My God of Wonders

In these days of affluence, science, technology and instant gratification we rarely experience or recognize God at work in our lives. Most Christians would love to have been around and witnessed Jesus feeding the five thousand, walking on water or healing the sick, because today especially in our Western Society miracles are rarely seen or acknowledged. This is because we have so many other choices available that appeal to our natural senses, that we chose them rather than believing God’s Word and depending on Him to provide. It is only when we have exhausted all other alternatives; when money won't provide the solution; when doctors can do no more; when our situation seems impossible that we turn to God for help and even then we are skeptical that He will answer. The Bible gives endless examples of God providing for and protecting His people and He never changes so if we are not experiencing these same things today, it is because our thinking has changed not God's love and willingness to provide for us.

Jesus when he sent His disciples out told them to take nothing with them because He wanted them to depend on Him to provide and in doing so build their faith in a God they had never seen. Jesus also said that it would be harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Jesus knew that while a person has money and the power that comes with it, they would rely on it to meet their needs and not God. The Israelites could have crossed the desert to the Promised Land in a few days but because they failed to trust the God who had proven himself so many times, they had to spend forty unhappy years in the desert. Things haven't changed today. Despite the fact that we have these examples to learn from we still fail to trust God and this results in unnecessary worry and stress. I believe it is a serious sin and an insult that hurts God deeply when we doubt His ability and willingness to provide for our every need. God gave his only begotten Son, who in turn suffered unbearable pain and suffering so we could enjoy the benefits of being a child of God. If we don’t avail ourselves of these benefits then His sacrifice was in vain. As a loving father, I know that if any of my children had a genuine need and asked for my help, I would do everything in my power to meet that need. God loves His children, far more than we could ever comprehend and his resources are limitless, so to doubt His willingness to care for and provide for our every need is to doubt His love for us.

One time on an Alpha Holy Spirit weekend I had given a message on receiving spiritual gifts. I made an appeal for people who would like to receive any gift from God to come forward and no one did. I stood off to the side and suddenly I had a vision of God with His arms full of gifts, all wrapped up like Christmas gifts and He was bringing them to the people, but the people were all turning and walking away from Him. Tears were streaming down His face because He had paid an enormous price for these gifts. They cost Him His only Son, Jesus. As I stood and watched Him cry I started to feel His hurt and disappointment and started to weep uncontrollably. I was finally able to pull myself together enough to describe to the group what I had just seen and felt inside and this triggered a reaction in many of those present. Some were saved while others received the gift of the Hoy Spirit. God more than anything else wants us to trust Him to take care of all our needs. Jesus told us to cast all our cares on Him because His burden is light and we need to do that, if we want to see Him work in our lives and enjoy the peace and joy He has for us.

I wanted to write this book so that others, Christian or non-Christian would realize that God still performs miracles in the lives of those who trust Him. In the majority of the stories, I had no other options but to trust God to provide and it seems that it is when we find ourselves in that helpless situation that God steps in and provides. There is an important lesson to be learned from this. If we" step out" of our comfort zone for God and place ourselves in positions where our finances, resources and abilities are stretched beyond our own limitations, God will always provide as long as our desires are within His will. With God all things are possible.

I pray that as you read these examples of God working in my life that they will encourage you to trust God in those impossible times and that you will be inspired to become a risk taker; dare to be a David and experience first hand, "The God of Wonders".