Who's in Charge Here Anyway?
This morning I was reading Max Lucado's take on the storm in the middle of the sea of Galilee.
Through all the fear and feelings of abandonment the disciples felt, Jesus didn't stand up with some grandiose gesture of SuperHero-ness. (who knows? Maybe that whole time he was laying there He was WAITING for the disciples to wake Him up and ask Him for help!)
It was a nice reminder that no matter what is going on and no matter what is rocking your boat that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are in CHARGE.
You may FEEL God is silent. You may FEEL that the boat is about to break into pieces. You may FEEL that you're in the boat alone. You may FEEL that you won't make it through the night. You may FEEL even that something you've DONE caused the storm. You may FEEL you can't hold on any more. It may FEEL like you've been hanging on to the edge for so long that your hands have lost all feeling so much so that you don't even know if you're still hanging on or not. Every wave that comes has you thinking that this is the one that is going to capsize your boat and toss you into the sea That this is the storm that will seal your destiny.
But those are just feelings
The truth of God prevails over feelings. The truth of God prevails over the lies of the enemy. What is the TRUTH of the Word of God speaking to YOU today?
God is NOT silent. He speaks in a still small voice if you'll listen. He'll speak through His Word most of all if you'll crack it open and take a look at what He's saying to ou. He'll speak through your dearest friends. Yet He'll also speak to you through strangers, if you're listening....you might catch it! The truth of God is that He is bigger than the storm. Bigger than your boat. In fact.....He designed your boat to withstand the storm.
Cause He knew the storm was coming! The truth of God is this....you WILL make it through the storm and you're NOT alone. NEVER will He leave you nor forsake you! "I was young and now I am old and I have NEVER seen the righteous forsaken!" The truth of God is THIS............His grace is enough.
You've not CAUSED the storm. Perhaps He's allowed the storm to come to pass to show His glory and power over your storm!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That the word of your testimony will be this: That you overcame the enemy and his lies and attacks because he is NO match for the spirit of God living inside of you! And because of that spirit of God living inside of you....YOU have authority as well over that storm! SPEAK to whatever is disturbing your boat! "PEACE BE STILL"
In the meantime.....you may be frazzled, scared, feeling alone and ready to let go of the boat and jump in the water. After all the storms bound to get you.
But I'd just like to remind you that Jesus is still in your boat. And He's still in CHARGE of the storm. And HE is in charge of your heart. The One who is in charge of the entire UNIVERSE is in charge of your heart!!!! You think your HEART is too big for HIM!???? And when HE'S ready to.....He'll stand and SPEAK to that storm,
"PEACE.........................BE STILL!" And until He speaks to your storm.....He's speaking to your heart....Peace be still.
Isaiah 65:24 (New International Version)
24 Before they call I will answer;
While they are still speaking I will hear.
Here is the devotional I read this morning on the Internet:
May it bless you!
Jesus and the disciples are in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. A storm arises suddenly, and what was placid becomes violent—monstrous waves rise out of the sea and slap the boat. Mark describes it clearly: “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped” (Mark 4:37 NIV).
It’s very important that you get an accurate picture, so I’m going to ask you to imagine yourself in the boat. It’s a sturdy vessel but no match for these ten-foot waves. It plunges nose first into the wall of water. The force of the waves dangerously tips the boat until the bow seems to be pointing straight at the sky, and just when you fear flipping over backward, the vessel pitches forward into the valley of another wave. A dozen sets of hands join yours in clutching the mast. All your shipmates have wet heads and wide eyes. You tune your ear for a calming voice, but all you hear are screams and prayers. All of a sudden it hits you—someone is missing. Where is Jesus? He’s not at the mast. He’s not grabbing the edge. Where is he? Then you hear something—a noise … a displaced sound … as if someone is snoring. You turn and look, and there curled in the stern of the boat is Jesus, sleeping!
You don’t know whether to be amazed or angry, so you’re both. How can he sleep at a time like this? Or as the disciples asked, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38 NIV).
The very storm that made the disciples panic made him drowsy. What put fear in their eyes put him to sleep. The boat was a tomb to the followers and a cradle to Christ. How could he sleep through the storm? Simple—he was in charge of it.
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39–40 NIV)
Incredible…Is it any wonder the disciples were willing to die for Jesus? Never had they seen such power; never had they seen such glory. It was like, well, like the whole universe was his kingdom.
It’s only right that they declare his authority. It’s only right that we do the same. And when we do, we state without question: The ruler of the universe rules our hearts.
Through all the fear and feelings of abandonment the disciples felt, Jesus didn't stand up with some grandiose gesture of SuperHero-ness. (who knows? Maybe that whole time he was laying there He was WAITING for the disciples to wake Him up and ask Him for help!)
It was a nice reminder that no matter what is going on and no matter what is rocking your boat that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are in CHARGE.
You may FEEL God is silent. You may FEEL that the boat is about to break into pieces. You may FEEL that you're in the boat alone. You may FEEL that you won't make it through the night. You may FEEL even that something you've DONE caused the storm. You may FEEL you can't hold on any more. It may FEEL like you've been hanging on to the edge for so long that your hands have lost all feeling so much so that you don't even know if you're still hanging on or not. Every wave that comes has you thinking that this is the one that is going to capsize your boat and toss you into the sea That this is the storm that will seal your destiny.
But those are just feelings
The truth of God prevails over feelings. The truth of God prevails over the lies of the enemy. What is the TRUTH of the Word of God speaking to YOU today?
God is NOT silent. He speaks in a still small voice if you'll listen. He'll speak through His Word most of all if you'll crack it open and take a look at what He's saying to ou. He'll speak through your dearest friends. Yet He'll also speak to you through strangers, if you're listening....you might catch it! The truth of God is that He is bigger than the storm. Bigger than your boat. In fact.....He designed your boat to withstand the storm.
Cause He knew the storm was coming! The truth of God is this....you WILL make it through the storm and you're NOT alone. NEVER will He leave you nor forsake you! "I was young and now I am old and I have NEVER seen the righteous forsaken!" The truth of God is THIS............His grace is enough.
You've not CAUSED the storm. Perhaps He's allowed the storm to come to pass to show His glory and power over your storm!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That the word of your testimony will be this: That you overcame the enemy and his lies and attacks because he is NO match for the spirit of God living inside of you! And because of that spirit of God living inside of you....YOU have authority as well over that storm! SPEAK to whatever is disturbing your boat! "PEACE BE STILL"
In the meantime.....you may be frazzled, scared, feeling alone and ready to let go of the boat and jump in the water. After all the storms bound to get you.
But I'd just like to remind you that Jesus is still in your boat. And He's still in CHARGE of the storm. And HE is in charge of your heart. The One who is in charge of the entire UNIVERSE is in charge of your heart!!!! You think your HEART is too big for HIM!???? And when HE'S ready to.....He'll stand and SPEAK to that storm,
"PEACE.........................BE STILL!" And until He speaks to your storm.....He's speaking to your heart....Peace be still.
Isaiah 65:24 (New International Version)
24 Before they call I will answer;
While they are still speaking I will hear.
Here is the devotional I read this morning on the Internet:
May it bless you!
Jesus and the disciples are in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. A storm arises suddenly, and what was placid becomes violent—monstrous waves rise out of the sea and slap the boat. Mark describes it clearly: “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped” (Mark 4:37 NIV).
It’s very important that you get an accurate picture, so I’m going to ask you to imagine yourself in the boat. It’s a sturdy vessel but no match for these ten-foot waves. It plunges nose first into the wall of water. The force of the waves dangerously tips the boat until the bow seems to be pointing straight at the sky, and just when you fear flipping over backward, the vessel pitches forward into the valley of another wave. A dozen sets of hands join yours in clutching the mast. All your shipmates have wet heads and wide eyes. You tune your ear for a calming voice, but all you hear are screams and prayers. All of a sudden it hits you—someone is missing. Where is Jesus? He’s not at the mast. He’s not grabbing the edge. Where is he? Then you hear something—a noise … a displaced sound … as if someone is snoring. You turn and look, and there curled in the stern of the boat is Jesus, sleeping!
You don’t know whether to be amazed or angry, so you’re both. How can he sleep at a time like this? Or as the disciples asked, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38 NIV).
The very storm that made the disciples panic made him drowsy. What put fear in their eyes put him to sleep. The boat was a tomb to the followers and a cradle to Christ. How could he sleep through the storm? Simple—he was in charge of it.
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39–40 NIV)
Incredible…Is it any wonder the disciples were willing to die for Jesus? Never had they seen such power; never had they seen such glory. It was like, well, like the whole universe was his kingdom.
It’s only right that they declare his authority. It’s only right that we do the same. And when we do, we state without question: The ruler of the universe rules our hearts.
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