CNY devotional – releasing a blessing for a breakthrough
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3:1-10 NIV)
What to do
1. Be fully clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit
- in Acts 2, Peter and John were clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit. Prior to this, they passed by the same gate and no miraculous transformation took place
- just like a car that requires petrol, we need a top up of the holy spirit occasionally
- important reminder for us before we start blessing others during CNY
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4 NIV)
2. Create a defining moment
- the lame person has been sitting at the same gate for the past few years
- but today, when Peter and John walked past this same man, they decided to seize the moment, define the day
- similarly we have the opportunity to make this CNY reunion something different
- this is something in our hands, to make a change
3. Carry the Lord’s presence
- Peter and John, who were now fully clothed, had the hunger and went to pray to God straight away
- when we are God-aware, we will turn normalcy into a defined miraculous moment
4. By confession of faith
Then Peter said, “Silver or 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)
- similarly, during CNY, as we release blessings to our friends and relatives, do something different, and bless them richly
