One topic I like to preach on is encountering miracles in our lives. While every Christian would welcome such blessings, many don’t. If we wish to experience miracles, we must first surrender our whole selves to God. If we haven’t truly surrendered, we are praying in our will and not the will of the Father, as James clearly describes in his letter:
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 4:3
I have found that when we surrender our lives to God, we realize the importance of forgiveness. When we forgive others and ourselves, we then truly become ambassadors for Christ.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20
Forgiveness
To experience miracles, we must have a forgiving heart. When we lack forgiveness, the grudges and bitterness we hold toward those who have hurt us become a poison that blocks the power of the Lord. Without forgiveness in our hearts, trying to pray feels very much like going up against a brick wall.
Because so many of us struggle mightily with mercy and reconciliation, forgiveness is a critical part of our ministry. We ask people to examine their consciences. Whom have they not forgiven?
Many people simply want to block out painful memories of those who have hurt them—even those no longer living. Yet, reconciliation with relatives—especially parents—or friends who have passed is so important for our spiritual health.
Don’t fall into the trap of allowing painful hurts—real and perceived—to fester in your hearts and souls. Let the Lord heal your memories. Look at the people who have hurt you, living or dead, through the eyes of the Lord. Ask the Lord to help empty your heart of bitterness and anger so that you are ready to receive His gifts and miracles.
A forgiving heart is critically important for our spiritual health and to secure answers to our prayers!
Expect Miracles
Another essential component to experiencing miracles is so basic a concept it could be taken for granted. We must learn to expect miracles! Believe God wants to intervene in our lives through tangible wonders and signs.
Many people believe miracles happened at the time of Jesus, but not today. Or they may accept that miraculous events happen to the saintly person, but not to us struggling Christians.
I see and feel the disbelief when I pray for those who doubt. Often I see it in their eyes. They thank me for the prayers, but clearly don’t think anything will happen as a result.
Those who doubt may simply and sincerely ask the Lord for increased faith and to understand how much we are loved by Him.
We believe and expect that God intends to shower us with grace. A favorite Scripture verse expresses this expectation.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
Ephesians 1:3
Wow! Every spiritual blessing. But first, we must believe, trust and expect.
We don’t know why God heals in certain ways and with His timing. However, we do know how to remove the obstacles that hinder miracles: surrender, forgive and expect! Then we truly can experience miracles.
