Dress Like Your Miracle is Already here

I suppose we all have some sort of miracle we're waiting on. We're maybe even at a place of wondering what God's waiting on before he comes through with it.

I know I've been there.

This morning, I find myself wondering if what God is waiting on is me.

There's a story in the bible about a guy named Peter. He'd just witnessed one of his buddy's getting his head chopped off for following Jesus. Now Peter's in prison imagining he's about to experience the same fate.

No doubt Peter is waiting on a miracle.

The bible tells us Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound in chains, when an angel appeared and the chains fell off.

The miracle has arrived?

Not yet.

The bible tells us something interesting next. It's some of these bible words you read over quickly when reading the bible, thinking they are filler words, when actually for some of us, certainly me, they are not meant to take up space in scripture but to fill some empty spaces in us.

The bible tells us after the chains fell off and Peter got up, the angel told Peter, "Put on your clothes and sandals."

Why would the author include those words in this story? Can't we just assume Peter put his clothes on before the angel led him out of prison and into his miracle?

I don't think we can assume that at all. I know I can't.

Because the reality is, there are miracles in my life I'm waiting on that I haven't even got dressed for yet. I'm praying for miracles that God's waiting for me to get dressed for.

I think we too often get to thinking miracles are as simple as the chains falling off. Miracles are God do, then me respond.

But what if we're missing the miracle God's already performed because we aren't getting dressed and going to where God has planned for us to meet it?

The chains were off Peter, yet God still felt the need to say, now get dressed.

Maybe God has that relationship for you out there, but that doesn't mean you don't have to get up and put on your trusting other people clothes today.

Maybe God has that addiction beaten to a pulp out there, but that doesn't mean you don't have to get up and put on your sober clothes today.

Maybe God has that book on a bookstore shelf out there, but that doesn't mean you don't have to get up and put on your writing clothes today.

Maybe God has that marathon finish line for you out there some months from now, but that doesn't mean you don't have to get up and put on your running clothes today.

What if I'm asking, God, where is my miracle? And I'm asking it so loud and through the deep tears of frustration and impatience that I'm not hearing God's answer.

"Put on your clothes and your sandals."

If you're waiting on a miracle today, maybe dress like it's already here.

There's a reason God told Peter to get up and get dressed. This morning I'm thinking, that reason is me and you.