912) One gift that God has given me is an aptitude in technology. When I have some electronic equipment I have to hook up to a network, I can close my eyes and literally see the flow of sound and data as it runs through the wires, allowing me to hook everything up properly. Even though I know that I have this ability, I frequently remind myself that God has given it to me.

In Luke 9:10-17, a large crowd is following Jesus and they are in some remote location. The disciples suggest to Jesus they tell the crowd to disperse and look for food and lodging elsewhere since none was available there. Then Jesus says something noteworthy. He says, “You give them something to eat.” I can see Peter’s face in my mind. His mouth probably just falls open in exasperation, as if to say, we just told you we have nothing to feed these people with. Jesus then does a miracle, feeding all the people with one small lunch. Wonderful, but why did Jesus ask the disciples to do something they clearly couldn’t do? Ah… that’s the point.

It’s important for us to remember that anything God asks us to do is not really done on our own power alone. God always gives us what we need to do, whatever he asks of us. It is in this moment we can see God giving us the strength to do these things. This also helps us to be humble, knowing we did not do something in our own power.