Some thoughts from my morning devotion

Thoughts from Acts 3:

1. Focus on requests.
a. Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them (Acts 3:1-5)
b. The man saw them but it wasn’t until he gave his full attention to them could he receive anything.

2. Expect an answer.
a. And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -walk!" 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. (Acts 3:5-7)
b. This man had been crippled from the day he was born. His only way of living was for others to move him to a place where he could beg from others. It says that he saw Peter and John and began asking for money, but it wasn’t until he gave them his full attention that he was able to receive the incredible gift that they were about to give him.

3. Praise God, regardless of the outcome.
a. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3: 8-10)
b. This man acknowledged where the gift came from and opened the door (in verses 11-26) for Peter to share the Gospel.

When I am not focused, God will not bless me the same way he would if I had given him my full attention. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because I am not allowing myself to be open to receive that gift.

How many times have we missed a blessing from God because we wouldn’t give Him our full attention?