Miracles

Miracles - We’ve read about them in the Bible. Have any of you witnessed a miracle? Do you know someone who has? How would you define a miracle?

My devotion today was chosen as a tribute to a very good friend of mine who lives in Red Oak, Iowa. We have been friends for almost 25 years. This woman is one who always volunteers to help those in need - family, friends, neighbors, community. She believes in the power of prayer and expresses her gratitude for blessings every day of her life. Throughout the day, she declares “It’s a miracle from You know who!”

The devotion lesson for Sept 27 in Christ in Our Home features these words from Psalms 62 “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.”

The devotion continues: “This psalm’s wording reminds me of an ofttold fictional story. Briefly, a flood is coming. A person of faith prays to God to be rescued. Sequentially, three rescuers arrive to save the person; each time the person turns them away, saying, “God will save me.” Finally, the person drowns. God replies, “I sent you three rescuers. What more did you want?”

Often, I’m adamant that I’m trusting God alone. However, I may be relying on how I think God’s response will look. That’s not really faith, is it? Instead, I’ve decided I know what God will do; I’ve put God in the proverbial box of only doing things in certain ways that coincide with my way and plan. God’s plan may be to use ordinary people, science, technology, nature, and so on to intervene. My confirmation pastor said a miracle isn’t necessarily something fully supernatural; it can be God using typical means, but exactly when they’re needed!

Let us pray: Awesome God, forgive us for boxing you into our plan. Grow our faith to trust in you alone so we can all give thanks and declare: “It’s another miracle from you know who!”