Blessings and miracles

  BY Argie Simonis

We believe in an almighty God of miracles, but did you know that God's original plan was not to meet our needs through miracles?

Let me explain, before I get misunderstood:

Miracle is defined as the suspension or transgression of natural laws, and personally my wife and I have received many miracles from the Lord. I believe that the Lord works miracles and uses them as a magnet to draw people to Him.

Just think about this: Would you rather receive a miracle of healing or live constantly in the blessing of good health? Would you rather have the Lord do a miracle to get you out of bankruptcy or be so blessed financially that there would be no need for intervention?

It is always better to avoid problems, which are the result of living in the blessing of the Lord, than to be freed from them through a miracle!

Take a look at the three main differences between blessings and miracles:

- Blessings act preventively and protectively. They prevent crises, while miracles free from crises.

- Second, blessing is always greater in abundance than a miracle.

- And third, miracles offer a temporary solution, while blessings are permanent. Therefore, if you live from miracle to miracle, it probably means that you live from crisis to crisis!

God's original plan was for His creation to work under constant blessing. If sin had not corrupted God's creation, miracles would not have been needed. Everyone would be healthy, everyone would prosper and there would be no wars or conflicts. Unfortunately, there is corruption on earth, so there will be a need for miracles.

Praise be to God that our Christ not only forgave our sins, but took upon Himself every curse and blessed us with every heavenly blessing:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Eph. 1:3

"... let God be true, but every man a liar". Rom. 3:4

So if we believe what God says about us, that we are blessed, and walk on this revelation, we can avoid many of the problems that make us candidates for miracles.

To go beyond theory, let's look at a practical example:

You may know that God loves you and you are praying for a financial miracle. We have said that the miracle goes beyond the laws of nature, but if you are ignorant of the spiritual laws that God has set, you will not see the result you hope for.

In the Word of God we read:

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2Thes. 3:10

"The LORD shall open to you his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in his season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and you shall lend to many nations, and you shall not borrow." Deut. 28:12

"Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38

In short, the above three verses tell us that if you are unemployed and not looking for a job, if you are lazy and do not put your hands on something for the Lord to bless it and if you have not learned to give so that you will  be given, what kind of miracle are you waiting to see? When we disobey His commands either out of ignorance or because we do not trust in His promises, it is an obstacle to receiving the blessings the Lord has spoken in our lives.

Because miracles go beyond the natural, they are never permanent. The Lord created physical laws that govern the function of His creation. Sometimes, temporarily, it exceeds them, but always returns the state to the physical function of these laws.

For example, if we do not take care of our body health, if we eat unhealthy or do not exercise and get sick, we can receive a healing miracle. But if the root of the problem is not addressed, illness or disability will return and we will need another miracle.

But when we believe in God's Word and follow its instructions, it will teach us how to eat, exercise, and enjoy emotional health that works as medicine:

"A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones." Prov. 17:22

The Lord always prefers to keep us healthy through His blessing rather than healing us with a miracle. And, unlike miracles, once a blessing is received, nothing can stop it:

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he has blessed; and I cannot reverse it." Numbers 23:19-20

The only thing that can stop God's blessing in our lives is our unbelief! Balaam's curse could not stop the blessing that existed on the nation of Israel. The blessing received with faith will always prevail over the curse.

So what is God's blessing and how do we receive it?

First of all, blessing is not something tangible. God's blessing produces things, but it is not things:

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Gal. 3:14 

Abraham's blessing came upon us through faith in Christ, and blessing is not the things Abraham possessed. Who wants Abraham's animals that have been dead for four thousand years? Or his tents and clothes? What you want is God's favor upon him, which produced all this physical and spiritual abundance in his life.

This is the blessing of God. It is the divine Grace that has been spoken to us. And when we apply faith in this blessing, then we will experience this abundance in all areas of our lives.

The good news is that we are already blessed. The bad thing is that most people do not know the power of this blessing. I hope this message blesses you and helps you change your prayer, so that instead of asking God for a miracle, start asking Him to show you how to walk in a constant blessing.