Acts 8:3-8:  ³ As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

Have you ever wondered why we don’t see daily supernatural activity as the disciples of the book of Acts did? Why did the New Testament Christ-followers find themselves to be witnesses on a regular basis of “death-to-life” miracles? Did such phenomenal encounters end with the martyrdom of each of those disciples? Were those miracles truly just a part of the process God used to establish His Church, among both the Jew and the Gentile?

There are multiple theories and explanations of the decrease of such supernatural exploits. But I’d like to highlight one of the most simplistic. As citizens of the modern western world as we know it, we have progressed in many areas of life. Much of this progress has definitely improved quality of life, making day-to-day lifestyle less strenuous and taxing. But a greater portion of it has replaced man’s reliance upon God’s provision, His intervention, and the expectation of the supernatural.

Recently a Facebook friend posted about an additional diagnosis they had received for a family member. His post was requesting prayer for the family member but it wasn’t a request for healing. It was a request for the process of accepting their “new normal”. My heart twinged a bit as I realized they weren’t asking God to manifest in the fullness of His power. They were accepting what our culture had told them was now to be their new normal way of life.

Friend, don’t allow this godless society to dumb down what God says is normal for the life of the believer! If you can trust God to wash away the sins of your past, taking you from outer darkness to the Light of eternity with Jesus through one prayer of repentance and commitment of a life surrendered to Him, you can trust Him to produce the miraculous in your life! It was ALL paid for by Jesus Christ on the Cross!

My challenge for us today is to acknowledge the new normal that we must expect by faith each day. Don’t settle for life with a debilitating illness! Shake off the temptation to worry and fret over your finances when the Word of God has promised that He “shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”! (Phil 4:19) What would happen if you dared to believe that your lost co-workers would actually say “yes” when you invited them to church…again? Could that lost loved one actually turn away from addiction and back to the Lord? Begin to believe that the supernatural is possible in YOUR daily life and it shall come to pass.

What will you expect in your new normal? Can you believe for joy in your city?

Pursuing the Supernatural,
Bridgette