Miracles are often found as we move through the ‘normalcy’ of living

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer…”

Acts 3:1 NIV

The great theologian Woody Allen once stated: “70% of success is in just showing up.”

Often times the miracle of being in the right place at precisely the right time has more to do with consistency than miraculous.  Peter and John were just doing ‘life’ as they traveled to the temple to take part in an afternoon prayer meeting. We know that this story ends with a profound miracle… one that transformed one paralyzed man’s life for the rest of it.

As usual, this crippled man was carried daily to the temple gate to accept handouts. Without government support, this is how disabled people lived their lives – off of the generosity and pity of people passing by. As Peter notices this almost invisible part of every pedestrian’s daily world, he is suddenly aware of a spiritual assignment being given him by God.

He ignores the beggar’s obvious intentions and overrides them with this startling declaration: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6 NIV As Peter lifted him to his feet, he was instantly healed. The news of this event led many to seek out Peter for his answer of how this miracle happened. As a result of Peter’s testimony the Church grew to 5,000 new converts!

So what brought Peter and John to this encounter? It wasn’t an angelic invitation… not a ‘personal word from the Lord,’… no burning bush, angels on ladders or lightning strikes from a clear sky.

They got there doing life as usual. It easily could have occurred on their way to a market for groceries, but on this day, they were on their way to church. Just normal routine for them. This is just ‘plodding,’ doing the things that make up normal living. There’s little excitement or drama in this, yet the stuff miracles are often made of can be found in just such normalities.

Being in the ‘right place at the right time’ can sometimes be explained as being ‘lucky.’ Yet while we gravitate toward the spectacular and lean away from the mundane, we just may be missing something vital. When Abraham’s servant found God’s perfect wife for Isaac, he explained how the miracle happened: “ I was on the way and Yahweh led me… “ Genesis 24:27 LEB

God responds to ordinary men and women who are faithful and consistent in life’s routines, and in their faithfulness, God often plants the seeds of the miraculous.