Dec 21, 2025 – Expect Miracles
Streams – Cowman quotes J. R. Miller in today’s devotion, “Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master’s footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings.”
Power – Romans 5:8 – “But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.” Joyce writes, “Jesus didn’t die for you because you were great and wonderful; He died for you because he loves you. God loves you, and He wants you to believe it and receive His love all the time – even when you make mistakes.”
JA – “Because I was willing to experience a life of poverty, you are incredibly rich! My life, death, and resurrection opened the way for My followers to become children of God and heirs of glorious, eternal riches. My abiding presence is also a precious gift. Celebrate all these amazing gifts with gratitude and overflowing joy!”
Prevail 355 – “Stay awake. Stay engaged. Seek current experiences with God. Tend to the things He cares about…. Lord, How easy it is to rely on past laurels and ride the wave of past experiences. I earnestly look to You today. Awaken me! Amen.”
JC – “My plan for your life is unfolding before you…. As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My strength to sustain you, expect to see miracles – and you will.” I don’t suppose you can call finding a good deal a miracle; but, still, it is in the same ballpark of things that God likes to do for us. I’ve heard Joyce Meyer talk in countless sermons about how God has provided for her through the years in big and small ways and even with a sale on an outfit she needed for an occasion coming up. She went shopping expecting God to lead her to the good deal. It’s a bit of a miracle of sorts to be in the right place at the right time for the right thing. That happened yesterday when we didn’t run an errand when I expected us to do so; but, while we were out later, we ran into a friend and had a sweet visit that we wouldn’t have had earlier. God cares about the details of our lives.
That crossed my mind when I looked to my right just now here in the sunroom and saw the little table we got last weekend at an antique mall in Athens, AL. We were on our way to our friend’s house to help with some of her moving-in chores and stopped at the shop on the way – not for me but for Don. I had already been there on my first trip, but I knew he’d enjoy it; so, I included that little detour. (I know! Right?! A husband who likes shopping and wandering antique malls! Just add that to the list of the wonderful things about him!) We had said we were “just browsing” because we absolutely don’t need anything, but of course we found some treasures. A few of the fun finds were a Christmas wine glass, a Christmas game, an Army hat, and a Paw Patrol desk chair. Then at the end of a row in a crowded booth I spotted a beach scene on a little tabletop; and, when I saw $15, I knew it was going home with us. (This table really is a piece of art!! And for $15?!!) It reminds me of where I grew up (Va. Beach) and of so many happy beach trips here there and everywhere with family and friends. I wasn’t sure where it was going to go until yesterday when I was rearranging the sunroom a bit for the shelf Don put together for me, but now it is right beside me soothing me with the calm waves and the imagined warmth of the sand. I truly believe God planned that special treat for me. Thank You, God!
Utmost – 1 Corinthians 2:12 – “We have received…the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” Chambers writes, “If you try to dam up the Holy Spirit in you to produce subjective experiences, you will find that He will burst all bounds and take you back again to the historic Christ. Never nourish an experience which has not God as its source, and faith in God as its result. He must be Lord over you, and you must not pay attention to any experience over which He is not Lord…. Be ruthless with yourself if you were given to talking about the experiences you have had. Faith that is sure of itself is not faith; faith that is sure of God is the only faith there is.”
