EXERCISE YOUR FAITH...& USE IT!

Have you had any miracles lately? Do you even believe in miracles in these trying times? I believe that more than ever God wants us to exercise our faith and expect miracles. In His word He tells us that "we have not, because we ASK not"...and in a lot of situations, this is true...well, His Word is ALWAYs true, but you know what I mean. I think we get lazy in our prayer requests and petitions to the Lord, and sometimes it's the last thing we think of to do when there is a crisis. Let me tell you a little story of something that happened in our family this week, where a prayer petition to the Lord SAVED a family member.

My Step Dad's youngest daughter was lying in the hospital in critical condition; having been a smoker all her life, it had taken a toll on her overall health and she could not breath on her own. She had been on a respirator for several days, and she realized that she couldn't breath on her own anymore. I guess after thinking about it, and realizing she would be reliant on it for who knew how long, she decided she didn't want to live that way, and they had decided to take her off the respirator. "Dad" heard from the family that she would probably be gone within the hour.

Well, Dad, being the man of faith that he is, went into the bedroom, and prayed a fervent prayer to the Lord, asking for a miracle for his daughter, Ann. Awhile later, they received phone calls from the family saying that she had gone past that hour...then it was 5 hours; then 7 hours, and then he was told that he GOT his miracle. They also told them that while Ann was off the ventilator, 2 family members had dreams of their Grandmother (who is in heaven) telling Ann that it was not her time to go yet. So that was wonderful confirmation of the miracle Dad received.

This morning while talking with my Mom, she told us that Ann's appetite is good, and that she has even spoken with Dad on the phone this morning; that she has been up, and they are getting her a walker so that she can regain her strength. All of this within just a few days! Praise our wonderful, healing, loving God.

So, friends, whatever your needs for your self or your loved ones, pray and ask our heavenly Father for YOUR miracle...no matter what it is. NO TASK is too hard for our God. And be VERY specific in your prayer requests...He tells us to be specific. My husband even asks for help when he is frustrated with a mechanical problem that he hasn't been able to fix...and walla, God helps him. It's just amazing that we fail to use this so frequently "untapped" resource. God knows our need before we ask, so we might just as well humble ourselves and ask for that help that we all need.

We had some dear friends stay overnight with us this week, and they have an international ministry teaching intimacy with God. He says that having intimacy with God, is allowing ourselves to be transparent, and that we are so close and so intune with God, that when these problems arise it is just our nature to bring it to God in prayer. He says that the more you exercise this intimacy, the more He gives you. So exercise your faith; stayed tuned to all that God has for you and EXPECT your miracle.