Do You Know How To Weather A Storm?
Good Morning Friends,
Reading scripture and praying helps us to prepare our spirits to face the challenges of life. It is much like the act of gathering flashlight batteries and water and food in preparing for the hurricane season. Preparing our hearts helps us to know God’s ways more deeply so we might have peace when others are anxious. Friends we do not have control. We do not have a choice of when the wind and rain come. But we can prepare our hearts and that will help us. Do You Know How To Weather A Storm?
Scripture: Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NIV)
For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:6-12 (NRSV)
and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.
Luke 8:23 (NRSV)
Message: Life is full of times of preparation and storms and in them God is often up to something to help direct us, inspect us, correct us, connect us, protect us, perfect us and project us. Today we explore how God uses a surge of problems to point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Here the nature of our problems reveals something about us. Here we may learn through pain and failure… but there is a better way. Trouble and storms can draws people together but they can also draw us to the Lord, unifying us. Sometimes storms can be a blessing in disguise preventing us from being harmed by something more serious. Here God acts like a surge protector sacrificing a little of our comfort in the interest of our character. Here we might just see that something bigger is at stake than getting wet.
Pray we realize that Christ is no security against storms but is perfect security in them. Pray we realize that even if God’s saving hand is on us, to heal our broken lives, we should still work at preparing our minds and hearts. Pray we not be discouraged, frustrated or defeated in life’s storms. Pray we never underestimate the worth of God’s overwhelming love. Pray we realize that the storms of life are not beyond God’s control. Pray we realize that the storms of life hit both the good and the bad. Pray we realize that the storms of life can make us bitter or better. Pray we realize that the storms of life are beyond our understanding. Pray we see God in our storms and let others see God in our actions in the storm. Pray we hold tight to God’s plan and purpose. Pray we hold tight to understanding God’s Word. Pray we hold tight to our faith. Pray we not get washed away in life’s storms. Pray we not only weather storms but also experience God using us to help others weather their storms.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 