Matthew 5:3 - Not By Bread Alone

Step 1: Pray. Select.

As I prayed this morning, the Holy Spirit quickly directed me to Jesus’s teaching at the Sermon on the Mount.

I was caught off guard at the beginning of Matthew 5, confused by Jesus's choice of words in verse 3. I needed to spend some time there today and remind myself not to interpret but to let the Holy Spirit guide me, so I continued to Step 2 of my journey.

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

Matthew 5:3 - “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

• Blessed

• Are The Poor In Spirit

• Theirs Is The Kingdom

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words that stood out, here is the personalized sentence placed upon my heart. Don't forget, if you are doing this alongside me today, to add your name to your unique sentence:

• Jennifer, blessed is the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom.

Step 4: Visualize

As I meditated on the sentence and verse, I understood that poor in spirit does not mean bad or negative spirit; instead, poor in this context means to lack. And when we lack, we hunger and thirst for more of God and his Kingdom. We do not get sidetracked by the promises of the world, which are not eternal.

The Holy Spirit led me to look up Matthew 4, specifically verses 1-4.

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

My mind is completely blown! Jesus was so hungry from fasting, and yet, in this moment, the clarity to understand that even food does not give us the life that the word of God does!

I am led next to a vision of a mother bird feeding her young. She flies from an unknown place and comes down to the level of her chicks, which she has strategically placed in a safe location, to feed her dependent little ones the nourishment they need.

If you have ever watched baby birds, they chirp and squawk and constantly call out to their mother to feed them when she leaves the nest. They don’t look to the right or the left; they are provided everything they need, exactly where they are, inside their home or nest. They are hungry but earnestly go after the source, their mother flying above the sky.

If we understand, in our prayer time, that no matter where we are or what we lack, if we look up and call for the word of God’s provision to rain down from heaven, that will sustain our journey and allow us to continue to grow.

We must not look down at the things beneath the earth, or we may fall out of our nest and die. Sometimes, waiting to be fed is the hardest part. However, as the chapter eventually reveals in 4:11, after Jesus continues to reject the temptations of the enemy and satan finally leaves, the angels come and minister to Jesus right where he is. He doesn’t move; the enemy has to.

Friends, keep your eyes on your Father, and whatever drought, void, hunger, or thirst you have, God will send you the manna, which is the word that surpasses all understanding; you will be full of provision, as it states in Philippians 4: 10-13:

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I continue to Step 5 with a question for the Holy Spirit.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The words that came to mind were:

• Holy Spirit, what can I do today to rely more on the power of Jesus within and less on my own understanding?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

"Like a scalpal, cut away the things that distract you from your Father. Down to the level of tiny thoughts that do not proceed from your Father’s mouth - pull the roots to avoid contaminating the perfect nutrient-filled soil living within you. You have more than enough inside of you to produce good fruit, and when you need more, cry out like the baby birds with the expectation to be fed. Stand firm that as you become a light to the world, set on a hill that cannot be hidden, a lampstand, as it states further in Matthew 5, you will glorify your Father so others can learn this world will never quench thirst or feed the hungry, but your Father can. Light fills you, radiant, overflowing for all you encounter to see. You do not need to focus on what you see on the ground below but on the manna from your Father in heaven that rains down, providing the much-needed ingredient, moisture, to grow beyond your capacity of understanding. Stay firm in the word; it will take you further than you ever imagined.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Heavenly Father, please help me to keep my eyes on you today, no matter what distractions the world throws at me. You have always provided for my needs, so let me hunger and thirst for you every day. You are more than enough, so let me be filled with your Glory as a reflection of your love. Protect any work I do, and help me remain after your heart in all circumstances. Thank you for your provision and clarity to look up, like Jesus did, as your words proceed from the mouth of God, my provider.

In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray - Amen!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Remember to spread hope and share your miracle or testimony HERE. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

I continue to marvel at the reminders of how Jesus is such an incredible example of how we can model ourselves through times of taming the flesh!

There is so much power in understanding that we shall survive not on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

We can survive all circumstances, situations, or any other trial through Christ Jesus. And let that be our lesson, most of all, to keep us hungry for Jesus’s ways and receive abundant blessings from the Kingdom of Heaven to sustain us here on earth!

Look up with expectation today, friends! See you soon.