4. Passionately pursue spiritual gifts. 1Cor 14:1 tells us to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. I often lay my hands on my own belly during times of prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to stir up and manifest the gifts of the Spirit within me. Spiritual gifts of healing, working of miracles, the word of knowledge and the gift of faith are all invaluable manifestations for the ministry of the miraculous. As you ask God to stir them up, He will. The gifts of the Spirit are called in Greek "charisma" and are defined as "gifts of grace; a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own." (Strong's Concordance) They are a manifestation of God's grace. You can not work for or earn them. They are given freely by the Holy Spirit just like salvation is. The more you pursue them, the more you will have them. And you can have all of them!

5. Practice prayer and fasting. There was an instance in the Bible where the disciples could not cure an epileptic boy in Mt 17:16. When Jesus was questioned about this He said the reason was because of the disciples' little faith. It wasn't a question of God's will. Nor did Jesus focus on the boy's faith. It was the level of faith in the disciples' heart. But also factoring in was the element of prayer and fasting. There is a place in prayer and fasting where your flesh and natural mind become so subject to the heart and mind of God that His faith replaces your doubt. Prayer and fasting help release God's faith within us. It's His faith within us that produces the miracle, not the fasting. Fasting and prayer in this instance serves as the passageway into the fullness of faith that exists in God's heart. Again, it is not by our works, but by His faith and grace extended towards us.

6. Learn to hear God's voice. To operate in the supernatural we must develop a keen sensitivity to the Person of the Holy Spirit. God does not work in cookie cutter formulas and He doesn't work the same way all the time! This can be frustrating, but it's true. We see this even in the life of Jesus. He saw signs and wonders on a consistent basis in His daily life. But He rarely prayed the same way for each person. Sometimes He laid hands on people, sometimes He instructed them to take a specific action, sometimes He even did some very unusual things, like spit in mud and put it into people's eyes. He was very unconventional and very Spirit led. The key here is He did only what He saw His Father doing. (John 5:19) This ability to hear and see the actions of His heavenly Father came out of the time He spent with Him in prayer and communion. If we are to sensitize our spiritual eyes and ears, we must put ourselves in a place where we can see and hear God. This will often require you to pull away into a "deserted place" so you can place all your heart and mind on Him. When you exercise your spiritual senses by learning to listen and not just talk, you will be led by the Spirit to see wonderful manifestations of His power.

7. Associate with the anointing. A major key for me in being brought to a new level of God's power was learning that it was ok to go where God was moving. Some people believe "Well, if God wants to give me something He can come right here into my room. I don't need to go anywhere." Of course God can meet us in our own room and many times He does. However, that does not negate the fact that you can literally "catch" the anointing by putting yourself in a place where God is moving. Find people and ministries that are carrying God and get around them. We learn from each other and receive impartation of power through association. These corporate encounters with God do not replace our hidden devotion expressed in the place of private prayer. They simply add to and enhance our relationship with God. I have been blessed to have been able to associate and hang around some of the most anointed people on the earth today. That fellowship has not only stirred my faith but has released transference of wisdom, revelation and power into my own life and ministry. Anointed fellowship is crucial to cultivating the anointing in your life. That fellowship can come one on one around a cup of coffee or can happen just by listening to anointed teaching CD's and videos, as well as by worshipping together in a corporate gathering. Associate with God's power by hanging out where He is.

8. Be motivated by love. A factor I believe to be the most crucial one of all and maybe the greatest missing ingredient is love. Jesus was moved with compassion and healed their sick. (Mt 14:14) We are powerless without the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. Love must be the foundation for everything we do. It must be the foundation for our desire for spiritual power. With out love power can lead to pride and self inflation. Really with out the love of God in our hearts for people, the power is empty. (1 Cor 13:2) Love is actually the greatest manifestation of God's power. It was because of love that Jesus walked in total obedience. It was because of love that the power of sin and satan was defeated. It is by love that we lay our lives down for each other. Love is what motivates our faith (Gal 5:6). Love is what causes us to live in the Spirit. Love is the greatest virtue of all. Without faith you can't please God. But without love you can't know Him at all. Love filled with truth is the ultimate spiritual weapon against sin, temptation, offense, disunity, sickness, oppression and spiritual corruption and death. Love conquers all.

As you apply these principles to your life and walk with God, expect to see His glorious power and anointing released in and through you. There is someone out there waiting for a miracle. Your life and obedience to God may be the missing ingredient!