Think Miracle, Believe Miracle

Proverbs 23:7 tells us that what we think about is generally what we are: “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Jesus was surely in agreement with this, and gave us just a bit more detail on it: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Lk. 6:45). It really is that simple. If our hearts dwell on evil things, evil things is what will come forth from us. If we think about good continually then good is what will come out of us. This is exactly what the wise proverb is referring to, which admonishes us to “Keep [our] hearts with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). It is no coincidence that the following was written just before that saying: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Prov. 4:20-22). This simplistic spiritual reality is what inspired the apostle Paul to write the following: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philip. 4:8).

I mean, it only makes sense that we are going to do and be what we mainly choose to think about. What else are we going to do or be? What we DON’T think about? I don’t think so (No pun intended). The things that the apostle wrote here are the things that we are called to be as followers of Jesus, because these are the things that constitute who and what Jesus is. And these are the things that we WILL think about if we follow hard after the Spirit of God, and with good results as Isaiah said: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3). So I believe we should diligently seek to feed our minds and spirits with the kind of things that Paul mentioned here. Another view on this spiritual school of thought is regarding miracles. The Gospel of Christ is a miracle Gospel across the board. Always has been, always will be. I’ve preached many times on the reality that miracles are the norm in the only true mindset, which is the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16). Did you ever notice how the scriptures say that the people marveled at the miracles that Jesus did? But it is not stated once in the Bible that Jesus marveled at those miracles. Why not? Just another day at the office, that’s why not. The miraculous was just the norm for Jesus. In fact, he often said things like, “Wherefore didst thou doubt,” or “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Mat. 14:31; Mat. 8:26). The point is that we need to THINK miraculously if we expect to EXPERIENCE miraculous things.

Jesus certainly did not discourage us about thinking and expecting the miraculous: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (Jn. 14:12). Just before he left this world he made it clear that the miraculous should CONTINUE to be the norm with those who would believe on him afterward: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mk. 16:17,18). Believers should absolutely think miraculously, believe miraculously, and expect miraculously. After Jesus cursed a fig tree, and it withered away, his disciples marveled; but he told them, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed , and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done” (Mat. 21:21). Friend, it simply is against the will of God for us to NOT think, believe, expect, and DO the miraculous. God is not limited in his goodness and power toward us, and we should not limit ourselves in believing that (Eph. 3:20). Jesus said in another place, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mk. 9:23). So then it is evident that we need to condition our thinking to that of the miraculous, because truly that is the only norm that exists in God’s reality. Anything else is just unbelief. Amen.