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Listen while you read: "Hiding In Thee"1 (Lyrics) |
My brother lives in the Ottawa Valley, by a lake nicknamed the Lake of Storms. Often choppy, the wind can whip the water into high waves and whitecaps quickly. All wise boaters know when to go ashore! This pales, though, in comparison to storms at sea.
Psalm 107:23-25,28-30 – Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. (NIV)
Storms rage in our lives, be they physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial, stemming from relationships — or pandemics. Do we look at such unsettled times and assume that God is judging us or punishing us for something, like forgetting to pray that morning, or that He forgot to protect us that day? How human it is to stare with fear at high winds and waves, forgetting that He is a God of love and goodness, and that He will always rescue us.
Physical storms here on earth have no effect on heaven! Because Jesus knew that the Father was watching over Him, He was able to sleep on a boat in a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples, some of them experienced fishermen, saw it differently: the storm was too dangerous; Jesus' power over nature was limited; and He didn't really care about them. Yet they had seen Him perform mighty miracles! The real basis of our faith is a trusting relationship with God. Miracles are wonderful to see, but a real heart change comes when we see God for who He is: the One who rules the storm and saves lives.
Jesus came to atone for our sin, so that by repentance, we can live a new life. When we believe in Him, it's easier to hope in the midst of the storm, when all light is gone, and the miracles are forgotten. Our God is able to calm any tempest, but the storms of the heart are harder to ease. We may get sprayed and lose our balance, but the biggest danger is to jump ship and try to swim alone to shore. God is with us in the storm, and He will carry us through, so don't abandon ship!
James 1:6 – But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (NIV)
Prayer: Lord, give us believing and trusting hearts, our eyes ever fixed on You in faith during the storms of life. May we rest in peace and security, knowing that You always guide us home. Amen.
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Thank you.
Amen Shirley.
Thanks for the comforting words, Shirley. Stay safe.
AMEN and thank you for sharing
(Texas)
Thank you, Shirley, for a very timely devotional; one that we all need.
An important reminder in these trying times, Shirley. Thank you and God bless!
Please send your daily devotions. Someone sent today’s. I appreciated what you wrote.
Thanks, Shirley. I’ve been in both physical and spiritual storms and your advice is on target.
Hi Shirley: It has been a stormy week for a variety of reasons. Thank you for helping me get my feet back on solid ground.
Yes, Shirley, as the song goes, Jesus is our “shelter in a time of storm”. Thanks for writing and sharing this devotional with us. Blessings.
We have to be strong and put our faith and trust in God in these scary times. It is a very difficult time. It is still hard not to have that fear. Lord have Mercy on us.
Good morning Shirley, what a powerful message. I have complete trust in the Lord to carry us through this.
Thank you so much.
May God bless you richly.
(QC)
O Shirley, this ‘compilation’ of storm scripture really reaches my need today. Seeing the pandemic as a ‘storm,’ really works with your reminders of the kind of false thinking that creates these ‘storms of the heart.’ You chose good words that reach us where we are today. Thank you.
Another excellent, uplifting, encouraging devotional! Thanks!! I especially shout an “Amen!” to this line: “but a real heart change comes when we see God for who He is: the One who rules the storm and saves lives.” May all who read your devotional see that Truth!!! He IS in control!!
Blessings.
Dear Shirley,
Thank you for today’s devotional and the others you wrote prior to this one.
We, the body of Christ need a reminder that God is with us through the storms of life.
Let us keep praying for each other.
Blessings.
Dear Shirley,
Thank you for the “calm in the storm” devotional: ”Our God is with us and in us.
Pray with me that the scientists working on development of antibodies/serum/injection/cure will be given a break-through very soon.
For the sake of God’s beloved people.
Hello Shirley,
An exceptionally well-crafted Devotional. Speaks well to today’s pandemic and us as Christian’s response.
Sadly, many including believers are losing their grip and are fearful.
You have served well in calming the waters so to speak.
Be well. Stay well.
Greetings Shirley,
Thank you for a very meaningful and timely devotional. Today’s situation in our world is certainly a “storm in our lives” but our Lord is ever there to be our anchor and guide us thru the “stormy times”. We must stay strong in our faith and be ever grateful to our loving Lord.
Blessings to you for your writings and take care.
(B.C.)
We are facing a ” big storm ” no doubt it is real. COVID-19 have come to change
our lives. But for GOOD. The storm has stopped as the clock stop. Our daily routine,
our stressful life, our noisy lifestyle, etc. Now is the time for GOD believers showing
to the world our trust in Jesus The Lord.
(ON. CANADA)
Good morning Shirley
In part due to the pandemic, as well as a personal medical situation at the present time, many are unable to get the proper scans done, as the hospitals are postponing/cancelling a lot of booked procedures, I am having trouble to not see the waves.
Very good words again this morning, Thank you for writing.
I hope and pray you and your family are okay and staying safe and virus-free. We know Ottawa is a hot-spot. Where we live (Niagara region), we only have a few cases of COVID-19, but the writing is on the wall, and if we don’t smarten up, we will soon be adding decimal places to that number. We are in isolation due to our recent return from the US, but we’re shocked at how few take the PM’s advice seriously.
God bless you all!