Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV)
I try to reflect on scripture after studying. Doing that makes me think about the impact that scripture has on my life today. This series about miracles in scripture seems to point to different ways God touches and impacts our lives. While Biblical miracles seem grander and more magnificent than miracles I’ve witnessed in my life today, I think that’s a matter of perspective.
I remember the tornado that leveled Ruskin Heights, Missouri in May of 1957. I was four years old but I vividly remember being in the basement of my house with my parents. I didn’t know it at the time, but it felt like death and destruction was outside. I lived in Raytown, Missouri which is near Ruskin Heights. We didn’t know until later how massive the destruction was that day, but I remember my parents prayed while we were in the basement. I remember how grateful they were after the tornado warning was over. Of course, in that moment we didn’t know Ruskin Heights had been all but leveled.
Photo from the National Weather Service taken in May, 1957.
In the wake of that kind of destruction it was a miracle that any of us survived. The F5 tornado nearly leveled everything in its path when it touched down.
I am reminded that Day miracles come in all shapes and sizes. The destruction the tornado did was horrible, but it was a miracle that the tornado didn’t level all of Kansas City that day.
Here have also been times in my life when a hit or a miss in a car reminded me I was seconds away from being destroyed. I used to take those moments for granted, but the older I get the more I am reminded we should not take anything for granted.
Psalm 46:1-3 says:
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
When I think about all the times when God protected me and others I know, I am reminded that the stories in scripture about miracles are known and remembered because the authors who shared the miracles gave us perspective about what God was doing for His people. At the Red Sea and the Jordan River, God was providing safe passage to a place where God planned for them to live.
The day the sun stood still and the day God turned time back were for specific purposes. God held the sun in place so Israel could continue to fight an important battle. God turned time back to give King Hezekiah a sign that He would keep His promise. In much the same way, God gave Noah the rainbow as a promise He would not flood the earth again.
Moses and Elijah appeared and Jesus’ body was changed, transfigured as a precursor to what was about to happen. The three disciples that witnessed that miracle had it as a reminder for the future.
Elisha saw Elijah ride to heaven on a chariot so he would receive a double portion of Elijah’s power to do more miracles. Then, Elisha’s very bones healed a man who fell into his tomb.
Jesus walked on water so his disciples would believe in possibilities. An Angel appeared and released Peter from prison, Saul the Pharisee became the Apostle Paul when he was blinded on the road to Damascus, the prophet Elijah healed a small boy, Jesus fed thousands with two fish and one basket full of bread, a man born blind was given sight, and a man plagued with a demonic spirit was set free. All of those miracles happened for a reason. God was showing them and us how much He loves us and is active and present in our lives.
In my mind, every time God uses the gifts He gave me, it’s a miracle. By definition, when God reaches inside us and speaks to us, a miracle occurs. God gave me gifts for a reason.
Your gifts were given to you FOR A REASON. whatever gifts God gave you, He gave them because He intends to bless you and others with those gifts.
They were given to you for a reason, and God calls it good.
It IS a miracle.
Every time God reaches inside you and touches you, change happens.
A song is born.
And it’s a miracle.
It’s a miracle we should not take for granted because it’s good and it’s from God.
So, Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Embrace Your Gifts
However you are led to use your gifts, or pray about using your gifts, focus on that.
From God’s Love, Deborah
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