|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Trust And Obey"1 (Lyrics) |
Ephesians 3:20-21 – Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)
I believe in miracles. Much has been written about them, whether it be Daniel in the lions' den, or the feeding of the five thousand, etc. I believe that God is able to do what, to human thought, is impossible.
However, today, I am writing about what I am calling "little miracles", like instances of perfect timing, or things that many people call "happenstance" or "coincidence". I firmly believe that God directs us in our daily lives. Many times a day, God enables something that we need, something to help us on our way, or sometimes, even something that we want.
One such "little miracle" occurred for me and my wife back in September, 2005. Our 41-year-old son had just died from pancreatic cancer. Early the next morning, we awoke, and my wife said, "I wonder if John has influenced anybody of whom we are unaware." He had been an active Salvation Army Officer (pastor) at a growing church in suburban Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We knew that he'd had a strong influence in his ministry there. But what about other elements of his life here on earth?
Then, the telephone rang. It was from Zimbabwe, and on the other end of the line was Dr. Paul Thistle. To this day, Dr. Thistle ministers to thousands in rural Zimbabwe, receiving many plaudits for his outstanding achievements in that needy situation. Paul said that he was sorry that he wouldn't be able to get back to Canada for John's funeral, but then, he surprised us by saying how much John had influenced him when they were teenagers together and members of the youth class that we led. In fact, he said, John had had the biggest spiritual influence on him of anybody in the world!
Talk about a miracle! My wife and I were feeling at a very low point in our life, and God directed a world-famous doctor to call us! We had remembered Paul and John as two young men in our class — never realizing the bond that had developed and that was bearing fruit years later.
Now here's a postscript to that "little miracle". In August, 2018 — 13 years later — we were having lunch with Dr. Thistle and his family just before they returned from a break in Toronto. I mentioned that call, and Paul said that he remembered it well. Then, he said that it a was a miracle. In all his years in Zimbabwe, he was virtually never able to call Canada successfully the first time (it would normally take several tries), but that morning, he got through on the very first try. I guess God knew that we needed that "little miracle".
I'm sure, as you read this, that you can think of many situations where something has happened or you have received some benefit that you weren't expecting or didn't think possible.
We can choose to be skeptical and dismiss these benefits as circumstances that just happen by chance. Instead, let us choose to be thankful for God's "little miracles".
Prayer: Dear Father, help us to appreciate the many "little miracles" that You work daily in our lives. Help us to be willing to share with others and always glorify You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Thursday, April 18, 2024 – In East Asia — Pray for more partners who become trainers in our house church planting network in East Asia. We are asking God for around ten of these trainers for each district in our region. May the Lord grant them courage in their next step of faith.
stressful travel ahead: "April 17, 2024: Please pray that our upcoming travel will be okay. A few problems have arisen with..." 
Thanks, Vincent, for a touching story.
Thanks for sharing that wonderful story with us.
I needed that today. God is gracious. Thank you.
God-instances! Always enjoy your stories, Vince!
God bless.
A beautiful story with a very important message. Thank you, Walter!
Thanks for sharing your little miracle with us today.
Blessings.
Vincent, thank you for sharing this uplifting devotional with us this morning. It blessed me. Blessings.
Thanks Vincent. You and l are on the same wavelength when it comes to this topic.
Blessings.
Dear Vincent:
I could not agree with you more. I thank God so many times for His intercessions.
Thank you.
Thanks for your reflection on “little miracles.”
In our reformed heritage, we call them “divine providences.”
In any case, yes as says the Scripture, for the glory of God in Christ.
(MI)
Dear Brother Vince,
Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Thank you for today’s inspiring devotional “Little Miracles” our God truly is Wonderful! Amen.
This reading reminds me of a joke of the woman praying for a parking spot near the hospital entrance. As she drove along, a car pulled out from a perfect spot. “Oh, never mind God “, she said. “I’ve just found one”.
Thanks for today’s reading.
I just would like to give you thanks for your message this morning. I call them ‘God moments’, or a ‘divine nudge of kick in the pants’! Whatever they are called, they have had a profound effect on my life and faith development.
How blessed you are to have been able to share your faith with your wife. I married an unbeliever over 50 years ago….and he still is an atheist, but deeply loved. God works in strange ways!!
Blessings.
My husband and I, have experienced many small (and not so small) miracles in our lives Vincent. I stopped calling them coincidences many years ago when each one arrived in perfect timing and totally unexpected.
To this day God blesses us with the unexpected and I am so thankful that He cares that much for us.
Thank you for sharing.
Blessings to you and yours,
(ON.)
Hello Vincent
Another great one. I too get excited at the ‘little miracles’! I was thinking how they are like a drop of rain on a seed of faith to help it grow and then continued to read and the verse for today speaks of rains and showers!! I cannot help but get excited when things like this happens. I feel sorry for the ones who just pass it off as nothing or just the way things work out.
Have a great day my friend in the Lord!!
God bless.
Good Morning Vincent and Thank you. I too, believe in miracles, especially the “little ones” which happen most every day. Long ago I read “With God there are no coincidences”, meaning what others call coincidences, we know to be directly God’s hand at work.
Thoughts are with you in your son’s passing, now 13 years, though I’m sure that’s only according to the calendar. For you, it perhaps seems like yesterday, at least a lot of the time.
How wonderful that you see all these things as miracles. Little or otherwise.
Keep up your writing.
Good morning Vincent.
Yes, miracles DO happen!
Last winter, we were driving home and we’re passing through a town, on a messy winter day. Suddenly, we saw a vehicle rapidly heading towards us from the right hand side! A collision was imminent! I DID NOT TURN THE WHEEL, BUT OUR VAN TURNED, and the other vehicle sped past and down the road. We moved on and saw a vehicle at the side of the road, with flashers on. A man was waving us to stop.
He apologized for what happened and explained that the vehicle which almost hit us was driven by his son, who had earned his licence only two days before, and knew nothing of this town. They were heading to the Funeral Home, and he told his son to “just stay on my tail.” which he was doing. His son had not looked to his right and had not seen us coming.
The father thanked us for my quick thinking, and miraculous maneuver!
I simply said “Yes, it was a miracle”. With smiles, we parted, and we continued safely home, thanking God for providing us with a Guardian Angel.
Yes, miracles DO exist, every day!
Blessings.
Good morning Vincent. I look forward to reading the Daily Devotionals on line. First off, I would like to offer my sympathy for the loss of your son, a man who clearly touched may lives on his journey. I cannot even begin to imagine what losing a child must be like. That would be a real test of my faith, but God always delivers. I have only come to really trust in God in the last few years since I had a kidney transplant. The first months were very difficult, but about the six month mark, God helped me turn the page, and I have gotten better by the day ever since.
Your message so resonated with me this morning, just about brought me to tears. I have experienced so many of these divine interventions (just can’t even bring myself to call them coincidences}.
When my kidneys failed, some 20 people were tested for compatibility and my wife was my best match, the best possible match aside from a genetic match (none of my siblings were compatible). This was and remains a gift from God. Praise be to God, for he is an awesome God.
This is just but one of such gifts / blessings. When these events occur, I know without a doubt it is not a coincidence but God’s hands at work.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder this morning.
May God bless you richly.
(QC)
Thanks for speaking your truth today, Vincent. I always love to hear what is on your heart and put it on my own heart.
Thanks for the devotion. I have met Dr. Paul and support his ministry. Truly a wonderful example of a servant of God.
Dear Vince Walter, thank you for this devotional. I, too, look for the little miracles in life for there are no coincidences – only God’s grace. Thank you for sharing this miracle with us.
Blessings.
Hello Vince, thank you for the daily reading. I can second your thoughts of little miracles. The road to some was not always easy, but God had the answer at the right place, something we saw many times in our lives. God Bless.
Hello Vince
Thank you for sharing the wonderful story about how the phone call from Dr. Thistle, all the way from Zimbabwe, offering comfort on the loss of your son. Then to hear, 13 years later, how that phone call had come through on the first try, a miracle in itself.
Keep up your good work Vince, the world needs more people like you as well as your dear departed wife who I remember very well.
Thank you so much.