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He Hushes the Storm
Andrea Lende • August 23, 2020
Psalm 107:29-30
He Hushes the Storm
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/He-Hushes-the-Storm-eiife2
Daily Word:
Psalm 107:29-30
“He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper; so that the waves of the sea are still.”
“Then the men are glad because of the calm, and He brings them to their desired haven.”
The storm is mighty.
The chaos ensues.
However, the Lord is greater.
He is greater and mightier than the storm.
He lives beyond the chaos.
He quiets the storms of life.
Seemingly not before the 11th hour.
We think we can stand no more.
We think we can endure no more.
The more comes.
Somehow, we stand and endure more.
The Lord strengthens us.
He carries us a little further.
And then he calms the storm.
We are grateful as peace settles in.
The memory of the storm and chaos are but a moment away.
The drastic change of the calm soothes our hearts and souls.
The Lord has delivered us one more time.
Until the next time.
As we go along in peace and rest the mundane may even settle in.
Until a new storm rages.
We, again, become uncomfortable and distraught.
The chaos ensues.
We wonder if it will ever be over.
We struggle to survive this one.
And then the Lord comes to quiet this new storm.
Peace and rest settle in once more.
These storms in life are much like the storms at sea.
The storms rage and then the waters settle into a peaceful calm.
The calm always comes if we wait long enough.
Our faith is tested, and our patience grows.
The Lord never leaves us as He teaches us just how BIG He really is.
He is bigger than all our problems, difficulties, and struggles.
The mountains that we climb make us stronger.
They increase our stamina and faith.
They bring us closer to the Lord as we watch Him work in our lives.
Today I choose to watch for God to work in the storms of my life as He settles the storm to a quiet calm.
May you find that the Lord calms the storms in your life and brings you to a safe haven and place of rest.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for continually watching over me and protecting me from the storms in life. Thank You for calming the storm and bringing me into a safe place of rest and quiet. Thank You for showing me that You are bigger than me and my problems and difficulties. You are a Mighty God. You are the All-Powerful God. There is nothing I can do to separate me from You. Thank You for sending Your Son to make it possible for me to commune with You, Lord. Thank You for continually forgiving me for all my shortcomings. Increase my faith in You and my obedience to You. Help me serve You in all ways, Lord. Help me do all that You have for me to do. Help me serve without complaining, Lord. Put joy into my heart so that I can serve those around me with joy and thanksgiving. Strengthen me as I fall into weakness and become selfish. Help me put others before me, Lord. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the God Who calms the storms in your life and leads you to a safe place, My child.
Response: Thank You, most gracious God and Father.
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.