Being worthy of miracles

In this post I wanted to expound on a previous post and talk about what it takes to have a miracle happen in your life. In Matthew 17 verses 14 to 21 tells the story of a young man who came to the disciples and was possessed by a devil. The disciples were not able to cast the devil out and so the boys father brought him to the Savior. Later the disciples came to Jesus and asked him why they weren't able to heal the boy and the savior responded with three specific reasons:

• A lack of faith: Jesus tells the disciples that the first reason they couldn't cast out the devil was because of their unbelief. He says if they only had faith the size of a mustard seed they would have been able to perform the miracle. As can be seen innumerable times throughout the New Testament, faith is prerequisite to being blessed with a miracle. We get a supporting testimony from the Book of Mormon. In 3 Nephi 18:20 it says, "And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you" (emphasis added). Another supporting scripture is found in Doctrine and Covenants 42:48: "And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed."
• Prayer: After indicating that they lacked faith, Jesus tells the disciples that this particularly difficult devil required prayer. Prayer is also a way we show faith, supporting Christ's first point. 
• Fasting: Many times when even more faith is required, prophets (including Jesus Christ) have told us that prayer should be accompanied with fasting. Fasting shows our willingness to sacrifice physical appetites in the pursuit of spiritual blessings. This is particularly true if we are seeking a miraculous intervention. 

We can also find other indications of ways to qualify for a miraculous blessing similar to those found throughout the first four books of the New Testament.

• We need to be keeping the commandments and continually applying the blessings of the Atonement in order to purify ourselves from sin, as is found in Doctrine and Covenants 50:29: "And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done."