Experience the Supernatural - Don Moen

Several years ago, I was ministering in a church in Texas. As I was meeting with the pastor in his office before the service, I noticed a plaque on his wall with a scripture engraved on it. The scripture was Psalm 107: 23-32. "Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters; they have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, and were at their wits' end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet; so He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him at the seat of the elders."

When I attended Oral Roberts University, President Roberts said, "If your dreams don't scare you at night, you're not dreaming big enough." He went on to challenge us to believe God for something so big that only a miracle could make it happen! I have never forgotten that, and have made a decision to be in a place where I can "see the hand of the Lord and His wonders in the deep."

All of us love to hear stories of God's miraculous provision. It's wonderful to be encouraged by these testimonies, but I want to be able to witness these miracles first hand! I want to be there! I want to be an eyewitness to God's miracle working power!

How does this happen? How can we place ourselves in a position to experience a miracle? By stepping out of our comfort zone and placing ourselves in a position that puts us beyond what we know and understand with our minds and into a place where we must trust God for a miracle. Every one of us wants to trust God, but we want to trust Him based on our knowledge and understanding. Isaiah 55: 8-9 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." You see, the problem is never a question of whether or not God can provide for us. He has solutions and answers that haven't even entered our minds. (1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.") The problem is whether or not we are willing to trust Him even though our minds are telling us there is no way out of this situation.

God wants to be our provider, our deliverer, and our healer but most of us live in a "safe zone" where we are able to provide for our families, deliver ourselves from uncomfortable situations, and provide adequate medical care to insure our healing most of the time. Only when we have exhausted our resources do we turn to God to trust Him to do what we cannot do. Hebrews 11:6 tells us "without faith it is impossible to please God." God wants us to live in the realm of faith so He can move mountains on our behalf. It pleases Him when He can provide for, deliver and heal His children. In order to get us to that place, I think He allows (and sometimes arranges) situations that are beyond our control because He wants to show us that He is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

Psalm 107:25 tells us "He (God) commands and raises the stormy wind which lifts up the waves of the sea." You mean God arranges storms for us? Read on. Vs. 26 and 27 describe the situation. "They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end."

Whose soul melts because of trouble and who staggers around like a drunken man and who is at their wits' end? Those who go down to the sea in ships and have decided to do business on great waters. Those who have decided they want to see the hand of the Lord and His wonders in the deep. In verse 28 and 29, it is clear that the situation has gotten beyond our control but God steps in. "Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still."

My friend, nothing is too difficult for God! Jeremiah 32:17 says, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You."

Finally in verses 30 - 32 we get to the end of the story. "Then they are glad because they are quiet. So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders."

Have you made the decision to "see the hand of the Lord and His wonders in the deep?" If you have, your life will be filled with firsthand experiences of God's miracle working power. Certainly you will go through storms, but Isaiah 43: 2-3 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Notice that this passage says "when," not "if" you pass through the water and fire. God is bigger than any situation. He will calm your storm and bring you to your desired haven. And the result of seeing His provision for us should cause us to praise Him more and more!

©2000 by Don Moen