Head: Know God's Word | Heart: Love God | Hands: Follow God's Way

Read Acts 9:32-43

Head

A miracle is something amazing and impossible that only God can do, and today we learn about TWO! First, Peter meets Aeneas who had been paralyzed and unable to get out of bed for eight years. Think about that — ever been sick in bed for a day? Imagine 8 years! Verse 34 tells us something miraculous happened when Peter met Aeneas. Through the love and power of Jesus, Aeneas was healed.

Not long after in a nearby town, a woman named Tabitha who loved God and loved others well had just died. Many were sad, and having heard about what God did for Aeneas, they begged Peter to come quickly. When Peter saw Tabitha, he prayed to God and God brought Tabitha back to life. Wow! The Bible says because of these two miracles, all of Lydda, Sharon, and many in Joppa came to know, love, and follow Jesus.

Heart

Earlier in the Bible, Jesus tells the disciples some things are impossible alone, but “...with God ALL things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Through Peter, God healed Aeneas and brought Tabitha back to life! Not all miracles happen this way. God doesn’t always answer our prayers like he answered Peter’s prayers. Sometimes people we love get hurt or sick. Sometimes people who we love die. This doesn’t mean God has stopped doing impossible things — He still does them every day!

Joni Eareckson Tada, a Christian and former athlete, was paralyzed in a diving accident many years ago. Joni says though she remains paralyzed, God has done miraculous things in and through her life, right from her wheelchair. Joni reminds us that God cares deeply about our physical pain and can heal our physical bodies, but those things are still temporary. He’s always most concerned with eternal things — healing us from our sins so we can have a life with Him that never ends! Salvation and eternal life are impossible without God but through Jesus, they are always possible for anyone!

Hands

What feels impossible to you today? —Forgiving a friend who hurt you, trusting God even when things don’t turn how you’d hoped and prayed? God is always with you, ready to help you. Just like Peter, we can pray for His help in every situation — and we can trust Him no matter what.

Prayer: God, You are always with us! Help us trust You like Peter. Help us to love others like Tabitha. Help us forgive others like You always forgive us. Nothing is impossible with You. In Jesus' name, amen.