Begin with 2 minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Today’s passage of scripture is one that became so convicting for me the more I read and studied. Acts 3:1-10 tells of the healing of a lame man by Peter through the power of the Holy Spirit. We read that Peter told this man to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ! When people saw this miraculous site and the man praising God, they marveled at what their eyes knew to be true. This man that was once stationary and unable to move from one place to another is now, not just standing, but he is leaping! Like so many miracles performed throughout the Bible, this must have been a sight to behold.

The thing that struck me was what we read in verse 2. This man, who had been lame since birth, was sitting outside a temple asking for alms instead of healing. In his condition, he was seeking money or food to make his life circumstances bearable. For whatever reason, He thought that tangible necessities were the only thing for Him to make it through life.

If we were honest with ourselves, our faith looks a lot more like the lame man’s than Peter’s. We live as if there is more power in the things we consume to make our brokenness, pain, unforgiveness, addiction, etc. manageable than in the God who split the sea and rolled the stone away. How many times do we settle for our circumstances instead of believing in the healing and delivering power of Jesus Christ?

As followers of Jesus, we can come confidently before God with our requests not just for ourselves, but for others! God has more for our lives and His Church than what we settle for! God is also powerful enough to help you have faith that He is good even if healing doesn’t come as you expected! What will your faith look like today?

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Who do you most identify with? The lame man or Peter?
  
• What are things that you turn to instead of God for comfort or healing?
  
• Have you lost faith that God can heal something in your life? Why?
  
• Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for who You are and that You have more for our lives. You know that we can struggle to trust You, and yet You still love us and show up. Lord, help us believe that You are who You say You are. Help us have faith in Your powerful Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.