Unreasonable, Part 2

 

For the first half of this article, see “Unreasonable, Part 1” in the previous blog post.

 

Receiving the Miracle

The hindrances to our miracles don’t have to be permanent. We can overcome them by God’s grace, but it does take some action on our part.

Humble Ourselves

Humility isn’t a popular word, but it’s necessary if we want to receive anything from God. We must choose to admit we don’t know it all and refuse to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). We must realize that our minds are faulty and limited. Like Jesus, we should be willing to say, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7, NKJV).

 

Renew Our Minds

To renew means to renovate. Often, when we’ve been thinking our own way for so long, it takes a remodel overhaul to change it.  In this case, we need the Word of God to replace all the old thinking and believing (Romans 12:2). We go through the renewing process by reading, speaking, and meditating (to think deeply about) what God says. When we do this, change occurs, and we begin to think like Him. Our faith grows and we come to have confidence in Who He is more than we have confidence in ourselves. We come to realize that He knows all things and His wisdom is far beyond our own.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, NKJV).

 

Act on God’s Word

Once we have built our faith, or confidence, in God’s mind, we must act on what He says (James 2:26). Daily, He calls us to live according to His Word. But then like Naaman, He will give us specific instructions for specific situations. The moment we get those specifics, we need to do it. Delaying can result in postponing our miracle, or leaving room for the devil to bring an argument against what God said. Instant obedience is key.

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land… (Isaiah 1:19, NKJV)

 

Without fail, our obedience will produce a miracle that is undeniably from God. God is faithful to keep His Word (Deuteronomy 7:9). He always does what He says He will do. Because our act of obedience may have seemed to be so illogical, it brings Him the greatest glory. But even then, we must choose to receive the blessing. We must accept it with thanksgiving, even though it may seem too good to be true. God, after all, is the God of “exceedingly, abundantly”!

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV).

We should never save our obedience for only the times we need miraculous intervention, however. Receiving instruction from God and obeying those instructions should apply to everyday decisions. God has wisdom with specific direction for every area of our lives. What house should we buy? What city should we move to, and what career should we pursue? Who should we marry? How should we handle parenting issues? God has got it all figured out. All we need to do is shut off the doubts and self-reliance to listen to His instruction. Those instructions may be out of the ordinary. But the result of our obedience is the same as for miracles—success that only comes from the only wise God (Jude 25)!