A miracle in the desert
I smiled broadly hearing the excitement in my mother’s voice yesterday. She told me she had read my Cup of Inspiration and saw the post I had written about her titled, “You’ve got supernatural strength!” Mom told me how sweet it was and thanked me for thinking of her on her birthday.
She also mentioned how impacted she was by the word of God and the prayer I shared at the end of the September 28th devotion. “I’m going to read that again and again,” she said and mentioned that she had stayed on the site for a while to read other devotions too.
Mom then began talking about the goodness Jesus and how she sees the progress I’ve made since last year’s setback. She remembers well when I struggled to write, relearn grammar rules, and interpret Scripture. Though huge chunks of my memory were gone, along with some of my abilities, I leaned on God daily and believed for restoration.
In the early days of returning home from the hospital, I dug into Scripture, praying for illumination and understanding. One day, during an at-home Bible study session with my husband Kenya and the children, I was struck by how much I needed to relearn. This became painfully obvious when I didn’t know all the details of the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
Yikes!
But they helped walk me through basic biblical truths, explain fundamental principles and rudimentary concepts. It honestly felt bizarre. How did I go from being a first lady, teaching Wednesday night Bible study, regularly sharing the gospel both online and in person, to needing my loved ones to explain the meaning of Scripture?
Odd or not, they were effective at helping me grow in my understanding, and I am so grateful!
My family became for me what Philip the Evangelist was for the treasurer of the Ethiopian Queen in Acts 8:26-40. In this chapter, the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip – one of seven faithful men of God commissioned by the early church to minister to widows and the poor – and told him to travel south along a desert road that ran from Jerusalem to Gaza.
Philip had been in Samaria, preaching Jesus and working wonders. Demons were cast out. The paralyzed and the lame were healed, and the city rejoiced (vv. 4-8). But God, who had another assignment for Philip away from the crowd, sent him into the desert, a lonely, dry place. Philip didn’t know what God was up to, but he asked no questions. He just went. And when he did, he came across a great man of power who needed help understanding a Scripture he was reading about Jesus in Isaiah 53:7-8.
It became clear that God had opened an opportunity for Philip to open this man’s understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The mission was a success, and the man believed. As evidence of his faith, when they came to some water on the road, he asked to be baptized by Philip. After his baptism, the Holy Spirit carried Philip away, and the man went on his way rejoicing, having been saved by Jesus Christ.
How awesome, right?
“In the most unexpected way, God is about to show up in your circumstances and do the impossible!”
Without the miraculous hand of God intervening in those circumstances, there is absolutely no way this would have happened. I love how God works miracles in unexpected places. He reveals Himself in unconventional ways. The Living Water, Christ, will show up in the middle of a desert, in a desolate place and do what only He can.
This powerful story demonstrates that God sees you wherever you are, and He will send the help you need. God will command strangers to bless you. He’ll use your family to minister to you. He’ll make sure you find water in your dry places.
If you are in a desert of affliction and trouble, the Living Water is flowing to you. That means every need is met, and every way is made. Get ready to receive a miracle in the desert.
Today, I’m stirring Isaiah 43:19 ESV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that whatever you need is flowing to you. Where there is shortage, He is your supply. Where there is lack, He is your abundance. Where there is sickness, He is your healer. Where there is trouble, He is your deliverer. Where there are opposing forces, He is your defender. Where there is loss, He is your restorer. Where there is grief, He is your joy. Where there is drought, He is your well that will never run dry!
Now, let’s pray.
God, thank You for reminding me that You are the source of my supply, and You see every need. Even when I am in the desert of affliction, I am confident in Your word. By faith, I thank You that a river of blessings is flowing to me right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
