Are Signs and Wonders needed to keep us going?  Observing a "miracle" for which one has prayed confirms that one is on the "right track."  Or do we ask for a "fleece" (see paragraph 7 below) so we'll know that our prayers will be answered.

Several days ago, I was praying to God about some health issues.  I was asking him for some kind of sign, a word or something that would confirm that I will eventually see healing. What came into my mind was "you haven't believed me in the past, why would you believe me now?"  

Immediately I was reminded of times when I know I've seen healing.  I recovered from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, an immune system disorder which causes one to be sensitive (rather than allergic) to many items.  My hand was injured when I was in 6th grade and hurt for 32 years.  I'd gotten to the point of constant pain; my healing of that is a great story of faith.  

If I have those healings and others as testimony  to recount those in my mind, why do I need a new "word from God" to tell me I'm on the right track?

I was also reminded of something else.  We often hear from God and don't believe that it is from him if we don't see immediate results.  I'll explain.  Several years ago, I prepared to run down the "street" of the RV park to ask a woman for a ride when she went to work at 1:00pm.  As I put on my shoes, I had the thought "Take your Purse."  My response was "That's stupid; I don't need it just to go a few doors down."  When I arrived, Donna was coming out her door, having been called to work early.  If I'd had my purse with me, I could have jumped into her car.  In the whole scheme of life, it didn't really matter that I had to run back for my purse.  But I couldn't say that I hadn't ignored a nudge from God.

Recently I "felt" like I should drive a certain direction.  I just knew I was going to have some divine appointments or something special would happen.  Nothing.  Yesterday I was reminded of this incident.  I drove out of our trailer park, driving in the opposite direction from where I was going.  I shook myself and turned around, only to find out when I got there that Traffic on Reed Market Street was at a standstill.  I was able to go right and avoid the jam.  But I ended up on the road I started out on.  If I'd have just followed the original "flight plan" filed by God, I would have gotten to my destination without the unnecessary detour.  Once again I didn't heed Him.  Of course, if I had gone down 3rd Street to start with, I'd never have known about the traffic jam.  That's probably what happened the other time--I never knew what I avoided by being obedient to God's voice.

I've been mulling this all over.  I do believe that I was wrong for asking God for a new sign concerning my healing.  The Bible doesn't give many examples of where God gives a sign by dew on a fleece; we don't need to be a Gideon ( Judges 6:36-40 )

Rather, the Apostle Paul says that faith comes by hearing the word of God.   (Romans 10:16-18)  That passage seems to indicate that we should be trusting the scriptures.  We should believe what God says.  That's why we should search the scriptures daily as did some of the early Christians ( Acts 17:11 ).  Also, scriptures is  given to us for examples (I Corinthians 10:10-12) so we can learn fro the experience of others.

Scripture does tell us that many saw the miracles that Jesus did and still didn't believe.
(John 12:37 )  How sad!!!  Are we the same way?

How many of you have witnessed a miracle?  I have some friends whose son was born without an anus hole.  They called their pastor who came to the hospital and prayed over the baby.  Suddenly a slit happened and a properly formed anus appeared.  That's certainly a miracle.  This isn't hearsay; I can't deny the miracle since this happened to friends.

Even though I believe that God does talk to each one of us (if only we'd listen), I believe that these testimonies are scriptures being written today.  We should be networking, sharing how God is working in our lives with others.  By asborbing testimony of what is happening to others, our faith is built.  Then we don't need a personal word from God regarding our particular trial.

In many cases, miracles often happen to unbelievers or new believers as a testimony to them of God's love.  Those who are mature believers shouldn't need this affirmation of their faith from God.  Because there are enough testimonies going on in the world around us. They aren't always going to be happening to the "me, myself and I.

I probably confused everyone at the beginning by asking if we need "signs and wonders." For this article, I don't wish to even discuss possible differences between signs, wonders and miracles.  The point is that I believe unexplanable (in human terms) events do happen today in 2006.  Some of them will happen to us.  But often, our faith is built up as we learn from the experiences of others.

By writing this article, I'm sharing with you some of the things that I've been mulling over the past few days.  Instead of continuing to ask God for a sign, I will rely on what I already know from scriptures in the Bible and testimonies from those around me.  And thence will my complete healing come.