Monday, September 5 – Acts 9:32-35

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he also came down to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed.” Immediately he got up. And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

There are moments in life that stick out in our memory more than others. Our first day of high school likely stands out more than the day we went grocery shopping for the first time. The moments that stand out to us hold significance for some reason or another. Throughout the book of Acts, we have read about miracles that took place. We have studied the miracle of growth in the church, miracles of changed lives, and miracles of healing. Throughout each moment Luke documented there stands a common theme—all these things took place so that many people would believe.

When you think about how you pray, do you pray toward this end? Do you present your requests to God so that His will may be done, His name be glorified, and many might believe? We can be vulnerable with God about our struggles and bring before Him our circumstances, asking for many to come to believe through our testimony. God has created you uniquely and puts specific people around you so that everyday miracles like joy in Christ and striking miracles like being transformed by Christ might lead many others to believe. May our life’s aim reflect that of Paul in Acts 20:24, “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

• Who are you praying for to come to faith in Jesus?
• What are some circumstances God is working through in your life so that many may believe?
• Pray and ask God to change your perspective on your circumstances. Ask Him to show you how He is using the good and hard things in your life so that many may believe.