The Breeding Ground for Miracles

What does it take to experience God in our lives?  Is there any way for us to enter into this on a regular basis? 

I've been thinking today about what our part is in making way for the work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

I believe just as the apostles who walked with Jesus in the flesh were able to see the work of God in a miraculous way, each of us has Christ's same power available to us today because of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus said it was good for him to go back to heaven so that the Holy Spirit would come, and taught that the Holy Spirit would be our counselor, guide and the very power of God to us. 

So what can we do to create a breeding ground for miracles in our lives?  Here are 4 essentials:

1. Trials

Without trials, hardships or needs, we have no need for miracles in our lives. 

Some of us want to see God move so badly, but we forget that miracles require impossible situations, and sometimes impossible situations aren't as fun to actually live through as read in the pages of history.  Smith Wigglesworth, the great healing evangelist taught, "Great faith only comes through great trials."  It is necessary to experience the tension of pain and trial in order to see the work of God in the world.  In the words of a song by my younger brother Tim, "the bad times make the good times good."  Without the dichotomy of evil, good would be status quo, but with trials, we are enabled to see and enjoy the miraculous.

2. Faith

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 

Thus, faith trusts the goodness and greatness of God.  Also, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  The greatest miracle workers of Church history have been men and women who devoured the Bible and believed it.  Period.

3. Prayer

Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith when failing to cast a demon out of a boy.  He challenged them that some miracles are held back for lack of prayer (and fasting in some versions).  It's amazing to think, but Scriptural that many of us are only a day of prayer & fasting away from the miracle we desire in our lives!  Before we lose hope, may we remind ourselves of the ancient practices set by Jesus - set aside a day for prayer and fasting and the Word.

4. Patience

Hebrews tells us that the heroes of the faith received what was promised by "faith and patience." 

There are some miracles that take longer than others. A steadfast pursuit that says, "I'm in it for the long haul," and "I will not give up praying and seeking God for this issue in my life" will go far with God.

Abraham Lincoln faced so many defeats in his life, including running and losing several political offices. However, he had a quote he used to say to himself - "I will get ready, my time will come." This is the response of those who dwell in the breeding ground for miracles.