21 Day Experiment-Day 2

It’s not too late to jump on board our 21 Day Experiment in Prayer.  We’re reading through John’s Gospel. Today is Chapter Two.  Each time I perform this experiment, I come away with eyes open to a deeper understanding of Jesus.

Years ago, I went from atheist to believer in one dramatic moment. A short time later, I met and married my minster husband. I left my corporate career and moved cross-country to serve God with David.  A whole lot of changes going on!

I loved my husband. Our new life was an adventure. But I was mystified by the Bible, baffled by prayer, and didn’t speak “Christian-ese.”

One day I came across the 21 Day Experiment in a book by a former atheist and newspaper reporter, Emily Gardiner Neal (The Healing Power of Christ ). Right up my alley.

Neal was transformed by reading the Gospel of John. Not as a believer–but as a skeptic. Instead of finding the Bible to be a dead book, her eyes were mysteriously opened to the reality of Jesus. She was so excited by what she discovered that she began to challenge others to set aside 21 days to read John.

So I took the challenge and dove right in to the book of John. Each day, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to one simple truth. At the end of my 21 days, I can truly say that my faith had been energized and I was hooked on God’s Word.

Now and then, I’ll repeat this experiment—especially when my faith needs a little pick-me-up. I’ve added a simple prayer method to my reading of John. I copy one verse from my reading onto a 3×5 card in my Chubby Book and list my prayers on the adjoining page.

Today, in John 2, I was struck that when Jesus turned the water into wine—his very first miracle—it was his mother who nudged Him to take action. Jesus and Mary were at a wedding together. The bridegroom had run out of wine—quite an embarrassment for that day.

So Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:3-5 NLT).

Did you catch that? Jesus argued that His time had not come. Mary basically ignored her son and got the servants on board with her plan–which happened to be God’s plan.  So Jesus instructed the servants to fill the jars with water which turned into wine!

The results? “This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11 NLT).

Prayer:  Lord, let me be a doer of Your Word. When I’m with my children and grandchildren today, help me see their life through Your eyes. Give me words to say (or to pray) that will help unlock their unique gifts and nudge them toward their calling.