Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was conflicted by a comment on my last post. The comment was well intended, but it hit a nerve. As a Christian, I believe in the Holy Trinity and that all scripture is God-breathed. I believe that Jesus performed miracles, also known as signs and wonders, and I believe miracles still happen today.

So what’s the problem? It wasn’t the comment itself. It was the expectation. I’ve run across this expectation before and I don’t agree with it. Let me try to explain—as Christians we are given authority by Jesus to pray the words of scripture and receive healing, whether physical or mental. At first glance, there is truth in there. But, this statement is myopic. What I mean by that is, thinking like this puts God in a box, while setting up the believer to experience failure. Failure produces doubt, and doubt produces self-condemnation.

There is a bigger picture and a better plan for me than trying to bring about a miraculous healing. Part of that is this blog. There are so many people like me, who live with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. People who don’t see their prayers answered.

My faith, my hope, is grounded on the greatest miracle I will ever receive, the miracle of Jesus Christ.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As you contemplate all the things you are thankful for this month, I pray you can say with me, “The greatest thing in all my life is knowing Jesus.”

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for leaving heaven to serve the will of Father God, for demonstrating your power on earth so I would know who you were, for dying in my place to pay for my debt of sin, for rising from the grave ending the reign of death, and for sending the Holy Spirit to see me through until I’m with you in heaven.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy