Welcome to Redeem the Commute. I’m Ryan, your host for this daily challenge. It’s Thursday, the day we try to apply and live out what we’ve learned this week from the Bible. This week we’ve been studying a story from the Old Testament part of the Bible, where the Israelites were wandering, hungry in a desert, having just escaped slavery in Egypt, and God gave them miraculous food, or manna, to survive.

The manna was a unique and supernatural source of food.  It might seem strange that it would reset every night – with any leftovers disappearing…or the rules that you could only collect enough for yourself and family.

But…

God is our provider. Everything we have is from God, and he has provided a way for us to have a relationship with him through Jesus.

What do you find yourself wanting more than anything? How often do you view this desire as a need? It’s important to recognize the difference. God allowed the Hebrews to live as slaves for many years.

When God decided they needed to leave Egypt, he provided the miraculous opportunity to do so.

Our greatest need is to honor and glorify God. Regardless of our wants, we’re fulfilled when living in God’s will.

And when God gives us what we need, our challenge is to continue to see him as our fulfillment and hope, not ourselves.

We can show this in a few ways.

Acknowledge verbally that everything comes from God.  You might do this by saying grace before a meal, or simply saying thanks when you find yourself enjoying God’s generosity.

Avoid hoarding.  Take only what you need.  I am trying to teach my children this with something as simple as a bowl of cereal, or turning lights off to save electricity.

Give generously.

Challenge: Take a hard look at your home and your possessions. Are your closets bulging? Do you have just enough or too much? Begin to purge your home of things you don’t truly need. Be a blessing to others by giving away useful items to those in need.