God does “intervene” into our affairs.
That is the basis of our prayers.
“7
“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and
it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who
seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.”
Mtt 7:7-8 WEB
Some call this “miraculous” and want to deny its existence.
First let me point out that miraculous is not really a Bible word. The normal Bible words for these things are the words “signs,” “wonders,” and “powers;” and sometimes men translate such words as “miracles” in our translations. Scripture uses such words to describe God’s actions that appear in ways that are undeniably from God.
Also Scripture clearly recognize that God may favor us and make things “go our way,” or even at times oppose us, all with no clear indication of the source.
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines the adjective “miraculous” this way:
“occurring through divine or supernatural intervention, or manifesting such power …”
This definition makes ALL of God’s actions “miraculous.” In a commonsense way, this is not true, even in Scripture. We may pray for a job, and God may arrange it, all with no visible manifestations of spectacular power.
Many events in history (yes even secular history), or in nature, or in day to day events are the product of God’s interventions, and make plain power and decisions beyond what is humanly possible. The includes everything from the birth of a child to the violence of a tornado, to the exploding of a supernova.
This does NOT mean that you or
I can deploy
God’s power as if we were Elijah deciding
when
it will rain, or Peter telling a a lame
beggar to arise and walk.
You and I cannot deploy rain clouds over North America, but God can, and may in response to our prayers. The apostles and prophets had special powers from God which we do not have.
But God’s power still exists and works in our world all the time, and we can ask for His help. And His answer is,
“If
you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you
will ask whatever you desire,
and it will be done
for you.”
Jn
15:7 WEB
And how powerful might this be?
“20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. ”
Eph 3:20-21 WEB
What then should we do?
We should study God’s word, prophecy and all, so that we might understand God’s intentions in the world, and then make our requests, as being in line with what God wants in both the overall situations on earth, and also in line with what God desires for our individual lives.
“In
nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
Phil 4:6
WEB
We should then pray and not faint, Lk 18:1.
WEB
is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the
original ASV American Standard Version 1901