It Never Gets Old

Devotion for the week...

I've been writing these weekly devotions for 11 years now. Over the past few years, I've also added devotions for the annual Easter QAL and Devotional Journeys, and monthly devotions for Stash Artists members. That's a lot of devotions! Every now and then I get an email from a reader saying a particular devotion encouraged or challenged her. It amazes me that God uses my words to speak into another person's life that way. 

I spent a lot of years learning how to write well, but I know it's not my skill that impacts you as you read these devotions. It's His Word, His story, and His influence speaking through my words that makes a difference to you. Knowing that He works in and through what I write never gets old, which is why I still love every single email I receive about the devotions. 

Last week I read the story of Peter and John healing a man on their way into the Temple: "Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, "I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!"

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them" (Acts 3:1-8).

Talk about God working through a person! Can you imagine how Peter must have felt as God worked through his words and his outstretched hand to heal this man? I wonder if that feeling ever went away, through all the years Peter worked such astounding miracles in Jesus' name. I hope it didn't, and Peter always felt a sense of wonder as God worked through him.

How has God worked through you? Isn't it an amazing feeling when you realize He has used your efforts to impact another person in some way?