In His Nature

And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." - Mark 9:23

All things?  Do you believe that?  Do I believe that?  In other places Jesus is asked the question, "Lord, if You are willing..."  To which He replies, "I am willing."  To me, and to others I know, this has been the question that restricts our faith.  We know God has the power to do anything, but we are so stuck on the prayer of Jesus, "Not My will, but Yours,"  that we are constantly wondering if His will is to heal and perform miracles.  "It must not have been God's will", we say.  But He said, "All things". 

In the last conversation Jesus has with His disciples, Jesus says, "Ask whatever you wish in My name, and it shall be done for you."  He actually says this six times in some form or fashion in one conversation (John 14-16).  Then He says, "Until now, you have asked nothing in My name (John 16:24)."  But the disciples had already gone out, spoken His name, and performed many miracles.  Yet He said they had not yet asked anything in His name??

When you look at what a name really is, it is a title that is used to describe the nature of someone or something.  So, what if Jesus was really saying, "Ask whatever you wish, in My nature, and it shall be done for you."  In other words, put on the mind of Christ and align your thoughts and actions with the things of His Kingdom.  Live in His Kingdom.

I fully believe that speaking the name of Jesus will do many things, but living our your life in His nature is when your world will begin to be shaken and transformed.  Pastor Brady Boyd says of faith, "Faith is not measured by the fact that you believe God is able to perform miracles, but it is measured by how much of your life is surrendered to God."  Faith in God cannot be restricted to believing in the moment for a miracle, it must be lived out in every avenue of our lives.  That is why Jesus kept getting frustrated with His disciples, they were believing in certain moments, but it was hit or miss as to when their faith would show.  So the question changes.  Jesus already said that He is willing.  He said you will do "all things".  So the question now is turned around, "Are you willing?"  That is, am I willing to demonstrate a faith that shows a complete surrender to the nature of Christ in every aspect of my life? 

I'm not speaking out of any experience, but out of conviction and God's revelation.  I've been searching for the opportunity to perform the miracle, while relying more on God to align my everyday life.  I think I'm backwards - God performs the miracle, I seek to know Him so that I can align my life with His nature.  I've been burdened with looking for opportunity for miracles, and therefore limiting my works to my world rather than submitting my world to the nature of Jesus Christ. 

One of the first miracles that was performed at the hands of the disciples they stepped into without even looking for it.  Jesus said when the 5,000 were hungry, "You give them something to eat (Mark 6:37)."  The miracle was distributed at the hands of the disciples by obedience to the nature of Christ.  They didn't even realize what was happening.  So, as I align my life with the nature of Jesus, I'm praying that God will build my faith by leading me into miracles in a way that I can in no way attribute anything to myself, but only to the power of God.  God provides all of the power, I hand it out.