Everyday is the day that someone’s life gets turned around. Is that day yours today?
“And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate called beautiful to ask for alms” (Acts 3:2)
As I read this chapter of scripture through from verses one to ten, I discovered a few things that I want to share with you today.
It could be a career, a business, a relationship, someone’s health or even someone’s finances, the principles in this passage hold out forever and I hope you’re blessed just as I was.
From birth he couldn’t really do anything by himself, and from birth he always needed some help to live and get by.
Have you ever been in that place or that situation where you have to rely on others for survival?
Have you been there where the next meal is at the mercy of someone, some person, some boss, some manager and some organisation?
Maybe you’re even going through or passing through something right now and strength is about to elude you and you’re thinking of throwing away that towel, I have come by to pattern interrupt you and tell you, ‘It ain’t over until it’s over’
Maybe it started out like it was going to be just for a while, but the while has turned to a season and the season has become eternal, you’re so used to it now that IT has turned into a normal occurrence for you, my prayer to you today is that whatever is abnormal but has become the usual in your life, may you refuse to accept it from today, amen.
“Now Peter and John …. took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked…. praising God. And all the people saw him… and recognised him as one who sat for alms… and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him” (Acts 3: 1-10)
- ‘He was carried’ Who carried him? Friends? Family? Colleagues? Sometimes in life you would need helpers of destiny around you to lift you through trying times. So you’ll have to open your heart to some you can trust with it. People you can trust through challenges and difficulties, people who would pull you through and not tear you down. The question is, can you be wise enough to know who to trust and confide in?
- ‘Seeing Peter and John… he fixed his attention upon them’ You have to travel through each day with your eyes peeled. Opportunities are all around us each day, but do we see them? Can we feel them? He had been collecting alms from people all of his life, but guess what? On this day, something made him look closer, something made him notice those two.
- Give everybody a chance. What if he looked at them and thought; ‘not these ones’ or he looked at them with disdain? Even though they didn’t look like they were rich, he still gave them a chance and asked. Be careful that you give everybody a chance in your work place, Be careful not to pre-judge. Give every new person the opportunity; to learn, to grow, to fail, or succeed.
- ‘Expecting to receive something’ Are you a pessimist or an optimist? Do you go through your day ‘expecting’ or do you waltz through life defeated? You have to start living each day like ‘this is it’ ‘this is the day’ I understand that you have been disappointed several times, I have been there. I understand that your hopes may have been dashed severally so you don’t get excited anymore, but even though winter tarries, summer would surely come. Be expectant, you never know when your expectations become realities. Your belief would change your life. Your faith would make the difference to your destiny.
- ‘And Peter took him by the right hand’ For every discovery there has been an inventor and for every life change there is a human catalyst somewhere. Who is your human catalyst? Who has been sent to lift you up? Some people take from you, others don’t affect you, and very few lift you up. Find those people who would lift you, connect you, add value, mentor you, train you, develop you and take you to your destiny, and when they stretch their hands to you, do not ignore them
- ‘Silver and gold I have none but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk…and he entered the temple, leaping and praising God’ And he who was lame for many years rose up and walked. Most people believe that things do not just happen by chance, but that there is a creator of the universe who makes things to happen. When unexpected things happen that are unusual, we call them miracles. This man saw this was a miracle, or else how do you explain a touch that changes the sorrow of several years? How do you explain a word that wipes away the sorrows of a thousand nights? I believe in miracles from the creator of heaven of earth, do you?
- ‘And all the people recognised him as one who sat for alms…. and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what happened to him’ When those who thought you would never make it suddenly see your life change in front of them they are filled with wonder and amazement. The only thing people never argue with is results. Someone once said that the best way to confound your critics is to become a success story. This guy that they’ve given up on suddenly became a success overnight and a celebrity in the eyes of those who despised him. When the world gives up on you and your story changes they are surprised and dumbfounded at the sudden change in your life. When you are the least likely to succeed but become the headline news of the day, something happens to the people all around you and they are filled with awe about your story.
I don’t know what you have been through or what names they’ve called you until today. I don’t know what they have labelled you or the stigma society has put on you until today. I just know that it’s not over until it’s over, and I pray that your story would change forever today in Jesus name. May your story become a testimony and a joy to you. Amen. I hope you’ve been blessed