Will wonders never cease! The most amazing things have happened. Now to some, they might not seem miraculous- but to me, well, they're amazing. At our daughter's 13th birthday party, my parents and siblings came over for a cook out. Little tidbits of information got relayed to me in a most unassuming manner- but they made my eyes open wide with wonder. Someone is using their teaching gift at a church - and they haven't done that in a very long time. Another wondrous account I heard was someone throwing away something old they had worn for a long time- after receiving a gift from someone who never goes out shopping for someone else. Her eyes twinkled as she relayed it to me. (Hint, hint: When is the last time you bought new underwear?!) These may not be big wonders to you, but I SAW them for what they were: He is changing us.
Anytime someone changes a habit, or does something they've never done before, you should marvel. Making a change is a miraculous thing. I am trying to break out of old mental habits, and trying to give birth to a new self-perspective: seeing myself the way God sees me. This coming year, the theme for the Women's LIFE workshops I teach at at my home church is
"It's a New You"- and we'll be exploring every aspect of our lives in the light of what Scripture tells us should be "new"- "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Cor. 5:17. New things have come- miraculous things, wondrous things.
I got thinking about the word "wonders", and I started humming that song "God of wonders beyond our galaxy...." What are the wonders He is doing in my life? Do I have eyes to see them?
"Wonders" in Scripture appear in many places. One word is pala (Judges 13:19- "did a wondrous thing")- to perform a miracle, marvel, wonder, or supernatural deed. In Zech 3:8 it's called mophet- a miracle, sign, token, wonder. This word is used 36x in the Old Testament. But what's really interesting, according to the commentary in my Spirit-Filled Life Bible is this: "While mophet contains the idea of something miraculous, in some references it seems to connote an illustration or an example."
In the New Testament, in Acts 15 and the discussion of the Jerusalem Council, miracles and wonders done among the Gentiles convinced the Jewish brethern that God was, indeed, at work in their lives too- and that they were to be included in the Christian family. This word "teras"- wonders- expands further our understanding of this word. It "denotes extraordinary occurrences...unusual manifestations, miraculous incidents portending the future rather than the past, and acts so unusual they cause the observer to marvel or be in awe."
When you observe these wonders, (whether they be the purchase of new undergarments by someone who never does that, or something more miraculous than that!) you should marvel and be in awe....of the God who works mightily in our lives to change us, to cause us to go from stuck in a rut to "born free" (remember that old song?!), from slave-mentality to an understanding that "I am a child of God".
Deut 6:21-23 reminds us of our spiritual ancestors who were brought "out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the Lord showed signs and wonders before our eyes...Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers"
The Lord shows wonders as a demonstration of His power as He brings us out of bondage. And He brings us out of bad situations, out of bondage, out of a bad mindset- in order to bring us into a good place, a good land. A spacious place where you can stretch out in your God-given gifts and talents and till the earth, sow your seed, and see a harvest. And remember, you shall see the labor of your soul and be....satisfied. Jesus did. (Isaiah 53:11) That alone is a miracle- a wonder- when you see a satisfied saint, who has once gone out weeping- but still bearing their seed for sowing- and then you see them returning, rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. ( Psalm 126 :5,6) It's a sign- it's a "picture promise" that God wants you to have in your mind. You- satisifed- filled up with God to overflowing.
Will wonders never cease!!
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