Last week I was in over my head with my husband being sick with Lyme, managing the household, and trying to peel and paint bedrooms before carpet arrives.
In my overwhelm, I sensed the Spirit plop the words in my mind, “pray about it.”
So I did.
I prayed about the vines that needed finished. I prayed about the walls that needed wallpaper off and painted. I went through all the overwhelming projects in my mind and prayed.
But instead of asking God for specific help in a specific way, I told Him what I needed and asked for Him to show me how—in His way.
That very day a friend volunteered three hours unsolicited and helped me with yard work. A painter (unsolicited) helped me know what needed done and what did not need done and offered his tremendous help. He connected me with another guy that helped a fe other projects that were way above my DIY pay grade.
I am learning that God’s blessings often come in the form of hard work—AND that God sends the help we need to accomplish the tasks He has for us. God works in His way and His time.
I am viewing all that has happened this past seven days as a modern miracle. It might not be raising the dead or casting out demons, but God sending unsolicited help in response to my prayer and giving me eyes to see His help (and not refuse it)—nothing I could orchestrate or control.
So, the question I am asking today: Do we recognize the miracles in our lives?
The man born blind
In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind. Pay attention to who recognizes the miracle and who does not as you read today’s scripture (we will return to Luke another day).
Scripture
Before you read, invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts as you soak in God’s Word.
Come, Holy Spirit, come.
John 9:13–38
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
What did you notice? Meditate on this for a moment.
Reflection
The religious leaders focused more on HOW the man born blind was healed, than the fact that he was miraculously healed!
I used to dictate to God how I wanted Him to work. But now, I am praying for how I and others need His help, His healing, His guidance, His provision—and then surrendering to His ways.
He knows the path. I surely don’t (and neither do you).
God showed up surprisingly this week to miraculously provide for my need through two Christ-followers. How might tiny miracles show up in your life when you pray and watch?
Your Turn
What is heavy on your heart? Pray specifically for what you need from God for yourself and others (wisdom, strength, help, etc.) Then surrender to how He will bring the help.
Pray about this or anything else on your heart.
You can also use this prayer below.
Lord, God, I praise You that You are the Great Provider, the One who sees me and knows everything before I speak it to You. And I know prayer invites Your work in my life in Your ways, so I come to You now with all the cares on my heart. (Enter cares here). I praise You in advance for all You will do and ask You to help me keep my eyes open for Your provision. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Did You Miss June’s Lunch Table™?
It was so fun spending time with Rebecca Carrell.
If you missed us, we talked about:
The overarching story of the Bible.
The biblical vision of our work and purpose.
How to start (or start again) reading the Bible.
You can watch the 30-minute replay here:
Resources I mentioned:
The Story of the Gospel FREE 6-week Devotional Bible Study.
Connect with God through His Word in this 6-week devotional study written by Seana Scott (me!). You will read through the major scriptures of the Bible that trace the story of God and reflect on how each passage connects with your life today.
(My inbox is always open with any questions).
Story of Scripture FREE online class.
Get a taste of a semester in seminary as you walk through the overarching story of the Bible. Your Bible study will be enriched as you grasp where all the stories you learned over the years fit in God’s story. You also will understand the bigger picture of who God is, who we are, and how to see our lives within the story of God.
Here to help you live with a well soul,
