leftovers

I hate leftovers.

I didn't like them growing up and many times, that was the answer to the question, "What's for dinner?" I didn't like them for a few reasons. The first, which is the obvious, it just doesn't taste as good reheated in a microwave! The second being slightly more "diva" of me in that I want to eat a meal that makes sense together and leftovers often meant combining three different meals into one. Just not something I got really excited about. There is also the infamous sniff test to be sure the said leftovers, won't kill you. The best is when your negative sniff test is overruled by a parent who assures you it will be fine. There were certain meals I would be glad to eat leftover like sloppy joe's, Italian sausage or maybe some Hamburger Helper. However, those were the exception, not the rule. And let's be honest, there weren't often leftovers of those!

As an adult I dislike leftovers even more, but in some ways for different reasons. I am single, and leftovers can be an unfriendly reminder of that. I eat the same meal four times instead of two because there is no one to eat with me. I have learned how to make one protein into a variety of meals as well as how to cook for one, all to avoid the dreaded leftover situation. I am not asking for pity, just telling it like it is. 

As I was thinking of my dislike of leftovers, I began to think about how I rely on leftovers in my spiritual life. How silly is that? I go to church on Sunday, receive a word and hope it lasts until the middle of the week. I do a bible study on Wednesday and do enough so I can be full to the next Sunday. In case you were wondering, God never intended that we rely or survive on leftovers.

When the Israelites were in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, God provided exactly what they needed for each day. In fact, He told the Israelites they were to only take what would be necessary for the day. If they took more, it would spoil. God provided manna and quail for the Israelites in the wilderness as a response to their grumblings.

​Exodus 16:13-21
"In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, 'What is it?' for they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, 'It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.' 
And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little, had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. And Moses said to them, 'Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.' But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted."


It was a way for God to remind His people that He is still God, and He has not forsaken them. He was with them in Egypt, and He went with them to the wilderness. Interesting that God gave them the same thing every day, manna and quail, on endless repeat. That may sound like leftovers, but it's not. It's just the same great meal over and over again. Kinda like the sloppy joe's, Italian sausage or Hamburger Helper. The one that is so good there are hardly leftovers. The daily provision of manna and quail reminds me that God wants my daily commitment to Him.

"Morning by morning" 

His intention was not to hype me up over the course of a couple of days (read also: camp high), but to daily walk with me that I may know Him more fully. 

Why is it that I can find time to get away for an entire weekend on occasion, but struggle to find twenty minutes daily? The answer is my flesh.

The sin within me is rebellious towards God. The Good News is that the Spirit is stronger. So I read God's word and I seek to follow His commands as the Spirit within me fights against my flesh. Instead of stuffing myself and hoping it lasts a while, I will seek to get just what I need for that day and then return the next day for what I need then. And don't get me wrong, sometimes what I need is an hour alone with Jesus and my journal. But, I shouldn't expect for my portion necessary for today, to last me beyond that. 

In Lamentations, the author laments over the fall of Jerusalem and the illustrations used in chapter 3 are strong. Things like an animal waiting to attack, followed by an arrow piercing the kidney. It continues with someone being the laughingstock of all peoples and teeth grinding on gravel. Not pleasurable things. And through these things, the author says he has forgotten what happiness is and lost hope in the Lord.

But then...
The author remembers the goodness of the Lord and His steadfast love. He writes,

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:22-24

God knows the sin that runs so rampant in the world and knows what we need, far better than we do. He wants to be our portion and our hope. He is the best portion and the only hope.

So let us stop settling for leftovers and get our daily bread, daily. Just as our stomach's are satisfied after a good meal, so will our hearts be satisfied when we daily submit, and follow God as He has called us.

Praying you get your fill today on something new and fresh. 
Today, I'm eating something other than leftovers and hope you will too!

And as always, never stop growing.