Look Here
When we talk about the miracle at the temple gate in Acts 3, we usually rush straight to the healing — how Peter reached out, spoke the name of Jesus, and the man who had been crippled from birth got up and walked.
And make no mistake — the healing was powerful.
But there’s a key part of the story we often miss.
The miracle didn’t start with walking.
It started with looking.
"Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, 'Look here.' The man looked up, expecting to get something from them."
Acts 3:4–5 (MSG)
Before Peter spoke healing, he spoke focus: "Look here."
And before the man was healed, he made a decision: he looked up, expecting to receive something.
That small, almost invisible moment set everything else in motion.
I remember a season in my life where I was stuck in survival mode — just trying to get through each day.
I wasn’t looking for miracles. Honestly, I wasn’t even really praying for anything big anymore.
One day during my quiet time, it felt like God whispered to my heart, "Look up."
At first, I didn’t even realize how low my expectations had gotten.
But little by little, as I shifted my focus back onto Him, I started to dream again.
Doors I wasn’t even asking for began to open.
Opportunities I thought were long gone suddenly reappeared.
But none of it started with hustle or striving.
It started the moment I looked up.
And that’s exactly what happened at the temple gate that day too.
When Peter said, "Look here," the man had to shift his focus — and it wasn’t easy.
Here’s what he had to turn away from:
Survival Mode:
He was used to asking for just enough to get by. Peter was inviting him to expect more.Distractions:
With crowds rushing into the temple, noise everywhere, and countless people passing by, he had to block it all out and lock in.Low Expectations:
He was asking for coins, but God was preparing complete restoration. He had to lift his belief higher.Disappointment:
After years of being overlooked, rejected, and ignored, it would’ve been easy to assume nothing good was coming. He had to choose hope again.
That simple phrase — "Look here" — was an invitation to lift his eyes, focus his faith, and expect something greater than what he was used to.
This isn’t just the man’s story — it’s ours too.
Every day, we have a choice:
Will we stay stuck looking down at survival… or will we lift our eyes and expect something more?
Here’s how to F.O.C.U.S. when you feel stuck:
F — Fix your eyes on God
Don’t let your situation be bigger than your Savior. Look to Him first.
(Hebrews 12:2)
O — Open your heart with expectation
Don’t assume today will be like yesterday. Expect God to move.
(Acts 3:5)
C — Choose attention over distraction
Give God your full focus. Listen, watch, and stay present.
(Psalm 46:10)
U — Understand God works beyond what you see
What you think you need might not be all God has planned. Stay open.
(Ephesians 3:20)
S — Stay ready even when you don’t understand
Faith isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying positioned until the breakthrough comes.
(Galatians 6:9)
And maybe that’s exactly where you are right now — waiting, hoping, wondering when things will shift.
If that’s you, here’s a simple prayer you can make your own today:
Jesus, I don’t want to live stuck in survival mode.
Teach me to lift my eyes again.
Help me tune out the noise, the disappointment, and the low expectations — and instead, to fix my focus fully on You.
I believe You have more for me than just getting by.
Today, I respond to Your voice that says, "Look here."
I choose to expect, believe, and stay ready.
Amen.
Make It Personal:
Where have you been fixing your eyes lately — on problems, distractions, or God's promises?
What low expectations might you need to let go of so you can believe bigger?
Are there areas where survival mode has been louder than faith?
What would it look like today to respond to Jesus saying, "Look here"?
Today, hear Jesus gently calling your name and saying, "Look here."
Lift your eyes.
Give Him your full attention.
Expect Him to move.
Because you never know — your miracle might already be on the way.
