Miracle Prayers
Miracles With Prayer and Without Prayer
Praying for a Miracle – Part 4
Let me come out of the gate going to the left. The average person trusts doctors more than God. We are at a time in history where people rely on doctors more than prayer and miracles. While I am here, let me say this, miracles and prayer are not synonymous. Not all miracles are the result of prayer and not all prayer results in miracles. I’ll dive more into those two thoughts in just a moment.
There was a King of Judah named Asa. He suffered from an infection that set in on his foot. This foot-infection became quite severe. What’s interesting about what is recorded in the chronicles for Asa is that he died unlike the records of kings. The chronicles are paraphrased in this way. “He didn’t ask God for help, but went instead to the doctors.” [1] And the very next statement says that he died. Could it be that many of us are like Asa? When we are diagnosed with an illness, sickness, or problem, rather than asking God, we seek the physicians? What I know for certain is that there are many untimely deaths that we experience, miracles not granted, and requests not answered, because we didn’t ask God.
If you will recall, I mentioned that every prayer request is a request for a miracle of sorts. When we pray, we are asking for an uncommon outcome to a problem we face.
The disciples were faced with such a request. There was a boy who was found impacted from childhood with a spirit that caused him to be mute and have seizures for lack of a better description. The disciples were unable to cast the evil spirit out and when presented to Jesus, the disciple asked why we couldn’t do the same? Why couldn’t we perform this miracle request? Jesus’ reply was that this type of miracle can only come by prayer and fasting. [2] This statement lets us know that miracles are possible as a result of prayer. However not all miracles require prayer and not all prayer produces miracles. By the way, there is an important note to make. Jesus said by prayer and fasting. Most people want a miracle without giving up something. They want a miracle without fasting. Could it be that we miss out on a lot of miracles because we are unwilling to give up something, unwilling to pair prayer with fasting?
In this example and teachable moment from Jesus, we learn that we are not the healer. The disciples might have made the mistake in thinking they were the healer. God is the healer. Often, we try to do what only God can do. This is one reason why Jesus says it can only be accomplished with God’s help, prayer and fasting. [2]
Miracles Without Prayer
You need to know this and it’s worth repeating. Not all miracles are a product of prayer. In other words, you can receive a miracle without praying.
- Miracles are what believers perform.
Jesus and others performed great numbers of miracles. As you know, the Bible is full of miracles that occurred. The majority of them were done without prayer. Don’t discount the fact that most miracles that occur are without the act of prayer. - Miracles are a byproduct of a person’s faith.
Faith for another’s miracle may not produce the miracle. It is by the requestor’s faith that a miracle happens.
The famous miracle with “the women with the issue of blood” was one where she wasn’t praying. In fact, she may have given up on prayer altogether. She had been to all the physicians. She had seen all the doctors, and they were all unhelpful. However, this lady caught wind that Jesus was coming through, so she made her way to time. She crawled through the crowd so that she might touch Him. [3] Her miracle didn’t come by prayer, but rather by her act of faith. Don’t make your miracle contingent on (one) your prayer and (two) someone else’s.
Miracles with Prayer
While it is possible, likely, and often happens that a miracle is granted without prayer, don’t count on receiving a miracle without it. Don’t discount the fact that while miracles can occur without saying a prayer, know that miracles do happen as a result of prayer.
- Miracles can be achieved even with a selfish prayer prayed in the right manner.
Your selfish prayer, prayed in the right manner can produce a miracle.
Hannah’s prayer request to have a child actually came as a selfish request. Hannah was distraught because she was unable to bear children for her husband. After recomposing herself, she decided to visit the Temple sanctuary where she prayed and poured out her heart to God. In her prayer, her request to God, she made a vow that if He would grant her request, perform this miracle, she would give this son to Him, to God. God heard and answered her prayer and Hannah fulfilled her vow. [4] As a result her miracle does not end there, her son Samuel goes on to become a great priest and had the honor of anointing the 1st King of Israel and the renowned King David. - Miracles can happen without the consent of the person who needs one.
The famous prophet, who performed an unsolicited miracle for the Widow of Zarephath, Elijah, was called upon by this same widow when her son grew sick and died. Elijah took the lifeless boy to a room, and he prayed. The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer and a miracle was witnessed. This young boy was revived and returned to his mother. [5] Miracles don’t have to happen because someone requests one or consent to one, but rather as a good deed for someone else. - Miracles can reverse a diagnosis that has already been given.
King Hezekiah became deathly ill and was given the diagnosis that he wasn’t going to recover. It is documented that he turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. [6] Because he didn’t take what the doctors and even his priests were saying, but rather as a result God heard his prayer and healed him. He received a miracle response to the prayer he prayed. His life was extended by 15 years. [6] While you are listening to what the doctors might be saying, why not turn your faces to the wall, towards God and prayer. Your miracle might just be one prayer away.
The Bible quotes Jesus saying we can “do the same works I have done, and even greater”. [7] It didn’t say pray for miracles. It says do. We’ve been praying and His instructions are for us to “do.” This isn’t to turn our backs on prayer, but rather to get rid of the notion that a miracle requires prayer. In fact, there are three observations that I have considered.
- I don’t believe Jesus said let’s go and perform this specific miracle. In other words, many of the miracles were not premeditated. He went, found the need, and eliminated the need.
- There will be times where you are ineffective in seeing miracles performed. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but even Jesus had times where His ability to perform miracles were less successful than normal. In His hometown not many miracles happened when compared to other places. [8]
You can pray for miracles, but you can also perform them. It’s not one or the other, but it is one, the other, or both. If you have only been performing them, try praying for them. If you have only been praying for them, try performing them. Then try both and this is how we take praying for a miracle to the next level.
Question: what examples do you have of miracles with prayer and miracles without prayer?
[1] 2 Chronicles 16:11-14 MSG, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://www.bible.com/97/2ch.16.11-14.msg
[2] Mark 9:29 NKJV, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.9.29.NKJV
[3] Mark 5:27-34 NLT, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/MRK.5.27-34.NLT
[4] 1 Samuel 1:8-25-28 MSG, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/97/1SA.1.8-28.MSG
[5] 1 Kings 17:20-23 CSB, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://bible.com/bible/1713/1ki.17.20-23.CSB
[6] 2 Kings 20:1-7 NLT, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/2KI.20.1-7.NLT
[7] John 14:12-14 NLT, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://www.bible.com/bible/116/JHN.14.12-14.NLT
[8] Matthew 13:57-58 NLT, Bible.com, accessed October 12, 2023, https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.13.57-58.NLT
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.
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