Expecting Miracles

Floyd continues to rest comfortably this week.  I pray daily for peace in his spirit, and for God to comfort him.

With the new year and trusting for new beginnings, my heart has been stirred to pray for miracles.  The verse that says "we have not because we ask not" has echoed through my mind.  I don't know if the miracles will be for me, for Floyd, for our family, for our friends - there are needs in all those groups - or if the miracles will be for the world at large.  I just know I'm to ask for God to release miracles.

I am still trying to regain my health and strength.  I feel weak a lot of the time.  It seems incongruous in my weakness to ask for mighty, divine miracles.  But it's not dependent on me.  God is certainly able to break in and bring miracles.

As I've been pondering this and praying, someone sent me a video clip of a Michael W. Smith song - This is How I Fight My Battles - with a scene of Moses and the children of Israel at the Red Sea......with the Egyptian army pursuing them.  

We all know how God parted the Red Sea, allowing the children of Israel to pass on dry land.  An amazing miracle!  Just watching this re-enactment encouraged my heart.

I've seen a few miracles in my lifetime - though none as dramatic as the Red Sea event.  I know we serve a miracle working God!  And our world is in such need of His miracles.  I may be weak, but He is strong and able.  I'm simply asking.

"He is the one you praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes."  Deuteronomy 10:21

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?"  Jeremiah 32:27

"Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with man is possible with God.' "  Luke 18:27

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."  Job 5:9

J. Hudson Taylor said "There are three stages in the work of God: impossible, difficult, and done."  I look forward to seeing the "done" stage.  I'm asking for that in asking for some specific miracles.

Some believe that the time for miracles is past.  I don't believe that.  I believe that miracles still happen.  Just because we don't see them on a regular basis doesn't mean that God has quit the miracle business.  I want to continue to ask and believe for the miraculous.  Will you join me?

As I have shared about this, it was a sweet surprise to hear that a number of others have been prompted to pray the same way.  One person felt the Lord said to her to "expect miracles."  I was struck by that.  It goes beyond praying to expecting. That requires faith on our part.  I'm endeavoring to position my heart to a place of expectancy.

Sometimes we don't "expect" because we don't want to be disappointed.  If we find ourselves in that state, we must take time to deal with our disappointments or else they will keep us from growing in faith.

Maybe we don't "expect" because we don't think God cares - or we don't think He wants good for us.  The Bible is full of His love, care, and goodness.  It may be important to dwell in His word and let that truth soak into our hearts.

We may not "expect" because we're in a rut - we've become lethargic in our walk with the Lord.  It's a new year - a time for new beginnings.  We need to stir up our hearts and our walk with Him.

Perhaps we don't "expect" because we've simply stopped dreaming and believing.  There are a multitude of reasons why that could be the case.  We need to remove them in prayer, and ask God to put fresh dreams on our hearts.

Whatever is holding us back, we need to bring it to the cross.  As we pray for miracles, it's important to have expectant hearts of faith!

"Be brave.  Be strong.  Don't give up.  Expect God to get here soon."  Psalm 31:24 The Message

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  Mark 11:24 NIV

"Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see."  Hebrews 11:1 GW

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."  Psalm 5:3 NIV

"I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised."  Psalm 130:5 The Living Bible

In Daniel 3:17,18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego "expected" God to show up for them - and He did.  Big time!  I want to have that kind of faith.  I want to expect the best - expect God to make a way - expect God to open doors - expect God to bring showers of blessing - expect restoration - expect healings - expect a move of God - expect provision.  I want a heart of expectancy!  I'm praying for that.