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God Speaks Peace into the Storm
Andrea Lende • October 3, 2021
Mark 4:39-40
TheGod Speaks Peace into the Storm
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/God-Speaks-Peace-into-the-Storm-e188ib7
Mark 4:39-40
“And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).”
“He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?”
A terrible storm of hurricane proportions came upon the disciples and Jesus.
The disciples were frantic, and woke Jesus saying, “Master, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Well, I too have gone to the throne with similar pleas.
Wondering if the Lord cared that I was in real trouble.
Wondering if He would do anything to save me.
And I can hear Him respond the same way as He did with the disciples, “Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
I am assured that all will be well in time.
Jesus spoke sternly to the storm.
He said, “Hush now! Be still (muzzled)!”
We can be sure the Lord speaks to our storms in the same way, and it will result in a similar outcome as the disciples experienced.
“The wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).”
Our storm will cease when the Lord calls for its end.
I can’t say exactly when it will be, but I do know it will happen, and then only a perfect peacefulness will remain.
Until then, we must remain strong and keep the faith knowing the Lord is a God Who sees us and our needs.
Today I choose to rest in the Lord while He quiets the storms in my life.
May you find the Lord is calming the storms in your life according to His perfect plan.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me You have authority over all the storms in my life. Thank You for reminding me You speak to the storm, and it immediately ceases to exist. Lord, strengthen me to outlast this storm. Give me courage to face it knowing You are the God Who sees my need and will call for its end in Your timing. Lord, at Your command I will be saved. May I sit with You for a few precious moments and be strengthened in Your presence. Fill my spirit with Yours so I can move through this day in Your power, love, and compassion. Help me help others even though I need help. Help me serve as You ask of me. Don’t let me shrink away from Your perfect plan. Help me move forward with courage. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the Great I AM and there is nothing too difficult for Me. I will equip you with everything you need to withstand this storm My child.
Response: May Your strength, power, and courage be mind today, Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.