Multiply

I’ve had multiplication on the brain recently, maybe because my third grader has been trying really hard to learn his times tables. Maybe because I’ve been trying really hard to learn God’s times tables. Let me explain.

Have you ever fallen asleep for just a short time and when you woke up felt as though you had slept the entire night? A few nights ago I was desperate for sleep. My kids had been sick, I had been sick, even our dog had been sick. I had been giving up valuable sleep time to take care of my family. I was running on empty and in much need of rest. After being up most of the night, I quoted scripture and prayed before finally drifting off. “I will lie down and sleep in peace for you O Lord make me dwell in safety. Multiply my rest tonight, Lord.” I slept just two short hours but felt completely rested.

A few days later, the ‘to do’ list was particularly long. Everything on the list was time sensitive so there was no procrastinating. I knew it would be difficult to complete every task. Once again I prayed. “Lord, guide me through my tasks today. Multiply my time.” As I set out to tackle the list, a friend called in need of encouragement. “I don’t have time to talk on the phone right now,” I thought, “but she needs me.” So I gave up valuable errand time (you know that time without kids in tow) to talk and pray with a friend on the phone. Amazingly, I checked off every item on the ‘to do’ list plus completed a few items from the next day’s list.

Time and again I have heard stories of and I myself have experienced God’s faithfulness to meet financial needs. A refund check would come at just the right moment. Someone would anonymously pay for something needed. It would seem as though if you tithed first, or donated to someone else in need, there would be more month than money. But miraculously, enough money would always be there.

It’s like the little boy who gave up his lunch. Jesus took his offering, what he gave up, and multiplied it so there was more than enough for the little boy and everyone else. I’m slowly learning Jesus does that with lots of things – time, sleep, money. When you give to show His love, He gives back to you.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will measured to you.” Luke 6:38

I’m reminded of a song in a play I participated in as a child. The play was called Down by the Creek Bank and the song was called Multiply. The song was about the little boy who shared his lunch and the chorus went as follows:

“To sum it all up, you simply divide. Watch your fish and bread just multiply. Add a little faith, subtract all your doubt, just watch it all work out. You’ve got to give it away, pass it around, and turn your basket upside down. I can tell by your smile and the twinkle in your eye. The Master has taught you how to multiply.”

My prayer today is the Master will continue to teach me how to multiply.