Expect To Be Amazed

How quickly another year has passed and with it the many opportunities that the Lord has presented to us within that year. Did we hear the Lord speaking to us a word of opportunity? Did we make the most of those opportunities? Did we give them the full attention they deserved? Did we even realize the opportunity when it presented itself? Whatever, we now have before us the opportunity of a new year with all its possibilities, some known but many unknown. I believe the Lord has in store for us both personally and collectively some amazing opportunities. But will we recognize them and seize them when they present themselves? During the past year it has been a delight to be involved with the discipleship training group. We have had many occasions in which we have enjoyed having a meal together. On one particular evening Hannah had baked two apple pies for dessert and was about to warm them in the oven. I asked her, ‘Are they any good’. Her answer was just great. ‘EXPECT TO BE AMAZED.’ First of all I loved Hannah’s confidence in her own ability and secondly I learnt a lesson which I believe is from the Lord and has stayed with me ever since. The Lord wants to do amazing things for us. He wants to bring into our lives an amazement that results in faith. The usual meaning of what it means to be amazed is, ‘to surprise greatly, to overwhelm with wonder, to marvel, or even bewilderment as to, how can this be’. This was certainly the response of all the people when they saw the lame beggar who was healed by Peter and John, walking and praising God. “They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:10) You see they were always ‘used to him’ sitting at the gate and begging. What are we used to in our own lives or in other people’s lives that we think will never change; that it will just always be that way. Consequently this can bring a great restriction upon our lives, about how we look at things, how we think and feel etc. But is there a word from God that has come or will come, that we need to hear and give our attention to? Yes there surely is, but we must initiate by making a step of offering towards the opportunity God is presenting when He speaks to us. The blind beggar gave Peter and John and the word they spoke to him, his full attention. (Acts 3:5) As a result amazing change came into his life. Oh, and by the way I’m pleased to say, Hannah’s apple pie was very tasty; I was duly amazed.