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We all want to see the miraculous. All of us need miracles in our lives in one area or another. I have had the privilege of experiencing and beholding many miracles both in my personal life and in the lives of others. Some of the greatest miracles that happen in this life are in the realm of the human will yet we downplay their value. Yes, it is miraculous for God to show us an area of our lives where we’ve been wounded and then receive a breakthrough from the Holy Spirit. However, it is also a miracle to willingly choose not to walk in offense when we encounter difficult situations. That is an ongoing miracle that we can experience every single day if we would only choose to engage our will by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Some things only God can do. Many things God has given us the ability to choose, but we’d rather not. That is what I’m talking about. What will you do about that?
Now, do not be confused… I believe in and rely on the miraculous power of God to intervene in my life and would encourage you to do the same. My point is that we can often look to God for miracles in areas that He is looking for us to willingly choose to be obedient to His Word. We often live life as if God is in control of everything and each circumstance is based solely on His will and preference. However, if that were the case then there would be no sickness, abuse or wickedness of any sort in the world; everyone would be saved and life would be a perpetual Garden of Eden. Of course, that is not the case and is a reminder that God IS NOT in control of everything in this life. He has willingly given a lot of control to people (for better or worse) and therefore the decisions we willfully make or do not make affect the quality or our lives and environments. This brings a measure of accountability many of us would rather not have to acknowledge. Yes, God is all powerful and sovereign and can do ANYTHING but He has WILLINGLY allowed us to choose how much (or little) of His Truth we will invite and appropriate in our lives. That is miraculous restraint and vulnerability and is something we should consider in our own lives. (Click here to read my post “Are You Strong Enough To Use Restraint”)
What Will You Do About It?
King David addresses the power of our will to help or hurt us in Psalm 51 and I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. After asking the Lord to restore the joy of salvation, He asks God to give him a ‘willing spirit to sustain me’. God can set us free from things but if we just fall right back into the pattern that got us in trouble to begin with we will constantly be in need of a miracle. As long as we devalue the miracle of having a free will to choose to live in accordance with God’s Truths we will continually need to be ‘bailed out’ from patterns of behavior that are destructive. King David realized in Psalm 51:12 that he needed a ‘willing spirit’ in order to be sustained after being restored and we need that same realization. He understood that the choices he made after his breakthrough would weigh heavily on his freedom moving forward. It was true for him and it’s true for us. Will you choose to walk in love today? Will you choose to be the first to apologize, to forgive or to restore a relationship? There is a miracle for you on the other side of your willful decisions. (Click Here To Read My Post “Relationships Are Worth Restoring”)
God miraculously saves us from eternal death and gives us new life when we accept His love and His grace through the acknowledgement of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection as the Son of God. But if we neglect to engage our will by purposefully choosing to obey and apply His Word in our lives we will struggle in this life even as we are ultimately on our way to heaven. Yes, we will enjoy an eternity with the Lord, but will unnecessarily make this life a burden to bear instead of a joy to live. The difference truly is found in our willingness to continuously meditate on, engage with and joyfully apply the Word of God to our lives and circumstances. God can heal you of bitterness (Hallelujah!) but will you choose to not harbor any the next time you are offended? If you make that choice you will daily live in that breakthrough. We are all in desperate need of God’s grace and power in our lives. That will never change. But we can grow in His grace and power as we apply the truths of His Word to our daily lives. That is a miracle we all need and can experience every day! (Click Here To Read My Post “My Smartphone Ate My Prayer Life”)
‘We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save nor sanctify ourselves— God does that. But God will not give us good habits or character, and He will not force us to walk correctly before Him. We have to do all that ourselves.’ – Oswald Chambers
From The Bible
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. – Psalm 51:12 NIV
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. – John 7:17-18 NIV
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. – Mark 8:34 NIV
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