pile. Nope. Instead, the loaves and fish were multiplied in the disciples’ hands as they kept giving it to people. Over and over and over. As long as they gave the food away, they were resupplied until everyone had eaten plenty.

I think this is how the Holy Spirit works through us in ministry. It’s not that we have this huge pile of time, talent, and treasures and we feel good about being able to do the work of ministry. Instead, we accept the challenge of ministry and we are RESUPPLIED on a moment-by-moment, day-by-day basis. God provides what we need for the work of the kingdom, but never before the time that we need it. The challenge is to show up and believe that God is going to do something extraordinary with the little loaf of bread and fish we have to offer.

“Unless our capacity gets stretched, we can stay stuck in our own abilities for a long time.” JD Walt in The Gospel of the Holy Spirit (Mark)

Do you believe God will resupply you as you go about the business of the kingdom? What challenge has He laid before you, that will require the Holy Spirit resupplying you if you are to see success?