A Different Kind of Miracle

          This is the second time I've sat down to write a blog post in the last two days, and hopefully this one turns out better than the last (which you won't find posted, haha). My church has been going through a study of Colossians, which is largely about being heavenly-minded so that we can be true earthly good. It's about being radically transformed and having our minds and hearts replaced with those of Jesus, so that we can focus on heaven and live in the Kingdom of Heaven now, and by doing so can partner with Jesus to restore the world and save the lost. One of the most challenging things that has come out of this study has been accepting the idea that Jesus wants to and is able to instantly transform our minds and hearts. That's not to say that this always happens, but it can. And, in my experience, what often happens is that we get so used to saying, "yeah but it usually doesn't happen right away" or "it's usually a gradual process" that we don't expect miracles, and eventually we stop believing that they will happen altogether. We believe in miracles when someone is gravely ill, we believe in miracles when disaster is imminent or already upon us, but what about in terms of our individual, internal transformation? Where's the faith in miracles for that?
          I've discovered more and more recently how shallow my faith is with regard to miracles. I have the faith listed above, believing that God works miracles for healing and deliverance and provision, but that I'm just going to take a while to change, and that's how it is. I remind myself of this guy sometimes when it comes to becoming like Jesus:

          Seriously, though, why do we as Christians struggle to believe for miracles in our pursuit of Christ-likeness? Do we forget that the Holy Spirit, in just a wild, crazy minute, changed Peter from a mouse into the fearless mouth of God? Do we forget that Jesus cast the evil out of several men with a word, and that afterward not only were they set free, but they were radically devoted to Him? Do we think that the heart of a man (or woman) is too much for the God who healed all who came to Him and who raised to dead? Perhaps our problem is that we forget about the Holy Spirit, we think that once we're saved He's done all the exciting stuff, and that from now on it's a slow slogging journey toward righteousness and passionate devotion, and that "it's a good thing we have the Holy Spirit with us" (on this seemingly depressing journey). We think of ourselves as spiritual tortoises. We're moving slowly and it's hard, but we're counting on the hope that we'll get to the finish line in first place.

Is this the destiny Christ spoke of when He said, "and when the Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power"? Is it our lot in life to slog our way with great difficulty and much stress toward the victory that has already been won for us? When God says that His Word is like a fire, does He just mean a nice, slow burn that takes its time but eventually gets the job done? 

I don't believe it!

          This post is as much a motivational speech for me as I hope it is for you. I write this to remind myself and hopefully encourage others that our God is a god of miracles, and He doesn't necessarily wish for you to struggle every step of the way toward becoming like Jesus. Sometimes He picks us up and we jump from one place to another, "from glory to glory", because He's made us more than conquerors; He's already won! All of the stubborn nature that is in us can be overcome in a single moment. I'm not saying it always will, and we will likely have seasons where we struggle through challenges for the sake of our greater good, but I believe that there are also seasons designed for us in which God grows us leaps and bounds by His own miraculous doing; there are moments in which we are transformed and another part of our flesh is conquered by the Holy Spirit in us, without us doing anything but asking and letting go of our striving. Let me say it again: 

God can transform your heart and mind miraculously, in an instant!

As co-heirs and co-laborers with Christ, we have a greater destiny than limping through the journey of overcoming our past sins and fighting with temptation. We have an inheritance of victory, and Jesus' fullness is in us. Every bit of Him dwells inside us! Don't forget this! When you get discouraged with your failure, when it seems like there's pressure on all sides that is unrelenting and that you'll never be able to move forward, remember that God is a god of miracles, and that includes inside of you.

          Believe for miracles, believe that God can miraculously grow us and equip us to be the salt and light of the world in the places He puts us, so that we can build the Kingdom on earth, free the captives, and grow in relationship with Him forever.

Grace and Peace,

Ron Campbell