A miracle of obedience

1 Peter 1:13-15 (King James Version)
13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

How many times have I heard Corrie Ten Boome quoted at Babes? I didn't know who this Christian hero was, so I picked up her biography up at the church library a few weeks ago. What would God teach me through this women who died while I was just starting my adult life in college. I had read Anne Frank's account of living through World War II as a high schooler, but this book was different. It spoke of the wisdom of an older woman who had learned to depend daily on the Lord to bring her through all circumstances -- Even while living as a prisoner in a concentration camp because she was helping the Jewish people avoid persecution.

At some point in the book, I remember that Corrie realized that her obedience to God brought about miracles. I cannot remember now what the miracle was at the time. The miracle that impressed me the most in her story was when she faced one of her former prison guards in a church after the war. The man had become a Christian and came up to her after the service as she had delivered a message for everyone to forgive one another, just as Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of our sins. The man spoke of how wonderful it was that she could forgive him for his actions at the camp. Corrie found herself in a helpless heap of sin. She could not bring herself to shake the man's hand in forgiving him. But instead of wallowing in that sin, she gave it over to Jesus and asked that He would help her forgive this man. In an instant as she obediently raised her hand, Jesus showed up and sent His spirit of forgiveness flooding down her arm and into her body. She could truly forgive this man through a miracle of obedience.

That's all well and good for her, but how would God do that in my life? Well, I was about to find out....after an afternoon with my kids this week full of bickering and bad behavior while I took them out to lunch, I found myself in an argument on the way home in the car. I sat there and judged them for the hurt they seem to impale to each other. Then, from the far back seat, came an explosion of anger from my oldest who saw the situation differently. He called me on my lack of love and my anger. Wow, did those words hurt! I knew if I continued this conversation, it would only get worse. We stewed the rest of the way home in silence. Instead of becoming bitter though, I gave this hurt over to God. I asked him to show me how I could show more love to my sons, and prayed for them and for me. A few days later, we all went to lunch as a family. I cannot remember a time where the two oldest got along so well, making jokes with each other in a comical way. I could not remember when we had such a fun time as a family. I was actually enjoying time with them at a meal instead of being upset by their words and behavior. God is good and certainly does bring about miracles through obedience!