Do You Believe In Miracles? (Your answer could be the key to your restoration)

BY: DEANA BELL, DIRECTOR, RESTORED MARRIAGE

I sometimes wonder why the Body of Christ seems to have doubts when it comes to miracles. I have encountered lots of people who believe that miracles were only for the times of Jesus. However, Scripture tells us that whoever believes in Jesus will do the works He did, and even "greater works" than He did (John 14:12 NIV) Did you know that there are 83 recorded miracles in the Old Testament and 81 in the New Testament?  (MY SOURCE)
 
When I think of miracles from a "worldly" perspective, I can imagine how one would be tempted to deny them. Again, the Word says in Romans 12:2, "Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (NLT)
 
I want to tell you about the first time I experienced a physical miracle...a story that may challenge your thinking.
 
It was after my husband and I were restored. We were having dinner one night in our dining room and we were discussing something that my husband and I disagreed about. I knew that I could prove him wrong, so I ran upstairs to get something in support of my point. On my way back down, I missed a step or slipped and ended up at the bottom of the staircase. When I landed, there was an audible "crack." My husband and kids ran from the dining room to the landing and surrounded me. We all heard the crack and knew what that meant.
 
I was in an intense amount of pain and could not move. My husband knew that we needed to go to the hospital, but no one could move me without me experiencing more pain They called an ambulance, but while we were waiting, my son said, "We need to pray!" My son started praying fervently as he laid his hands on my leg. My daughter then joined in with her prayers of agreement. Lastly, my husband prayed. We all agreed in prayer that what we heard in the natural (an audible crack) was not so and that we believed in the supernatural healing power of Jesus.
 
The ambulance arrived and took me to the ER. We all waited in the ER for the doctors to arrive and after we told them what had happened, they agreed that I had probably broken something. They decided to do an x-ray to find out. There was a lot of swelling so it was hard for anyone to tell just by touching it. So I was taken to the radiology department for the x-ray and then taken back to the ER.
 
In the meantime, I began praying in the Spirit that my outcome would be favorable. I prayed Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28, and remember spending a lot of time quietly praising the Lord. Something in my Spirit rose and I felt an actual physical lightening of my previously somber and anxious mood.
 
Normally, other than the pain and inconvenience, a broken leg would not be something that I would completely stress over. However, in this instance, we were less than two weeks away from moving. We had sold the house we were living in and were moving about 30 minutes away. We did not have the funds to hire a professional moving crew or company, so I knew it was falling on me and my parents to move most of the entire contents of my home. We had not financially prepared to do anything but move ourselves, so in my mind, it was out of the realm of possibilities for me NOT to do the majority of packing/moving.
 
When the doctor in charge returned with the results of my x-ray we all waited in great anticipation. To be honest, I think we all, on some level, expected that I would walk out of that ER in a cast. However, the doctor informed us that my ankle was NOT broken. In fact, it was not even fractured! I think I must have yelled "Thank you, Jesus" in a very loud voice because I remember the whole room turning to look at me. Yes, the doctor confirmed, a second time, I had not broken, fractured, or sprained anything. My diagnosis was an acute (trauma) strained ankle…the ABSOLUTE best-case scenario, as far as I am concerned.
 
With the assistance of an air cast and lots of rest before the big move, I was able to complete the task before me two weeks later. It still is quite amazing to me that God healed me. I know that I know that my leg was broken. No muscle I know of makes the sound of bone cracking. And I know that I know that Jesus healed me. Those first few moments were crucial. My family KNEW to pray. They KNEW to lay hands on me. And they KNEW to have faith that Jesus would come to save the day. He did that and therefore I can tell you that I experienced a miracle.
 
As much as I know I experienced a physical healing miracle, I have experienced other miracles as well. The restoration of my marriage was one of them. I am wondering how much you REALLY believe in miracles? Does my story challenge your beliefs or can you completely come alongside me, believing God does miracles today? Believe it or not, your answer to that question is one of the first keys to YOUR marriage restoration.
 
Ask yourself this question, "Do I really believe in miracles?" Sit and ponder your answer, quietly, with the Lord. He will show you. Then, if your answer is "no," I challenge you to look up the following Scriptures…
 

1. Mark 10:27
2. Mark 9:23
3. Luke 18:27
4. Jeremiah 32:27
5. Luke 8:50
6. Luke 1:37
7. Matthew 19:26
8. Luke 9:16-17
9. Mark 6:49-50
10. Isaiah 7:14
11. John 20:8-9

 
After you have read these verses, has your answer to the question changed? Jesus told us in John 14:12 that "anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." (NLT) I think that this verse assumes two very important things:1) that we are born again, and 2) that we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
 
Any restored marriage is a miracle to me. In light of what the world says about marriage, you might be tempted to believe that marriage restoration is impossible. And yet, here I am, a recipient of that miracle. Choosing to believe that miracles exist and that God can create a miracle in your marriage are two very important factors in reaching the next step in your restoration. I challenge you to meditate on the Scriptures I have given you for the next 2 weeks. Then return to the question, "Do I really believe in miracles?" Has your answer changed?
 
It's okay if you are challenged by the story of my broken ankle. My purpose in writing about this was actually to challenge some of you. But here is the difference. My story is my testimony. You can choose to believe it or not. But after you have meditated on the Word of God, I hope that your mind will be changed. Romans 10:17 tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (NKJV) I can't change your mind, but the Lord can. My hope is that the Lord may use my testimony and His Word, to transform your thinking.