“…Let me say something about the word: miracle. For too long it’s been used to characterize things or events that, though pleasant, are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week – a miracle, people say, as if they’ve been educated from greeting cards. I’m sorry, but nope. Such things are worth our notice every day of the week, but to call them miracles evaporates the strength of the word.
Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature. It’s true: They rebut every rule all we good citizens take comfort in. Lazarus obeying orders and climbing up out of the grace – now there’s a miracle, and you can bet it upset a lot of folks who were standing around at the time. When a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him back up. A miracle contradicts the will of earth.
My sister, Swede…offered this: People fear miracles because they fear being changed – though ignoring them will change you also. Swede said another thing too, and it rang in me like a bell: No miracle happens without a witness. Someone to declare, Here’s what I saw. Here’s how it went. Make of it what you will…
…as a witness, let me say that a miracle is no cute thing but more like a swing of a sword.” – Leif Enger, Peace Like A River
This is one of my favorite passages of one of my favorite books…I stumbled upon it again recently, and it brought a leap of joy to my heart, and reminded me of a verse our Life Group recently studied:
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
We are the people indwelt by the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead.
We are the people alive by the Spirit who raised Christ.
We are the people dead to sin, alive to the Spirit.
We are the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, filled to overflowing with the Spirit who has all power over sin and death, the grave-shattering, chain-breaking Holy Spirit of God.
We are the people whose very lives are a miracle, a swing of a sword.
I don’t keep it secret that I struggle very often with overwhelming depression – brought on by all kinds of things, not the least of which is just the pressures of life plus sleep-deprivation. Christmastime can be especially hard for me, for whatever reason (and I see my brothers and sisters struggling too – could it be the enemy is working overtime in this time of holiest celebration for our people?).
But here is where I find my stabilization, my strength even in weakness – Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.”
Here is my good word, that I am preaching over and over to myself, shouting it loud, louder than the enemy’s whispered lies and my own quiet desperation: the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, is ALIVE IN ME.
That is a real and dangerous miracle.
A swing of a sword.
We are the overcomers.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. – Ephesians 6:10-20
resplendent soul 