Day 1 Devotional
2025 Impact Report
DAY 2 — Tuesday, December 2, 2025
A journey from scarcity to abundance in faith
The Jar That Never Changed
Scripture
John 6:9–11 (ESV)
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?"
A Lesson in Seeing Differently
A few years back, a successful entrepreneur walked into a classroom on the west side of Atlanta to talk to fifth graders about dreams and possibilities. He brought with him a large glass jar filled to the brim with candy. Setting it on the teacher's desk, he asked, "Who believes there's enough candy here for everyone to get two pieces?"
Nearly every hand shot up—confident, excited, certain.
Then he asked, "What about five pieces each? Who believes there's enough for that?"
Only a handful of hands stayed raised.
"Okay, what about ten pieces?" he pressed.
The room went silent. Hands dropped. Doubt settled in.
He smiled gently and said, "The candy hasn't changed. The jar is still full. The only thing that changed was what you believed was possible."
That moment reveals something powerful: the greatest barriers we face aren't always in our bank accounts, our budgets, or our circumstances, they're in our minds. What we believe about what God has given us shapes how we give, how we live, and how we expect Him to show up in our lives.
As we move closer to Giving Sunday, we have to be honest about a battle that wages in every believer's heart: the tension between scarcity thinking and abundance thinking.
What Happened to the Lad's Lunch?
What Happened to the Lad's Lunch?
John 6 introduces us to one of the most memorable moments in Scripture, namely a crowd of thousands, hungry and far from home, with no food in sight. The disciples assess the situation and do what most of us would do: they start calculating. They count heads. They check resources. They come to a reasonable conclusion.
Andrew brings forward a young boy with five barley loaves and two small fish, but even as he presents it, doubt drips from his words, "but what are they for so many?"
Translation: There isn't enough. We can't meet this need. This is impossible.
That's scarcity talking.
But watch Jesus. He doesn't focus on what's missing, instead He focuses on what's been offered. He takes the little lunch, gives thanks, breaks it, and begins distributing it. And somehow, in His hands, five loaves and two fish feed over five thousand people with twelve baskets left over.
Here's the truth: the miracle didn't start when the food multiplied. It started when the boy opened his hands.
Scarcity would've told that boy to hold tight, hide his lunch, protect what little he had. But abundance gave him the courage to release it, trusting that in Jesus' hands, "not enough" becomes "more than enough."
Through this moment, Jesus shows us:
Lack is never final when surrendered to the Lord.
What we call insufficient becomes supernatural when placed in His hands.
God's abundance isn't measured by what we see—it's defined by who He is.
The Voices in Your Head and Heart
Scarcity whispers lies we've all heard:
"You don't have enough to give."
"If you let go of this, you'll be left with nothing."
"Your little bit won't make a difference anyway."
But abundance speaks a different language:
"God is your source, not your salary."
"What you release in faith, God multiplies in power."
"Every seed you sow has a harvest waiting on it."
We live in a world obsessed with scarcity. The news feeds it. The economy reinforces it. Social media amplifies it. Fear of not having enough drives decisions, relationships, and even our worship. But Scripture calls us to a higher reality, to trust the God who owns everything, provides daily bread, and specializes in multiplication miracles.
As Giving Sunday approaches, the question isn't "How much do I have?"
The real question is: "Do I trust God enough to release what I have?"
The Truth That Sets You Free

Scarcity obsesses over the size of the need. Abundance focuses on the size of our God.
Your Next Step
Take a moment today and identify one scarcity thought that's been playing on repeat in your mind. Maybe it's fear that you won't have enough if you give. Maybe it's doubt that your contribution will matter. Maybe it's anxiety about your financial future.
Write it down. Name it. Then speak a Scripture-based declaration of abundance over it.
Try this one: "My God will supply every need of mine according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
Say it out loud. Let faith rise. Let abundance replace fear.
Let's Pray Together
Father, I'm asking You to uproot every scarcity mindset that has taken hold in my heart. Break the power of fear, anxiety, and doubt. Replace them with faith, trust, and confidence in Your limitless provision. Help me see what I have through the lens of Your abundance, not the world's limitations. As I prepare my heart for Giving Sunday, teach me to give like You give—freely, joyfully, and without reservation. Amen.