Acts 12 describes the despot, King Herod, persecuting the church. He had killed the disciple, James, with the sword and when he realised it pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested, imprisoned and closely guarded by soldiers. Meanwhile, prayer was made without ceasing by the church for Peter. The devil thought he was on top of his game, but God had other plans for Peter at this time. Peter was supernaturally delivered out of the prison by an angel. His chains literally fell off and he followed the angel out of the prison as the locked doors supernaturally opened. All Peter had to do in obedience was to get up and walk out. God did the rest.
There may be times when we find ourselves, not in literal prisons, but locked in prisons of our own making. How does this happen? Consider the account of the children of Israel in Psalm 78. Time and time again they had witnessed the miracles of God’s supernatural provision and protection, and yet they turned back from following the Lord, in their hearts and in their disobedient ways. The consequence of their wrong choices and complaining hearts was that they limited the Holy One, the Lord, (verse 41). It is an amazing fact that our wrong choices can limit the unlimited One. If I am not glorifying God in my choices and lifestyle, then I am limiting Him in my life!
Consider: The spending power of God Almighty is limited by the choice of His children.
God created us with a free will to make choices. We are not robots. There has to be an accountability to the Lord who has provided His Holy Spirit to guide, convict, illuminate and comfort us on our earthly journey. David prayed for an undivided heart, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, I will walk in Your truth, unite my heart to fear Your name”, Psalm 86:11. Every choice I make in independence, wanting my own way and complaining, is a step away from following the Lord, producing a divided heart, and thus limiting the Unlimited One.
If I am finding an insufficiency of that which God declares is sufficient, His grace, then where is the blockage? With me! 2 Corinthians 12:9 God affirms: “……My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. My weakness and inability are the very credentials God is seeking in a vessel in order to display His strength and power, for His glory.
God delights in “revealing His arm of strength”, displaying His supernatural wonders. The more we get in step with God with His purposes and plans, the more we will see the supernatural. He must increase, I must decrease. When we get out of the way, disappear, surrender our agenda, then the Life of God’s wonderful Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, will have pre-eminence and will be supernaturally demonstrated and evidenced through lives lived to God’s glory, and purpose.
Just reflect on your journey through life thus far, and count the hundreds of little miracles that He has performed for us on a daily basis. Remember the sad plight of the children of Israel turning back with their complaining hearts, limiting the Holy One. Count your miracles with a thankful heart!
Photo by Jose Fontano on Unsplash
