Miracles

“God did not place you on this earth to notice Him at work only once or twice in your whole life.” – Bruce Wilkinson

When Al Michaels cried out, “Do you believe in miracles?” as the 1980 US Olympic hockey team pulled off what many consider one of the greatest upsets in sports history, he was hardly referring to the same brand of miracle about which Bruce Wilkinson writes in his book, You Were Born for This.

Yet miracles on ice, turf, and hardwood grab the timeless headlines while miracles at home, work, and play are quickly forgotten or ignored altogether.  But it’s worth the extra effort to recognize and even study the unpublished miracles of everyday life.

In the quick read, You Were Born for This, NY Times bestselling author Bruce Wilkinson speaks of many everyday miracles.  From a generous tip saving a struggling waiter from another overdraft fee to a chance conversation rescuing a dying marriage, these are the personal miracles worth infinitely more than a semifinals Olympic hockey victory.

You Were Born for This not only opens our eyes to miracles we may otherwise ignore, but it teaches us to actively accept God’s requests for us to carry out His supernatural miracles in the natural world.  The book’s emphasis is on delivering miracles to others, not about asking for miracles for ourselves.  Sorry narcissists.

But a fabulous side effect of being a miracle deliverer for God is that more miracles will be delivered to you.  When we genuinely emphasize others’ well-being before our own, inevitably our personal well-being will thrive.

Mr. Wilkinson’s book is not simply a ‘golden rule’ commentary.  It’s not about doing good deeds for others; it’s about explicitly asking God to deliver legitimate miracles through us.  The miracles may be transported through a good deed, but the lasting ramifications surpass the immediate blessing of offering a dollar, an ear, or a hand.

The message in You Were Born for This is simple – invite God to use us to deliver His miracles – but execution of the keys written within transcends its simplicity.  While the “Miracle on Ice” headline enamored the world, everyday “Miracles of Nice” can change the world.